Lola Brooke has cemented her place in New York’s drill scene while breaking into Hip Hop’s mainstream elite. Her debut album, Dennis Daughter, is a raw and autobiographical project that strikes a balance between unfiltered sensuality and street-hardened grit. Dedicated to the memory of her late father, the album pays homage to the values he instilled in her and the role they played in shaping her journey to success. At 29, Brooke’s sound evokes the legacy of New York rap icons like Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim. Her tone carries their influence, but her theatrical drill delivery channels another idol, the late Pop Smoke. Lyrically, she blends these inspirations, juxtaposing boasts of her beauty and sexual allure with vivid depictions of violence and hardship from her life before fame.
Brooke’s 2021 viral hit “Don’t Play With It” hinted at her commercial promise, and she capitalizes on that momentum by remixing the track for Dennis Daughter. The updated version features heavyweights Latto and City Girls’ Yung Miami, whose contributions breathe fresh life into the track without overshadowing Brooke’s commanding, raunchy hook. This mainstream appeal extends throughout the album. Brooke teams up with rising star Coi Leray and R&B singer-songwriter Nija for the menacing New Jersey club anthem “Don’t Get Me Started.” She reimagines Sarah Vaughan’s classic “Whatever Lola Wants” as the foundation for the drill-powered “I AM LOLA” and enlists Bryson Tiller to craft a fresh take on Foxy Brown’s “Get Me Home.” While Brooke’s tone channels Brown, she avoids imitating her flow, showcasing her ability to honor her influences while forging her own path. Beneath the confident bravado and club anthems lies Brooke’s skill as a lyricist. On tracks like the reflective opener “Intro (2023 Flow)” and the stark “Vacant Heart,” she wrestles with the struggles of escaping poverty and the turbulence of her upbringing. These moments of introspection reveal vulnerability, adding depth to the record. However, the album’s structure occasionally falters, oscillating between party tracks and reflective cuts without a clear unifying concept. While Dennis Daughter is admirably personal, it sometimes feels like Brooke is holding back from revealing even more of her story. New York drill often struggles to maintain cohesion in a full-length format, and delivering a strong debut after being labeled a rising star is a formidable challenge. Yet, Brooke sidesteps many of these pitfalls through sharp artistic choices and her undeniable charisma. In Dennis Daughter, she shares her origin story, confronts her complex family history, and navigates the trappings of fame—all while staying true to her roots, the drill subgenre, and her musical inspirations. It’s a solid foundation for an artist whose story is only just beginning.