Lola Brooke, whose real name is Shyniece Deneen Thomas, is an American rapper born on February 1, 1994, in Brooklyn, New York. Born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, she developed an early interest in writing: she began composing raps at the age of eight, encouraged by her grandmother, and was inspired by 50 Cent's 2002 song "Wanksta" to shape her raw and authentic New York hip-hop style. Influenced by artists like 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Meek Mill, Foxy Brown, and Lil' Kim, she draws from their commanding flows and themes of resilience to craft an universe marked by Brooklyn energy and female empowerment.
Her career began in 2016 with a signing to Team 80 Productions, where she released her first freestyles, including the music video for "2017 Flow," which highlighted her lyrical talent with the motto "Bars is back." She left her job as a residential aide at a homeless shelter in 2017 to pursue music full-time. In 2021, she dropped her breakthrough single "Don't Play with It" on SoundCloud, which went viral on Twitter before exploding on TikTok and Instagram, sparking a massive challenge and racking up millions of views. The track propelled Brooke onto the national scene, earning cosigns from Meek Mill, Jadakiss, and DJ Envy, and peaking at number 34 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Since then, Lola Brooke has released several projects, including the EP Gator Season in 2023 and her debut studio album Dennis Daughter on November 10, 2023—a poignant tribute to her late father that delves into vulnerability and the perils of rap life. She signed with Arista Records in January 2023, joined the XXL Freshman Class that year, and has collaborated with artists like Latto and Yung Miami on the remix of "Don't Play with It," Ciara and Lady London on "Da Girls (Girls Mix)," Bryson Tiller on "You" (which hit number 30 on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart), Flo Milli and Maiya The Don on "Conceited," NLE Choppa and Modesty on "Automobooty," and Coi Leray on "No Angels." She opened for A Boogie wit da Hoodie's Me vs. Myself tour in early 2023, performed at Future's sold-out Barclays Center show in Brooklyn in 2022, and made a cameo on the CBS series East New York in March 2023. In 2024, she teased new singles like "No One Else" with Jeremih and "Becky" with 41, and as of 2025, she earned RIAA certifications for "Don't Play with It" and continues to assert her status as a torchbearer for Brooklyn rap. She describes herself as a "Brooklyn Native" and "Hometown Hero," and keeps performing, like at the iHeart Powerhouse in October 2024.