I was first introduced to Tilla in 2014. At that time she had some deal going on with BBoy Entertainment, Magasco’s label of which we haven’t heard much about since he signed with Pit Baccardi’s Empire Company. At the time, Tilla also appeared to have some kind of production/management deal with JeTeYamo - another entity which has since excused itself from the entertainment industry after a short trial run with artists like Tilla and Deecy.
Under BBoy Entertainment, Tilla released a 5 track EP (The Godmother) with popular titles like ‘Fire Burn Dem’ and ‘Alahdji.’ The EP was released on January 25, 2014 on Bandcamp. From the EP, Tilla gave us one of her finest music videos till date in ‘Fire Burn Dem’ which was released on Aug 8, 2014. This EP seemed to be the last time we heard a level headed Tilla. Since then, she has been on a somewhat rocky path/run going back and forth between conscious music and braggadocio rap interspersed with social media rants and fights.
Customary with Magasco’s low key mode of doing things, there was not much said about Tilla leaving BBoy Entertainment to join Jovi’s New Bell Music in 2015. New Bell being a bigger label at the time, public opinion had it that it was a good career advancing move but it marked the beginning of a troubled Tilla. The confidence with which she had captivated her audience became plagued with arrogance. She was indoctrinated in the ‘us vs the world’ culture at New Bell. While she was in line with the New Bell character externally, internally things seemed to be rough.
Tilla’s desired Godmother status was apparently not welcomed at New Bell, at least in her own eyes. She thought herself relegated and mixed up with the other upcoming acts in what some have confessed to be an overly controlled environment. Tilla would go on to leave New Bell without any solo release. She appeared in about five songs in total. Her own single ‘Pantana’ had a video but that video has been taken off the New Bell Music YouTube channel (not sure if it was posted on that particular channel in the first place).She appears to be the only one that left New Bell on a completely bad note. The other artists who left New Bell still have their music posted on New Bell’s online distribution platforms.
Two different labels in two years and there are not many ways to interpret it. It is either she is impatient or she is just good at making the wrong choices. Under BBoy, some of her work appeared on the BBoy YouTube Channel and some on Magasco’s personal channel. Although her Edi LeDrae produced track Dope was released under her own label God Mother Sounds which she created after leaving New Bell, the video is posted on the Video Director’s YouTube channel again extending her history of making funny looking deals.
Some may say she suffers from a lot of anxiety which is something that many hardcore creatives deal with throughout their lives. Artists create a perfect world and perfect products in their minds but external influences make it that they can hardly bring those creative wonders to the outside -the source of emotional discord.
We see the manifestation of that discord in Tilla’s songs - the ping ponging between conscious music, braggadocio rapping, and some alternative music. Her highs and lows come and go very quick and too often - leaving me in a somewhat confused state when I think of her music and personality.
Tilla’s best run still remains what she did as Magasco’s artist but she seems not to share Magasco’s understanding of patience. Her recent releases albeit something one would consider good music leave us with the question - “what’s the occasion?” Who or what is this music for? - questions that any artists looking for commercial success needs to answer these days.
Any -Ha!
What is she to do?- I don’t know.
Maybe reconnect with the best Tilla because she exists and she is the Tilla that gave us the Godmother EP.