Refinery29
18-year-old singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Laila! is emerging as a significant artist of Generation Z. Inspired by her father, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), she began creating music at a young age. Her debut album, Gap Year, features 17 tracks of nostalgic R&B that she wrote and produced herself. Despite facing challenges as a female producer in a male-dominated industry, Laila! persevered and gained popularity on TikTok. However, she aims to prove she’s more than a “TikTok artist” and plans to have a long career in music. She also hopes to incorporate her Dominican roots into her music in the future.