Lana LaDonna is an exciting new name in Detroit’s hip hop scene, and tonight she will be taking the stake at El Club as local support for the legendary Chief Keef. Check out our conversation with her below, and be sure to catch her at the show tonight! Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2143546639309046/
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B: First, could you just introduce yourself?
L: I am Lana LaDonna, and I like to think of myself as an overall entertainer. My main form of entertaining right now is music, as well as serving as a sort of personality.
B: Do you remember the first album that you ever purchased or downloaded?
L: The first album that I had was…I can’t remember the title of it, but it was B2K. It was the one that “Bump bump bump” was on.
B: How did you get into music, and how did that journey progress up to this point?
L: I’ve always been a huge fan of music, like I always listened to music more than I even watched TV growing up. I’ve also been into the entertainment industry for quite some time, I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism with a focus in Media & Entertainment, so this has always been my field of interest.
Post-graduation, I was doing a little bit of everything trying to figure out how I was going to tap into that field. One day I was just like, I think I’m gonna try to rap, because I knew I couldn’t sing but I definitely wanted to perform. Due to an incident that had recently happened, I was able to channel the energy I felt towards that situation into my first song, “Get a Check,” in July of 2018.
It was definitely the best decision I ever made post-grad. I thoroughly enjoy making music, and it’s something that I really want to be able to go far with. It’s just been a really great journey, especially in the time since I’ve joined with APX Management.
B: So what have you been up to recently?
L: Right now I have my first EP out, it’s called Dumb Ass N!ga$ Vol. 1. That phrase is just something that I’ve said a lot since high school, and as I’ve grown my following and my influence through social media and other avenues, people have just latched onto it as one of my “things.” In terms of the content, that phrase to me isn’t limited to men, or just Black people, my definition is just someone that deserves to be balled on, stunted on, or proven wrong. Of course there’s also the Chief Keef show coming up, it’s a festival in Lansing that I’m also hosting an afterparty for, a lot more shows this summer for sure.
B: How does it feel to be a part of that lineup at El Club?
L: It feels great, every opportunity that I get I really sincerely appreciate and try to thank God for. I haven’t even been in this industry for a year, but I am being blessed with opportunities like this, and I am super excited to be able to perform again. Performing is what really made me want to go into music in the first place, so I can’t wait to share my music live with my friends and family in my hometown.
B: If you had to tell people what to expect, or how to prepare for this performance, what would you tell them?
L: To expect for me to be nothing but myself. Also expect to be expected to engage with me, I’m very much a people person and I like to talk to my audience prior to actually going through the set. Just prepare to have fun and enjoy the show.
B: Anything else you want to add?
L: I just really keep thinking, “I hope Chief Keef pass me that blunt.”
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Check out Lana’s brand new video for her new song “Froggy” below, and be sure to grab your tickets to see her live tonight at El Club!
