AILSA CHANG, HOST:

This June, to rejoice Black Music Month, NPR headquarters has seen among the most gifted Black girls in music cease by the Tiny Desk – legends like Chaka Khan, jazz stars like Lakecia Benjamin and…

ASHLEY POINTER, BYLINE: Oh, my goodness, Tierra Whack.

CHANG: That is Ashley Pointer from NPR Music, one of many producers who introduced Philadelphia rapper and singer Tierra Whack to the Tiny Desk.

POINTER: I used to be really sitting at my desk, sending some emails, when she walked in. And he or she walked proper previous my desk. She was like, wait, so y’all actually be working right here?

CHANG: Tierra Whack proceeded to do some work of her personal, taking part in 9 songs in 20 minutes. Ashley Pointer has extra on the efficiency and the way it form of became a wild classroom in one of the simplest ways doable.

TIERRA WHACK: (Singing) I ain’t making an attempt to hurry issues, but it surely’s been some time now. Individuals have names. Yeah. And so they all smile now.

POINTER: She’s dressed like an enormous piece of loose-leaf paper. She’s tossing paper airplanes into the viewers, and he or she has this big No. 2 pencil that she’s really writing with on the desk. So it actually offers simply, like, playful primary-school shenanigans.

WHACK: (Singing) Ooh. Do not you understand I am the one? Ooh. Do not you understand I am the one? Ooh.

POINTER: Many regard Tierra Whack as a rapper. Nonetheless, she does have wonderful vocals, and he or she showcased these vocals all through the whole lot of her Tiny Desk set. And he or she disclosed to us through the Tiny Desk that this was really her first time performing with a reside band, which utterly blew my thoughts as a result of they have been so locked in as if they’d been taking part in collectively for years.

WHACK: (Singing) I have been making an attempt new issues. Mama says she uninterested in my temper swings. Earlier than I depart the home, I seize a number of issues, examine the scoreboard – ho, you are shedding.

POINTER: So she simply put out her follow-up to 2018’s “Whack World” – 2024’s “World Huge Whack” – in March, and, you already know, she exhibits us much more of her interpersonal life. You already know, on this album, we hear her discuss so much about her psychological well being and the issues that she’s going by way of. And I feel we will see extra of that. I feel we will see her simply opening up extra in regards to the issues that she’s going by way of.

WHACK: (Singing) I can not belief the soul – so I keep lonely. That is simply the way in which it goes – oh, yeah, you already know me. Generally your pals are foes – and a few acquainted. Ask God, and he’ll expose…

POINTER: So one of many final songs she does known as “Moovies.” And everybody’s form of, like, distracting us with these paper airplanes and these paper balls. And impulsively, this large mascot – the Phillies’ Phanatic – he form of simply mosies proper on in and simply, like – shock, right here I’m.

WHACK: Girls and gents, make some noise for the Phillie Phanatic.

(APPLAUSE)

POINTER: I imply, who else brings the Phillies mascot to carry out with them?

WHACK: (Singing) You by no means take me to the films. Take me to eat. I am a foodie, boy.

POINTER: So Tierra Whack’s Tiny Desk is part of our Black Music Month lineup – 9 Tiny Desks from 9 completely different girls who’re doing one thing simply unimaginable in music. And Tierra Whack simply matches superbly inside this lineup as a result of she’s really completed a lot inside her profession over the previous 5, six years and has introduced simply such an invigorating presence in hip-hop and R&B that is uniquely hers.

CHANG: That was NPR Music producer Ashley Pointer. And you may catch Tierra Whack’s total Tiny Desk live performance and all the Black Music Month performances at npr.org.

WHACK: (Rapping) Let’s make reminiscences we’ll always remember. I want love. It ain’t arduous as you assume. I need the popcorn with the massive, previous drink. I want love. Let’s catch the premiere. Tickets on sale…

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional info.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This textual content might not be in its closing kind and could also be up to date or revised sooner or later. Accuracy and availability could fluctuate. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.