That Girl Lay Lay on Child Stardom, Growing Up & Life After Nickelodeon

Today, I'm sitting down with a lay-ah-hi, also known as That Girl Lay-Lay. Like me, she knows what it means to grow up in this business and have the world know your name before they fully understand the person behind it. She became the youngest female rapper ever signed to a major label, went from viral freestyle to starring in her own Nickelodeon show. And now she's building her next era as an artist, creator, and young black woman. We're talking music, family, fame, social media, relationships, and what it takes to keep growing when the world is still attached to the version of you they first met. So let's get into it, baby. This is Kiki Palmer, and baby, this is Lay-Lay. Today's episode is brought to you by Apple Watch. We spend so much time checking in on everybody else, but when's the last time you checked in on your heart? Apple Watch Series 12 has an all-new health sensing system that unlocks even more powerful health insights. In health, heart is everything. Now let's get into today's show. Come on, girl. Hello! You look so good. How are you? Fantastic. How are you? Fantastic. How are you? I'm doing good. We on the East Coast. Okay. You know, how is everything going down in Houston? I know that's where you're from. Yes. Yes. Come on. Well, I recently just moved down back there. You were in LA for a while, huh? I was in LA for two years while filming my show, and then I lived in Atlanta. Okay. And I love Atlanta. Yes. I spent a lot of work in Atlanta. Yes. I love working in Atlanta. I think more than LA. It's a different feeling. Especially with music. Yes. You can get with so many people. It's very creative, man. You know, Shay, to LA, but just, you know, you know, Atlanta is that music, you know, we got to be real. It's different. It's different. Well, I'm so happy you hit on the part. Yeah. I'm happy to be here. It was so crazy when you were coming on here. I was talking to my team that is still part of the same team that I had when I was on GMA 3. Yes. And we were talking about when you came on in which you got, when you were, I think this is right before your TV show, right when your TV show happens, like probably 12 or 13, which is so crazy. So we got way back. Right. I love that. I love that. Okay. So we did our pre-show pull up. Yeah. Get to know you a little bit more. Your first name is actually LA. LA. Come on. LA. Now do people call you LA? My family day. Okay. My friends and friends. They call me their lay or you know, lay, lay, lay. Oh, lay, lay, lay, lay. Zodiac sign is the queeriest. I feel like that is correct. You give me that fun, flirty energy. I live for the queeriest vibe. Yeah. Yeah. You're rising as a Leo. Do you feel any connection to the Leo of it all? I think when it comes to my looks, I'm giving Leo. You know, when it comes to the nails, you know, the black, red bottoms underneath, the little bod. I love when you were doing the wide, like, you were doing, like, some type of wide. The dozen. That was very good. Yes. They hated them, so I stopped doing them. I just, like, I was like, yes, she put me on the sun, I was like, I'm going to lay, like, put me on the sun. I was with that. Those are my favorite ones. Yeah, very cute. Gemini moon. Now, do you feel the Gemini? Because you know, they become for the Gemini's. Moving in on me. But I like Gemini's now. Okay, y'all. I love Gemini's. But I think my emotions are ruled by the Gemini moon, and I have a time, I have a time with that. I think already being in a queeriest, I'm already kind of, woo. And then the Gemini is like, woo, more, and then the Leo is just like, foul, like, it's just too much. But that's what makes the perfect cocktail, you know. Okay, yeah. What are you most grateful for today? To be here on Kiki's show, do what I love, I was so excited, too, to have you on. So, it was like, yes, my girl, lay, lay, let's get her up on there and just catch up because it's been so long. It has. It's been a while. I know we're going to get into it, but just, I've been following you since the beginning since your day. I put out that first freestyle. It was like, from there to you coming on GMA, to you having your own show. My little one, my little nieces actually appeared on your show. I was like, y'all are supposed to lay like, show, like, it was just because they love you. They just love you. And so, I was so excited to catch up with you. Yeah. Okay. What is the question you wish you were asked in more interviews? How are you doing in the industry mentally? Because, you know, the industry takes a toll and they're always just wondering, everything but that. And I feel like that's the biggest thing, that's, you know, you can't work if your mental isn't good. And right now, I'm in a great mental space. Yeah. But it is every very up and down. Yeah. Life is up and down. But with a public facing job, it can be just like, because you got to be so pulled together, you got to be. Yes. All the time. If you were in a job, maybe that you're behind the scenes or you're like, behind the desk. And maybe it's be easy to be like, I'm mad. Right. On your computer or something. You can have that moment. Right. When you're like in the public face. You're talking about it. Yeah. I'm so happy. I'm like, I'm really going through it right now. Yeah. Yeah. So, I definitely feel you on that. Who is someone you've met that made you feel a star struck? We have this in common. You said Angela Van thing. Oh my God. Angela is really just that lady. It's just something about her that I just, I just love. Yeah. I was so happy to meet her. No, when did you guys meet? Was it in the award show? It was at the NAACP award. I knew it had to be easy. Yeah. 'Cause she's at the event. You know what I mean? If it's, you know what I mean? She's there. It's that type of event. Yes. NAACP image award. And I remember seeing her. She was sitting out in the front. And I'm looking at everybody. We're all in the back and I'm like, I need a picture of Angela. And I didn't want to go out there. I didn't want to, you know, say, hey, can I get a picture? But I had to do it. This is very classy. Very classy. I was in New York. OK, and I was like, cross down. I'm trying to take the picture. I'm like, girl, get up. OK. OK. She's the real. I got up so quick. I love that. Shut up to Angela. OK. Now for anybody that knows the name, that girl Lele, but may not know the whole story. How would you kind of introduce yourself to them now? I feel like I'm still figuring that out myself. What I do know is that I'm a entertainer and I'm doing what I love. And I have a mission and I'm still completing the mission, you know, to be a role model for the younger kids. Yeah. And I just want to be that positive influence that they don't see often. Yeah. Yeah. Do you have younger siblings yourself? I do have younger siblings. The boy, girl. Yes, I have brothers and sisters. Oh, wow. Actually, really are like you just, you that one. Yes. Do they have interesting music? Yes. They do. One is very, very talented at drawing. The other one, he wants to wrap like me. And then my sister, she just sings and dances around the house all day long. She reminds me so much of me. Oh, my gosh. I love that song. So much. I mean, speaking of that, we met you as a fearless little 11-year-old girl, freestyling in your daddy car, girl. Yeah. Lele, that's the name. Yeah. Oh, no. What's the name? Oh, like, what's the name? Yeah. And now you're stepping into a new chapter. I mean, when you look back at those first days of yourself, what do you see and what do you remember? I just see so much confidence in younger me. And you know, I feel like I still have that confidence, but I think when you're growing up in the industry and your consciousness becomes more aware and you're on the internet and you're seeing comments and you're seeing opinions, it kind of can mess with your confidence. And now you're aware that people are looking at you and that they're going to have something to say. So I feel like that definitely, it kind of messes with me a little bit so I make sure to go back and I look at younger me because I need, I need to keep being her because she was, she didn't listen, she didn't listen to notes to nobody, she didn't accept no. She just was doing something that she loved and she was confident in it. So I make sure to still, I keep her in the back of my mind. And I think that's very natural and it's good to speak up on that because people feel like that being confident means you're never shaken. Right. And that's actually just not true. Like you're going to keep going through different experiences in your life. And it was the same way for me. Like what I look back at the little me and then I think about the transition from being a kid entertainer and traditional and then going to digital and revolving myself. People was always trying to be like, we don't know and then it makes you think like, do I know? Do I? But each step that you decide to go with your own voice, that builds that confidence over that next chapter. So it's like, it's like so annoying, but it's a part of the process. Yeah. It builds you. It builds character. It really does. Now, people met me obviously as a little kid as well, you know what I mean? Before they really understood kind of the person behind the other brand, they're now just now actually really getting to know some of that. What has it been like reintroducing the world to you? Obviously, I'm watching it as a fan, you know, I seen the transition from a kid and then I'm seeing you more, you're mature, you know what I mean? You're 19 now. Yes. How has that been for you knowing what you want to start talking about next coming from just being a good kid? It's been a journey. I will say, you know, people have a hard time letting people that they've watched younger grow up. So, yeah, it's been a journey, but I still make sure to keep it very much appropriate. You know, I'm only 19. I'm not really rushing into the adult world so fast because I want you're there. You're there and there's not going back. So, therefore, I'm just here and I'm still, you know, I'm working with the kids and I'm just. Yes. I'm not in a rush, I have time. I know a lot of people, they try to, or kids in general are teenagers, they rush into that, you know, adult era, but I'm not in a rush because the adults, they're pretty harsh. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's just too much going on up over there. Yeah. But the fun thing about it now, I mean, 19, you're probably dating, you know, you're driving in your car. I don't know if you still live at home if you got your own whip, you know, on place, excuse me. So, what are the conversation pieces that you think you're having in your music more? Like, are you talking about falling in love? Are you talking? - You know, I'm talking about dudes, I'm talking about gay and my heart, I'm talking about gay and my heart broken, how you know? You know, I'm definitely rapping about it these days, you know, I ain't gonna say no names, but yeah, I'm rapping about it for show. - Yes, I love that. - Do you feel like there's a big difference between, you know, the Alayah at home and the Alayah we get in the music? Like, it's not at all. - It's really the all the same thing. - I don't know how to act like nobody else. You're gonna get the full of me, this is me. - Oh my gosh, hilarious. So, when you think about Alayah the brain, you're talking about kind of like the mission and that you're figuring it all out, but what would you think would be your North Star? Or if there are people that you admire growing up, what would you, what lane would you see for yourself? And obviously you're creating your own, but if there are-- - I'm definitely creating my own lane, but I can definitely see, I like your lane. I like the way-- - Just the brand. - Yes, I like everything that you do from childhood to now. You did it the correct way. You did it in a mature way and appropriate way, when I like how you did it. - Oh my gosh, you know your parents were pioneers in what they were able to do with you from digital to bringing you into traditional. I feel like that's a very hard thing to do. - Yes. - And I really can't think of many too many other people that were able to do, I mean, unless we think about Justin Bieber or somebody like that, like people that were able to have a viral sensation moment and then actually take it to the next level and bring it into corporate. What was that period like? Do you remember having conversations with your dad? Was he was like, we need to get you to like, how did you guys figure out how to make that transition because it's not easy at all? - I think it just worked out, I worked out, you know? It literally just started with one freestyle video, but I've always been a performer since I was little. So I think we just knew what it was gonna be. Like, I mean, it's simple, you know? - Yeah. Now, your dad inspired your love of hip-hop. So was it kind of like you was growing up watching him in the studio? - Yes, we stayed at the studio and I would just always watch him and I knew that that was something I wanted to do. Like I said, since I was little, I've been rapping around the house. So I remember being in the session with him one day and he was rapping and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna try to say, and I'll stick over his session. And that was the day we realized that this is what I was gonna do. I was gonna be rapping 'cause even the engineer was like, you know, she's really talented. - Oh my God. - And being from Houston, how much do you, 'cause Houston has such, I mean, people constantly, I'm biting up off that Houston town. Like, it's the, it's so irritating. - Oh, it's, but it's so inspiring. - Yes. - For Houston. What do you feel like is what you take the most from your culture in your background? - Just the Southern hospitality and just the confidence. Like, and Houston, it's just different. Like they know what they're doing and they love it. - Yeah. - And just the talent. It's like something in that Houston water. It's just like the talent that comes from it. - Yeah, I definitely feel the talent, the confidence and the women are very like, listen up. - Okay. - You know what I mean? - I think of Megan. - Okay. - I think of Megan. - I was just listening to that song with her and Sizzle had me in my bag. I love that little girl. - Anytime I need to get my bag, I either put on Megan or I put on future. - Yeah, that's cool. - I've never seen it back to me. What was that line that he always said to everybody? Dang, I forget. He always had some phrase that we'll just take to the summit. - Okay. - Now, in the beginning, I was reading that your dad initially did not want to put your freestyle out. - Yes. - You know, maybe, I'm curious, did he tell you why? He was nervous, especially now that you've broken out into the industry, whether any apprehensions that he shared about putting you in that space early on, I believe it was just because he knows how the industry works. He's been in the industry a long time and I just see that I think he didn't want me to go through the struggles of the industry and it's just, it's a harsh world. - Yeah. - It's just, I can see from a dad's perspective, like their daughter wanting to be an industry and knowing how it is. But I mean, when your kid has talent, you kind of just have to let it be. You can't just sit on it. - And you really do have to be brave and courageous. - Yeah. - So I would give props to your parents because for, you know, opportunity is amazing, but opportunity brings responsibility with the expectation with the focus of the game. So I've had a really good time in industry because my dad is always on my side and they know that and they know not to play. - I feel the same way about my mom. - Okay. - They don't know my bad, no not to play. - Okay, now, free styling is something that not everybody can do, but you're known for that. - Yes. - What the hell is going on in your brain when you're free styling? Like how are you able to think of the stuff to say? Like what is the training of the free styling girl? - Girl, it's just a, it's just a talent. Okay, I don't even know how to explain the talent. It's just something you do. - You go to a transcendental state. - Yeah. - It's just, I don't even know. - Is there a bar that you come up with that's like, yo, this is my, I can't believe I said that that you just know off the top of your head. - I, not necessarily because I feel like every freestyle I do, I have bars in all of them. - Okay. - Like it's just bar after bar after bar. Like it's just, yeah, it's just bar on top of bar. - I love that. So when it comes to free styling and your viral moments turning into an actual career, what was your approach at that age to so people that you were more than just a viral video? - I feel like I'm getting to that point now. - At that age, I wasn't, that wasn't really something I was thinking of, you know, I was just doing what I knew how to do, you know, I knew how to rap, I knew how to dance, I knew how to act. But I feel like that's something that I'm getting into now. - Yeah. - Like the experience of getting on your own show. You go from doing the, you know, viral videos, you're just kind of being creative and being a musician. But as you now know, being an actor is a totally different addition to the music. Music can be more fun more in your own time, but acting is like, we gotta show up. We gotta do, you know, what was it like being thrust into that world into such a corporate system? - It was, it was a big world. - It was new to me, but I had a lot of support and I had a lot of teachers. And especially when I started on my show, they were teaching me a lot fast between the camera's names and how do you stand and don't be this, don't have your back towards the camera. I just learned so much, especially from my co-host, Gabby. I appreciate her so much because the day I got on set, it was a teaching moment. And literally everybody on the set was just teaching me things so fast and I caught on so quickly. - You definitely did. - Yeah, thank you. - It was just so impressive to just see. I remember just, you know, you're going through your life or your day, you just turn on you and say, I'm like, damn, that lay lay girl, she's still. It really makes me just so happy because people don't understand what it takes, it takes a lot of discipline. - It does. - It really does. - It takes a lot. - You miss out on a lot, you know, it takes a lot. - Yeah, thinking of the missing out on a lot. I mean, you were homeschooled, I'm sure, you know what I mean? But you probably remember when you were in real school? - I do. - You still remember that time? - Yes, elementary. - And then when you started getting homeschool, obviously missing out on some high school experiences, I'd imagine. - See, I made sure to still stay in the high school events. I would be telling when y'all got a game, let me know, I'm pulling out when y'all got a party, let me know I'm pulling out. If I have nothing to do, I'm there because I still wanted to have that social side of me. I didn't want to just be a workaholic because that is all I did at the time. Even now at 19, you know, I'm still like a workaholic, but I now have more time for me. I have more time to do things that I love and figure out what I want to do. And I'm just so appreciative of that. - I am so happy too, because that was not my experience. I just really couldn't have no time to do nothing. - Yeah. - I really didn't love it, and that's how it'll make you like that. And that's why you have to make sure you're still incorporating things that you love to do because then you'll eventually start hating something that you want to love to do. - What that you really love is so true. And I feel like at me at my age now, I really started to learn that in the last five years, but it's been a long time to make that transition. So the fact that you were able to still do that and your parents were able to help support you in that way, that's so important, you know what I mean. - Yes, very important. - It really is to be a person, you're side of what you do. What was your first splurge that made you feel like, "Okay, I'm getting into a child." - Whoo, I have many splurges, okay. ♪ Baby, it's this geeky pola, yeah ♪ - This message is a paid partnership with Apple Watch. Our heart can tell us a lot about our health, and most of us are just out here ignoring it, like an unread text from someone who's right. I've learned that one of the best indicators of how you're really doing is your heart. Apple Watch Series 12 has the most accurate heart rate sensing in-awareable, and the readiness score gives you one simple number every morning that says, "Yes, go conquer," or maybe sit this one down. It pulls from your recent activity, your vitals, your sleep, and it adjusts throughout the day, so you know when to push and when to pull back. Oh, and the vitals app now tracks HRV, or heart rate variability, which is basically your body's inside scoop on stress and recovery, and you can check vitals day or night to catch shifts in your health status before they even think about becoming a whole thing. And that's on self-care, honey. Your heart tells the story of your health and with Apple Watch Series 12, you can understand it better than ever. Visit apple.com/applewatchseries12 to learn more. The features described are for wellness purposes only, and not for medical use. iPhone 11 or later required. Heart rate accuracy based on Apple conducted study August, 2026. Visit apple.com/hracuracy. I've been scrolling Airbnb, planning Thanksgiving, and I already know I want to take the family somewhere instead of hosting at home this year. I'm thinking Hudson Valley Orchards, farm to table restaurants, maybe a cider tasting that turns into a whole afternoon. I want to hit a local market the morning of and get everything fresh. Find a bakery for the pies because let's be clear. I do not bake. I perform other talents. Walk through town, after dinner, when everyone's too full to function, we're too happy to go inside. And then we'll come back to the cozy home at the end of the night to relax. Get comfy. And of course, enjoy those leftovers at midnight. That's what I love about booking trips with Airbnb. You get the comfort, of home while exploring new neighborhood, discovering local gyms and living your best life. If a cozy holiday getaway is in your future, play your next family gathering with Airbnb. (upbeat music) - I stayed at that mall. I just, I stayed there some days. It was so bad one time, this person on Twitter tweeting was like, "Layla doesn't come to the mall "and spend less than a thousand ever." And I think that was like the last day I went to the mall 'cause I was like, "He's right." - I don't. I'm doing too much. (laughing) Like, why am I shopping every day? - What do you like is your, this thing that gets you the most like, is it bags, is it shoes, is it clothes? - Clothes, like I'm just a clothes, a hauling, like I just feel like I need every clothing item. - There is, I love that. - And you know, it's bad. Now, I'm better, I'm getting bad. I'm recovering. - Yeah. - I'm recovering addicts. - Literally. - Even when I came to New York, I'm like, "Layla, I don't do no shopping." - You know how you get and shopping here, 'cause you know, it's so crazy. What they have on the east coast, they don't have on the west coast. - 'Cause what I'm saying, I brought a pack suitcase so I couldn't shop. I can't bring nothing back. - Girl, well, you know they got good suitcases here too, don't. - I'll leave it all here. I'll leave everything out, but I'll never care. Now, obviously, both of us grew up working with our parents. - Yeah. - A lot of people know it's a great thing 'cause you share a passion with the parent. You get to do, you know, your career with your parent. But it's also tough because you're continuously having to also know when to oscillate between you, my mama, my daddy, and now you, my working partner, right? - And it's right, man. - So how's it been for you being able to balance that and continue to grow, you know, and evolve your relationship? - It's been, it's been nice. My dad, he knows how to do both very, very well. He knows how to be dad, when he needs to be dad, he knows how to be manager, when he needs to be manager. - Yeah. - And the most important role to him is that. So, manager is a side role to him. - Now, your mom has your mom been able to be, she really a part of your music, or she more just like, we at home, I got your back when you need personal advice. - Yeah, she's smart, so just mom, you know, this world is, the industry is a lot. You know, you kind of need somebody who's already been in the industry to know how to get through it because they'll try a lot, you know? - That's exactly how it is with my mama, my dad. My mom is the one that's really chiefs always on the ground with me. - Yeah. - And then my dad is always the one that's making sure we good at home. - Right. - And always be in the support to my mom, 'cause you know, they need that support. - Yeah. - 'Cause they be in the trenches with us. - Literally. - So, you were signed, you were the youngest artist to be ever be signed to a major label, that's very crazy. What were you thinking at that time? How was that opportunity? - You don't know something. It didn't even really hit me until now. A lot of things didn't hit me until I became older as 19, like I said, my, just my consciousness, how much has become, it's just open now. Even sometimes when I get on Netflix and I see my show, I'm just like, I'm still star-struck to this day because I remember once being a little girl and looking at TV shows and just picturing my show being on there. So, for it to just be there, still to the day, it's just crazy to me, even my movie now that I'm just, oh my gosh, you funded your own movie? - Yes, right. - I didn't fund it my own movie. - Oh my gosh, it's called Growing. - Growing paint. - Growing paint. - Yes. - So, that's just, since you brought it up, let's just take a quick sideline because what I love about it is that you funded it yourself. - Yes. - And this is something that I really need people to understand with this industry is as much as we want to ask and expect different things to change and get more opportunities. You really have to create them. - You have to do it yourself. - You really have to. - No, nobody can do it for you. - It's 100% true, so tell me how you came to this Growing Pains, how you developed this project. - You know, honestly, I came up with Growing Pains in my notes, you know, I put, how I love it. - Girl, put in notes, I'll real quick get to it. - I know, I put in my notes and then I sent it off to my dad and I, you know, told him, we need somebody to formulate this into a script. - Yes. - And let's get the wall rolling, let's do it because after the show, Indy, I still want it to be on TV, you know, but I want it to do it my way. - Yeah. - I wanted to have creative control over it. So that's what I did with my movie, you know. I called up my friends in Atlanta, all my peers. I said, I need you all to help me pull this off. My best friends in the movie. They're actually my background dancers for my tour and my best friends in real life, which has made the film 10 times more fun to do. And I'm still portraying the same positive affirmation character that I am in the show and I incorporated my music. It goes from like music video to scene. It's just phenomenal. It's a very, it's a good family movie. You know, I don't have those anymore. I don't have many movies I can sit with my siblings and turn on and not worry about what's about to come on the screen. So it's just a good, just, you can see it with granny and you can see it with anybody. - It's still cool and funny. They've made me think about like back in the day with like Mike and stuff, like that movie was cool and fun, but it was also like good for the kids, like good for the family. - But teenagers can watch it too. It's like one of those. It's just a really feel good movie. What puts it into your heart to guide your work that way? Like why is it important to you to have a co-viewing kind of brand? - I think just because I don't see it often, you know? So whatever I don't see often, I just become and I just do because that's all you can do. - She said, I see the white space. - I'm a fillet. - Yes, it makes me so happy. What do you feel like, I don't know how your relationship is with other rappers, you know, female rappers or even male rappers in the industry, but what do you feel like you've learned from any of them if you have? Have there been people that you've collaborated with or spoken to that you feel have been a hand or, you know? Not necessarily, but what I will say is I have great bonds with a lot of people in the rap industry. I recently just collabed with YK Nees and Bunna. - Shout out to them. - Yes, and we had a great time. They're so down the earth, they're so sweet. They made the filming process just go extremely fast. It was easy, and I just had a good time. I pretty much have good connections with everybody in the industry, you know? They're always supporting. They're always letting you know that they're there, especially you, you know? When I post something and I see you comment, I just feel like I'm doing the right thing, you know? - She's so cute. - I'll be in the comments. - That's a throw, that's a throw. - And I see, I'm like, okay, Kiki comments that. Literally, don't care about anybody else. And that's just what it is. I can turn my phone off. - What I think is so dope is that you're building a brand. Like it's like, yes, I rap, but I act like this. And I'm doing movies and I'm in your fashion. I love your looks, you know what I mean? It's very character. So I really be loving that because I'm a big believer as a multi-hyphen at that. Gone are the days where you need to worry about one thing. Or let people try to make you feel like that's all you can do. And all you can make money doing it. All the way to support yourself. Like, you can do it all. So that's what I just go up for. Because-- - Entrepreneur. - Entrepreneur. - Period. How do you going back to what we're talking about with, you know, feeling like you want to do something that all the community can engage in. How do you carry that? 'Cause it can seem sometimes like a wait. How do you carry that without feeling boxed in? Without feeling like you, you know, oh, I can't say this. Well, I can't say that. How do you still lead with your truth? - You know, I feel like there's a time for everything. And right now, I'm just, and I have divine timing, you know? I trust the universe and I just go with the flow, you know? It'll be a time where I'm able to say what I want to say and speak how I want to speak when it comes to rap. And I'm just, I'm just going with the flow. That's it. - Yes, yes. - You're trusting that path. - Yeah, I'm trusting it. I see signs all the time, you know, I ask God all the time. I'm like, let me know that I'm on the right path. You know, show me my favorite number. A bunch of times this day if I'm doing the right thing. And out of nowhere, I'll be seeing 28, 28, 28 all the way. And I'm like, you listen. Because I love doing something like that with God. I'll be like, if you really love me. - You're like, why do we show me a pink Cadillac? - Why are we playing like that? - Yes, and he'll show me that pink Cadillac. Okay, he'll give you. - You know, he'll be like, he'll be like, gotcha. - Right, and I'll be like, I remember. (laughing) - Because you started so young, you've had to think like a business one. - Yes. - What do you feel like the industry has taught you most so far about, you know, money, identity, you know, how to continue to evolve? - I've stayed true to yourself. And whatever mission you're on, keep going on that mission, you know, and just stay positive. That's really all you can do. You just have to stay positive. You have to stay peaceful to get all the blessings that, you know, you're here to get. - Yeah. - If you're not peaceful, if you're not positive, if you're not kind, if you're speaking a certain way, you just won't get those blessings. God will block those blessings. So that's just what I'm learning. And I'm just trying to say, in that mood. 'Cause you know, I'm an aquamanel. I can get pretty mad. I can go there, you know, but you know, I try to go to hot yoga. I try to bring it out. - Hold on. - Yeah. - You know, who's hot? - Yes. One thing that I also love that you were saying, you know, 'cause when we're working with corporations, we're, they're our collaborators. So our ability to tell the story 100% ourselves, but then also lean and be a good collaborator what they want is a learning skill. - Yeah, and that's how I felt with my TV show. - That's what I was just about to go through. - Yeah, that's how I felt, you know, I was still able to be myself, but kind of had to give in a little bit to be this character that they wanted me to be. - Yeah. - And you know, speak how they wanted me to speak, but I still made sure it's to be me. You know, I was wearing pink highlights in my hair. I was having all the characters on my nails and I would have to send these pictures in weekly. They're like, how is your hair right now? Is it color? I'm like, yeah, it is. Can we keep it for the show? And they're like, you know what, let's do it. I push for it. I push to still be myself because I wanted people to know like you could still do what you love and still be yourself. Don't let them change you. You make them adapt to you. You don't adapt to them. - I just love it, Layla, so much. I really do. 'Cause I remember going back in the day to a true Jackson VP. They had me at Petrory Birch. Honey, I was like, but obviously my character was the VP. So I had me at the VP. But I just love that you were able to bring some of that musicality that character has assigned to you. - The style, the diamonds. I brought that all over there. Yes. - You know what, Layla, you become bigger than music, right? It's like products, deals, books. It's a whole universe that you're building. What is it like watching your business grow while you're still building who you are. And I think this goes back to that mental health. health kind of piece where it's like yeah like okay I've got to be presenting to the world but also like I still got to figure out about what's going on with me a lot you know yeah like what do you do you feel like you are you journaling you know to me do you talk to you do you talk to friends or you know kind of what you got yes right it's all I could say I talk to God I talk to a universe there's it's not really one person who can give me answer that I need it is so true yeah I remember you can talk to a therapist you can talk to friends you can talk to everybody sometimes the answers you need is you know it comes from them the hardest part be the waiting yes you know and I mean and also I'm learning it's so it's a weight game because like I said divine timing everything it happens when it needs to and it happens when it doesn't and sometimes you have to be okay with that and I'm I'm learning that walk me through when that girl a lay ended the show ended what was that transition like because that was a very hard transition for me you know the people on it I mean when you were gonna TV show it's great it's fun it was also consistent money yeah so it's like that is something that you end up counting on you're kind of like this is my livelihood this is my being and so when the show and you're like oh and that's why I think I thank God for my dad because what I can say is he is a true hustler yeah and he knows how to pivot that's right he's taught me how to pivot because sometimes in this industry you have to pivot you you got to go to that you got to you got to move on and that's when that movie came about you know we we had that in our backpack and you was like we we did it yeah let's do this this is net I also have loved that you tour like that you know it'd be sold out I told you that so many young women that be like oh my gosh we're going to lay lay lay lay and they be looking like you and doing it with the bun everything I love it I tell people that also they're like how do you you know still work with children do you enjoy I'm like you don't understand to have this little person telling you how much they love you and how much they want to be like you and their hair is like you and their have your face on your shirt you don't understand that girl it's a different future that's what people feel like I'm doing something right anytime you have the opportunity to be a part of somebody's childhood right and inspire them in a positive way there's no greater gift there's no and they will never forget that literally growing with me I've had fans that was three at my show and now they're like 11 and they're at the they're still at the show they're like I got to call up my girl you see eating I really I'm here with lay lay I bring you up because I know that that's your girl boo sorry me to follow nisi poo because seriously and it's so it's it's so inspiring to me to see that happening in the game because you are positive right but you still be real too you need me me me me me you like and I told them going go and I'm like cuz you're giving them that attitude yeah I'm still myself but I'm letting you know that you know yes what would you say to people that may have and maybe there's nothing to say but have a problem or having a challenging time with watching you grow from being the little girl we first saw to you know a buddy young woman you know how every episode I go deep on whatever I can't stop thinking about well lately it's been my living room I walked into my local IKEA store last week just to look around and left with a whole new vision for my space because here's the thing people don't realize there are hundreds of new products every season new colors new patterns whole new collections I had never seen before it's not just about style for me it's the functionality of it all I found new storage pieces that saw problems I'd been ignoring for months plus some design updates that made my space feel fresh I feel like every time I go back there's something new waiting for me so if you haven't visited in a while trust me go see what's new discover what's new at IKEA shop the latest products in store or online at IKEA dot us slash discover new I will say I understand you know it's kind of hard watching me grow up because you've seen me as a little girl but I also will say that there is absolutely nothing you can do about me growing up and you just have to accept it because that's what it is and that's what it'll be was also going to be on began like I can't help that I'll be 20 this year I mean what do you want me to do do you want me to pause the clock there is no clock to pause I mean hey but that's why I'm still I'm easing into it because I know that they're watching I know that I still have such a a big kid audience so that's why I'm not because you know my teenage friends are always asked me you know why don't you want to curse in your songs why don't you want to do this I'm like I have children that truly look up to me and that is my mission okay that's my mission in life right now and it's just them and it'll be a time where I'm catering to the adults and it'll be soon and you know it is still be this I'm still gonna be the same positive person like that's I'm always just gonna be that I love that you know who you're talking to that is just so incredible to me it really really is I mean there's a lot of pressure on as a young black woman to be confident but not too well expect so much out of us to be sexy but people cool okay to be don't be too young but don't be too wrong but don't be too cute don't be too it's just like well and that's exactly why I do what I want you know and I and I do it in a way that still comes across as classy yes it still comes across as fun it's it's modern it's everything yeah yeah you did something recently with monolail monolail yeah I really really like monolio her little song pink I think she's cute she's also fun has a good vibe she's from Houston too yes she's she's definitely supporting me in a huge way she we did a song called off top yeah and I was just really happy to get that done because a lot of female rappers in the industry don't collaborate with me because I feel that they think we we have two different audiences sure and we wrap about different things um so you know I just wait and I'm waiting on my tummy but monolio put that to the side and she was able to create bars that you know was still nice for the kids and nice for the adults and it made me feel better because I'm like you know I have somebody older in the industry on my song so I feel you know I feel like I'm going somewhere with this there's not a lot of people your age that are killing it like you it's tough to be the only one yeah it is you know you're really speaking for a generation right yeah so when you're thinking about that the fact that you're speaking for a generation and obviously it's still cooking up right like when I think about the millennials we kind of like have a idea of what our theme or our topic or what we came here to do us but when you think about your generation what do you think the attitude or the conversation is that you guys are having I don't know my generation wow this is a wild generation because would you say your Gen Z or would you say your gen alpha I'm Gen Z but I'm really a millennial I'm truly you know I don't I do not associate with generation what you what year was you born from I was born 2007 damn that's crazy 2000 have a full time job it's closing up to the 2000s to be a millennial if you ask me yo 2007 is incredible yeah what TV show did you grow up watching hmm see I grew up back yard against yes that was my show I don't know something oh my goodness yes so did you miss I'm different in my own way got my new found fam gonna change the old game flip it to show Noah she'll know that Jackson VP see I'm not hit because you know that's all that's not that's told in its soul crazy how time be flying like that yeah try to figure out what else what what was the kids that was on when you were who was the kid show you was the kid show for your own set I'm gonna say it wasn't mini I was I was on my iPod watching Friday if I'm being honest come on Friday okay that is so good I'm just on there Tucker recently and I'm like is you I love Chris Tucker girl love Chris I love him every day I watch rush hour for him that rush hour is too good he's so funny he's just a great he's great he's so funny who's some of your favorite actors um I'm gonna go and to the best see yeah have St. Luke Kiki Palmer okay I love your new films they're amazing I love one of them days so funny um who was oh original home um who's another one I have some oh um Julia Roberts and pretty woman one of my favorite movies Julia Roberts has such an effervescence to her that cannot be explained I mean she is she's so heavenly she is she really really is I just love her what do you feel like you've learned in terms of personal relationships in the industry because obviously you're making a lot of money you're famous how do you know when people really are down for you and you got very famous very young so your introduction to like making friends like do you remember seeing the change or noticing it's kind of difficult now especially now that I'm lay lay you know um I don't know why I try to make friends and then think that they don't know me and then you know I'm like yeah you know this person doesn't know me I could be myself and then they're like wait I know you from somewhere I'm like no you don't you don't know me okay you don't know because I want to be myself because I feel like it's hard when somebody knows you because I don't know you just you you got to worry it's your it's your responsibility to keep yourself private you know to keep certain things private so I feel like I'm dealing with that right now it's a little difficult but I have my friends that I grew up with before I was lay lay so that helps a little bit yeah and even still making new friends I just make sure to keep certain things private because you can't really trust everybody yeah everybody kind of some they have some type of motive yeah and even if somebody doesn't know you like they watch your stuff all they got to do is go online and see your impact right and yeah and then it's like, ooh, so it's tough, it's tough. - It is tough, it's a tough world for sure. - Yeah. - And I think that's why some people have a lot of friends in the industry be somebody that they can relate to. But even then it becomes difficult because-- - Some of them is called chasing off you. - Yeah. - But I have learned, I have started to be more, I used to always assume that because somebody wasn't in the industry, they were more real. - Right, I thought that too, and that has nothing to do with me. - No, it don't. And now I'm more open to being friends with people that are in the industry. - Definitely. - I've actually had a little bit more success there. - Yeah, that's just kind of what we have to do. - Yeah, it's just because I was trying to come up with my life to be normal, to be grounded, to have a in and out. I was trying to be on the Hannah Montana. - Okay. - I literally said it all the time. - The best of both worlds. - But I couldn't do it. - You know, sometimes you gotta just stay your lane. - Yeah. - You know? - That's it. - I love that you did this with your new single "Spend It" to promote it. You actually hit money in Houston for fans to find. - Yes! - That's a dope idea. - I had so much fun doing that. - That money got found and we literally put it down. I turned this way, turned back this way. That money was gone. - Picked up. And I was so happy for her. I'm always so happy for everybody. - I love that. - I love that. How did you come up with that idea because I love the concept of giving back? - It's actually somebody's idea. They have, it's called "Find the Cash" and they have it in all different types of cities. And we just collaborated for it. - That's very dope. - Yeah. - Congratulations on signing with the Atlantic Records. - Yes, thank you. - I signed with the Atlantic Records when I was 12. That was my first record label, yes it was. What are you most excited about with this next chapter with them? - I'm just excited to just start a new journey. I feel like this is a new era for me coming from doing, from being in the industry as a child, so the industry as an adult and Atlantic, they know what they're doing. - You know, so I feel like I'm in good hands. I have a great team. They're very down to earth. The hospitality is amazing. So I think it's gonna go very well. - And they can be very specific with their artists development, like with their journey. So have you guys started talking about who you kind of want to be in the studio with or who they think could be good match with you producer-wise? - Yes, yes, for sure. And I kind of already did that on my own, just working with producers. Me and my dad, we were getting the studio with certain producers. Like, ATL Jacob. - Oh, love him. - Yes, I love ATL Jacob. I've been in the studio with him many times, had a great time. I recently worked with Jay White, did it. He recently just did spin that stuff by Kareisha. - Yup. - Uh-huh. - Yeah, I love working with new producers. I have a blast. I like to see what they can bring to the table for me and how they can make it different. - Yeah, you, I know we talked about you funding your first feature growing up, but I wanted to just know a little bit about the story. What is it about the story of growing up? Growing up? - The movie? - Yeah. It's basically just me transitioning to high school, but, you know, I'm still that girl, Lele. I'm still doing shows. I'm doing performance at all around the school. But I'm also still going through friendships breakups. I'm going through real relationship things of people being faking, you know, all type of stuff. It's just like a, it's literally what the title is. - Yeah. - It's growing up. It's growing pains. - Yes. - That's all it is. - Did you feel like you've had going through that process that you learned things about kind of doing your own thing from scratch, like positives and negatives as a funding your own project? - Yeah. Yes, for sure. I think it's just different. I feel like working on a Nickelodeon set and it's just, it's really put together. - Is that corporate? - Their budget is bigger. - For sure. - But when it came to mind, mine was more so a fun thing. It was like a, for my spirit type of thing, but I'm still doing what I love. So that's kind of what my set was. - It's important that I think that that's acknowledging that that's said and that you still did it, because a lot of people feel, especially once they've done traditional corporate stuff that they can't do things on their own 'cause it's not the same money or it's not the same this or it's not the same that. - It doesn't look the same. - It's the same trailer. You don't have the same, you don't have security. You don't have, you know, it's just different things that they can stop you. - But they can not stop you. - No. - I can't say how many times I've done big budget, low budget, low budget. - Okay. - I'm gonna do it though. - Do it all. - Because like you said, it's about doing what I love. - Yeah. - I think that that's like dope that that, and no point got into your head because that can't get into people's heads. And I tell people all the time, it shouldn't matter about that. If you have an idea, and you have something that you wanna do, you need to push through and do it for yourself. - Yeah, it's never about money with me. It's just about doing what I love. - Yes. - And making an impact with the, a positive impact with them. - So yeah. - You've been famous for literally more than half your life at this point. - Yes. - What's the best part of being famous and the worst part for you? - I think the pros, eh. - They're spending more than a thousand at the, okay, that's actually really just having money. That's not necessarily the famous part. - Yeah. - That's just like having what? - Oh, no, I'm still kind of dealing with fame. You know, it's kind of odd to just, you know, wanna just go out one day, but you know, you have to look a certain way. So, it's kind of one of the cons. The pros, I don't know, especially being in Houston, I go to certain places, and I'm getting led into the front door to back door 'cause I was lately. - Yeah. - I mean, I lately had the front letter, yeah, you know, so that's the pros. - Because I need people with even cousins. - Okay, look. - Says, look, that's the pros of it. But, you know, everything has its pros and cons. That's life. - It's so true. - Yeah. - You've accomplished so much. I mean, some things that people really never accomplish, you know what I mean? When you picture your life 10 years from now, what would you hope to see? - I definitely wanna do more in acting. I wanna do more serious roles. As of right now, I've kind of only played myself, which I'm enjoying. - Yeah. - I wanna be my sub because I never wanna get stuck in a role and not be able to get out of that role because I've seen it before. But, I definitely wanna be entrepreneur. I wanna have businesses. - Yeah. - I see myself still acting, but I kinda wanna be behind the scenes as well. And I just wanna run businesses. You know, I wanna have a salon. I wanna have- - Yeah. - A daycare. I just wanna have businesses. - I wanna- - I'm here for the franchise of everything really. - Yes. - Like, shoes, like, like, nails. - Yes, I'm also working on right now, edge control and lift gloss. - I'm here for this. - Yes. - Layed by Lay Lay. - Yeah. (laughs) - So I'm working on getting my entrepreneur back right now. - Yeah. - As big lay. - You should. I love it. And I see it all for you so easily. - Yeah. - Like, it's like, not even a question. It's like, Lay Lay. - Yes. - Everywhere. - Yes. - Okay, before we close out, I'd love to play a game with my guests. - Yeah. - So, you know, we got to get into this game. - Okay. - Now, before the world knew you from Nickelodeon, the bars were already there. So we are going back to the beginning with Ron Lay Lay energy. Okay, I'm going to give you the first half of a line. And then you just, you know, do a little quick, little freestyle of the rest. Okay, it's funny, cocky, inspirational, whatever you feel. - Okay, let's quick. - Okay. I walked in the room and they already knew that I was the baddest because I had on blue. - Ah! (laughs) - Hey, come on. - Okay. - Little Lay Lay had the bars. Ron Lay Lay got the car. Ah! Come on, car. - We whipping now. - We whipping. - If I'm spending money, then I'm spending it on. - If I'm spending money, then I'm spending on clothes. - Period, period. My dad always told me, you could tell we wasn't a rappers when we wrote this. We just the same. - I'm kidding. - At this point, you finished in a sentence. - How about you say, is this finished a sentence or rhyming, you know? I'm okay with that though. - I like that. - That's it, this is good. - But dad always told me that, do what I love and I'm gonna be good at it. (laughs) - Okay, Lara's part, if Kiki and Lay Lay hit the studio, we would be going off. I was just adding something to it myself. I ain't, let's go ahead and see you finish this in a sentence. If Kiki and Lay Lay hit the studio, we would be going off like Kool-A-O. - Oh, okay, I like that. I like that because Kool-A-O do be going off. - I wanna add myself like that. - Do you remember Kool-A-O? - I don't know, he wasn't on. - He's been spending most of his life. He was in what? - He made a appearance on that, Kin and the Kale. - Yes, he did. - He did that theme song. Aberdeen Castella, Magic and Karima, Penetella. - Yeah! - I don't know that one, but I like it. (laughs) - Okay, that's all I got. - Okay. - Lay Lay, I'm so happy that we had you on the podcast. - I'm so happy to be here. I remember us doing our first interview on Good Morning America. And now we here on Kiki Show, baby. - Ah! - Yeah. - Girl, I like that scene. - And we gonna Kiki, Kiki, Kiki, Kiki. - Okay. - Okay. - Yep, that part. - Give me some love, boo. (upbeat music) - I hope this conversation reminds you that growth doesn't have to be a rejection of who you used to be. Lay Lay came into this industry as a kid with a gift, a dream, and a whole lot of confidence. Now she's figuring out what it means to be a laya as well. And I think that's something so many of us can relate to. Sometimes people get attached to the version of us they met first. The challenge is giving yourself permission to keep evolving anyway. You don't have to choose between who you were and who you're becoming. Both can be true at the same time. I'll see you next time on Baby. This is Kiki Palmer. ♪ Baby, this is Kiki ♪ ♪ Baby, this is Kiki Palmer, yeah ♪ [BLANK_AUDIO]