Lila Iké Responds To ‘Too Hype’ Critics After Saying She Will Not Do Collabs With Some Upcoming Artists
If you’re an up and coming artiste, you need to get your levels up before thinking about a collaboration with Reggae/Dancehall singer Lila Iké.
The Solitude singer has responded to critics on social media after she said in an interview that she’s not interested in working with upcoming artistes who haven’t yet put in the work.
During the interview aired on TVJ’s Entertainment Report on June 26, journalist Anthony Miller asked Iké if she has been getting offers for collaborations and whether she’s turning down any.
Lila revealed that some of the offers she receives are not on her level.
“For sure, tons and tons of people a reach for collab, some a them I’m really like, you just nuh deh desso yet fi deh pon a song with Lila Ike, to be honest,” she said.
Iké says most upcoming artistes reaching out to her are trying to use her platform but they have to put in work for such opportunities. “I feel like most of the people reaching out to me right now are upcoming artistes that are seeking a way to get themself known or get into the business, and I am not really, in support of that, mi really feel if you want something you have to work for it.”
Besides her obvious talent, the requests might be flooding in for Iké, because the singer had called for more collabs between Dancehall and Reggae artistes during her takeover of the Clarks Original’s Instagram account on May 28.
She said then that Jamaican music would have a greater impact worldwide if it weren’t for the fact that “that Reggae over ya so and Dancehall ova ya so.”
Fans and critics alike have jumped at the comments made by the sultry songstress, who recently released her first EP, The Experience, as well as a new video for one of its singles, Forget Me , yesterday.
“So the hype get to Lila Ike already smh uni listen to the fvckry weh she a seh. My ratings for you dip my girl swear,” @filodeen tweeted with a clip of the interview.
https://twitter.com/filodeen/status/1279096880031358976
I will say this, if the excerpt (outside of the FULL Context) shown of Lila Ike was said by a Male artist .
People would still bash said artist for not being supportive of other artists and being HYPE…
— Andre Millwood (@AndreMillwood) July 3, 2020
You can watch the entire interview below.
Another critic analyzed the clip and suggested that Iké herself was an upcoming artiste who was put on (“buss”) by another major artiste. “Nuh Protoje buss yuh?,” asked @tennz_antonia.
Lila Ike’s message has two parts:
1. “I don’t feel theses artiste are on the level to be on a song with Lika Ike”. Which I know can be true. Fine.
2. “Dem need to work hard for their own” how she know dem nah work? Nuh protoje buss yuh?? 🤔— Big Batty Gyal Gud Evenin (@tennz_antonia) July 3, 2020
Lila is signed to Protoje’s In.Digg.Nation Collective where she gained massive support and success since her first hit single Second Chance. Earlier this year, In.Digg signed a deal with RCA Records and Six Course which would see Lila and her labelmate Sevana producing music under the new partnership.
Meanwhile, the singer came to her own defense and said that her comments were taken out of context. The TVJ interview did not include her caveat where she noted that she was ready with work with anyone once they’re talented and have a good work ethic.
“Posting about this and commenting so people can understand how quick we are to judge. Here is the rest of the interview where I clearly say ‘once it is that you’re great at what you do and have work ethic,” she said.
Iké added, “continue as you were that’s why me say me like me Solitude.”
https://twitter.com/LilaIkeJa/status/1279138502366593025
In the full interview, Iké added to the previous comments “personally mi kinda focus on my thing, if I have to do a collab it would have to change my life.”
She goes on to say that being who she is and the label she’s signed to, anything she wants goes, “ with the label now, anything is possible, I can be in studio with Alicia Keys, with her, I just have to say who I want to work with and it happen.”
Several fans also jumped to Lila’s defense as they felt the artiste said nothing wrong.
I’m sorry ppl love tell people fi humble. She worked her ass off to get where she is.
— Chelan876 (@mamachell) July 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/abii_abz/status/1279116996110581760
https://twitter.com/StillNita/status/1279100937039216641
https://twitter.com/javheer/status/1279129289527607296
https://twitter.com/justinswvnk/status/1279114964846985218
Yea the way Lila said it and her tone is kinda nasty. She said not on that level to work with an artist like Lila Ike- if she phrased it better there wouldn't be as much people upset
— adam driver’s pinky ring (@chickgrayson) July 3, 2020
lila ike when she find out filodeen ratings fi her drop: https://t.co/z24R97YkZ3 pic.twitter.com/REw0QxwLcT
— deji (@rundejirun) July 3, 2020
Watch the full TVJ Entertainment Report interview.