Seventeen-year-old Luh Tyler has stumbled upon his music career with the relaxed demeanor of a teenager on a hoverboard. Convinced to try his hand at beats with friends last summer, Tyler now comfortably sits on the precipice of a dizzying ascent in the world of new-school pimp rap. However, it didn’t start out that way.
After a casual dabble in an app called BandLab, recommended by his rap-involved friends, Tyler released his debut album, “My Vision,” under Motion Music and Atlantic Records. A smooth elixir of midtempo and paradisiacal funk, the album soars with a no-fuss production that prioritizes Tyler’s vision over commercially tempting factors. His selection of collaborators is equally thoughtful, bringing onboard names like BabyTron and Trapland Pat, dubbed by Tyler as the most promising young star in Florida’s hip-hop scene. The seamless shared understanding among the artist, his guests, and the record company is very much the backbone of the project’s success, illustrating clearly that Tyler’s laidback approach is not accidental.
Luh Tyler’s music is an enticing blend of storytelling, with bona fide hits like “Law & Order,” and “Back Flippin’,” the latter of which he created offhandedly without expectance of the viral fame it eventually garnered. His visual storytelling is just as eloquent, with videos such as “Law & Order,” which vividly depicts the beauty of Tallahassee at sunset, somehow romanticizing teenage life there. The influences of Detroit rapper Babyface Ray are hard to ignore, particularly the rapper’s use of pimp vernacular in his song “Luh Tyler Flow.”
Unfazed by his incredible ascent, Luh Tyler creates with comfort and belief in his vision, freely availing beats from YouTube, as seen in his remake of a famous, jazzy Mike Post number. Even his influence of mass-produced cop dramas betrays the casual sincerity that is slowly emerging as the hallmark of his style.
An intriguing facet of Tyler’s fledgling career is his mature understanding of his craft. Simultaneously straddling the worlds of social media stardom and nuanced lyricism, he juggles the influence of youthful vogue with a surprisingly traditional commitment to technical precision and lyricism. This, coupled with his signature casual approach, makes for an exciting prospect in the unpredictable world of rap.
A larger stamp on Tyler’s career comes in his collected tour experiences, highlighted by an electric crowd in Germany, moshing to his tunes despite their mellow beats. Having toured for a month, he continues to find joy in the novelty of festival performances, appreciating both his chance to perform and witness others.
With roots firmly in Tallahassee, the teenage phenom now finds himself rubbing shoulders with giants in the industry, courted by prestigious labels, and championed by the likes of Atlantic Records and Motion Music. Big names like Drake and Moneybagg Yo are within arms reach, with an aspirational focus on achieving the level of recognition those names command.
Luh Tyler’s rise may have started in Grandma’s maroon-rustic living room in Florida, but it now stretches to mammoth festival stages like Rolling Loud. Juggling familial advice, trust in his music, and a deeply rooted philosophy reflected in his art, this rising star represents a refreshing authenticity in a genre often accused of homogeneity.
His recent emergence as a finalist for the title of 2023’s best hip-hop artist on Spotify’s much-followed playlist, RapCaviar, is further testament to his burgeoning presence. Although the title eluded him this time, he remains undeterred by the prospect of such a lofty achievement.
Luh Tyler’s story is not just about a reluctant teenage rapper from Tallahassee. It’s about an old soul in a young body, an unintentional prodigy painting vivid portraits through his music, one beat at a time. And despite his humble origins, Tyler has come to understand that stardom is not just a worthy pursuit in his craft; it is the natural consequence of true passion and an unvarnished vision.
