These are two women who know what they want and who they don’t want. Their witty lyrics and strong bass lines slap timidness in the face; creating the perfect hype-girl music. Taking influence from artists like Dianna Ross and inspired by the world around them, This Ain’t the Album embodies boldness and chutzpah. Comprised of Folayan Omi Kunerede and Bobbi LaNea Taylor, Flyana Boss are interlinked and in sync, bouncing off each other's intense eclectic energy. After meeting each other at a music college in Los Angeles, Flyana Boss found a spark, and since then have developed that flicker into a roaring fire.
With their ability to mix genres and channel their own sound through seamless transitions, Flyana Boss is highly recognised, collabing with the Missy Eliot on their hit track You Wish and already gaining over 100k views on their music video for single yeaaa. Utilising their social media presence, the glowing duo know how to work the masses and make themselves seen and heard – greatly appealing to Gen Z-ers. Having already released singles yeaaa and Candyman, the full EP is set free on March 29th ready to be consumed. We introduce you to Flyana Boss.
Hi, and thank you for talking with us! To get things started, could you tell the readers a bit about who you both are and who you become?
Bobbi: Hi, I’m Bobbi, and we’re Flyana Boss. This is my best friend Folayan and we’ve become Flyana Boss.
Folayan: I’m an Aries. I like long walks on the beach. Actually, I don’t; I like a long lay on the beach.
Bobbi: I’m a Leo. And I like a long walk, but not on the beach.
Folayan: I’m an Aries. I like long walks on the beach. Actually, I don’t; I like a long lay on the beach.
Bobbi: I’m a Leo. And I like a long walk, but not on the beach.
Where do you get your influence from? Your stage name Flyana Boss suggests boldness and hardiness, just like the iconic Diana Ross. How does this persona guide your music and performances?
Bobbi: Diana Ross is always a guide. She represents class, decadence, performance, showmanship, and black excellence. We always look to Diana Ross, and we are also bold in our artistic expression as well.
Folayan: We get our influences from the birds chirping, from the leaves falling, to the changing of the seasons, to the jingle of a chain, to the sway in our hips. We are inspired by everything surrounding us.
Folayan: We get our influences from the birds chirping, from the leaves falling, to the changing of the seasons, to the jingle of a chain, to the sway in our hips. We are inspired by everything surrounding us.
The chemistry between you both is so infectious! Being a rap duo, how do you manage to balance your individual styles and voices with a collective vision when working together?
Bobbi: We give each other space to be our own individual selves. And somehow, it really meshes well.
Folayan: I am me, but I’m also she, and she is me.
Bobbi: When we say “we,” we mean both of us, and when we say “I,” we mean both of us.
Folayan: It’s really cool. I love that about us. And our chemistry is infectious, thank you! Everyone says that and they’re right.
Folayan: I am me, but I’m also she, and she is me.
Bobbi: When we say “we,” we mean both of us, and when we say “I,” we mean both of us.
Folayan: It’s really cool. I love that about us. And our chemistry is infectious, thank you! Everyone says that and they’re right.
Your lyrics are often about self-confidence and empowerment. My favourite line out of all the tracks is “you ain’t my man you my maybe” from Stupendous. What creative process goes into creating such ingenious lines? How do you think your lyrics impact listeners, especially young women?
Bobbi: We were like in the car jamming out and just saying random stuff to each other back and forth, as we do. And then we went back to for Folayan’s house and she just got this baby puppy, named Daddy. I had Daddy in the palm of my hands. And we were just rapping back and forth at each other coming up with these lines bar for bar. That’s all I can say.
Folayan: We love to be self-empowering. We feel like the girls, the gays, and the they’s always need a little more empowerment because the world is a cruel place.
Bobbi: Especially for disenfranchised people. So we’re going to be a representation for people who feel weird or like an outcast.
Folayan: Also, we’ve just been playing like... you ain’t my man.
Folayan: We love to be self-empowering. We feel like the girls, the gays, and the they’s always need a little more empowerment because the world is a cruel place.
Bobbi: Especially for disenfranchised people. So we’re going to be a representation for people who feel weird or like an outcast.
Folayan: Also, we’ve just been playing like... you ain’t my man.
Following on from this, how do you use your platform and position as black female artists to uplift and inspire your community? Have you faced any challenges as women of colour in the rap/hip-hop industry that you feel are important to mention?
Bobbi: We only know what it is like to be black and of color. And women.
Folayan: It kind of comes with the skin—empowering our community. And no matter what we do, it’s going to be empowering to black people and black women.
Bobbi: There are probably struggles that we have that we don’t even know about. We only know how to be us.
Folayan: We love being us and black women, and we love being a voice for young black girls who want to be big stars.
Folayan: It kind of comes with the skin—empowering our community. And no matter what we do, it’s going to be empowering to black people and black women.
Bobbi: There are probably struggles that we have that we don’t even know about. We only know how to be us.
Folayan: We love being us and black women, and we love being a voice for young black girls who want to be big stars.
“We feel like the girls, the gays, and the they’s always need a little more empowerment because the world is a cruel place.” Folayan
Flyana Boss has a unique sound that blends multiple genres. The rap scene is also constantly changing, so how do you stay true to your musical roots in this constant state of evolution? Can you walk us through the musical journey that led to this distinctive style?
Folayan: Well, we’re always changing. Life is about evolution and growth. It’s about watering yourself and continuing to step into your greatness.
Bobbi: We’re just creating every day, all the time.
Folayan: Whatever comes out of us is a depiction of our sound. But in general, we’re very eclectic. We like that about ourselves.
Bobbi: We’re just creating every day, all the time.
Folayan: Whatever comes out of us is a depiction of our sound. But in general, we’re very eclectic. We like that about ourselves.
What tracks on the EP hold the most meaning to you both? Money At Master seems rooted in anger, was there a circumstance that triggered the creation of this track?
Bobbi: It’s never anger. We weren’t mad, but our co-writer was a little upset or annoyed about the financial strife of songwriters in the industry. So we were just vibing off of his energy. It’s never rooted in anger. If anything, it’s just playfulness. It’s very silly if you listen really closely.
Folayan: We’re silly girls, and we like to have a good time. But yeah, the songwriter thing is a cool topic to rap about, so we thought we would ask the CEOs where the money at?
Folayan: We’re silly girls, and we like to have a good time. But yeah, the songwriter thing is a cool topic to rap about, so we thought we would ask the CEOs where the money at?
You were blessed to collab with the legendary Missy Elliott and rap goddess Kaliii in a version of your hit song You Wish. How was it getting to work with such inspirational people? If you were to collab with any fictional character or creature (for a hypothetical future project), who would it be and why?
Bobbi: Missy Elliot was a dream come true. We still can’t believe that actually happened. And Kaliii is the goddess of rap.
Folayan: Yeah, that is a description. The You Wish remix is a dream come true, to be honest.
Bobbi: Either the Cheetah Girls or Tommy Pickles.
Folayan: The Kraken. Or maybe a zombie.
Folayan: Yeah, that is a description. The You Wish remix is a dream come true, to be honest.
Bobbi: Either the Cheetah Girls or Tommy Pickles.
Folayan: The Kraken. Or maybe a zombie.
Your headlining tour, The Bosstanical Garden Tour, is comprised of eighteen cities, including your home cities Detroit and Dallas and current base Los Angeles. How does it feel to go from running as support for Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure Tour, to then journeying on your own tour with supporting acts Honey Bxby and Josh Levi? Surely this is quite a shift in dynamic.
Bobbi: We’re really happy to be on The Bosstanical Garden Tour, and we’re also really happy to have Honey Baby, Josh Levi, and Ramaj Eroc, Christian Dennis, OGK, and of course, Marky Style. We are so grateful for our crew and support and to be headlining.
Folayan: Janelle’s tour prepared us for tour life and what it’s all about. We are forever grateful for the age of pleasure.
Folayan: Janelle’s tour prepared us for tour life and what it’s all about. We are forever grateful for the age of pleasure.
Finally, as artists, you rely a lot on social media to boost your work and show the world your eclectic “weirdness.” If you were only allowed one media platform for the rest of your career, what would it be?
Bobbi: We want to be big stars on your TV screen.
Folayan: Maybe one day, we’ll be the first black women duo, late-night hosts, who knows?
Folayan: Maybe one day, we’ll be the first black women duo, late-night hosts, who knows?
