Bktherula

Bktherula
Also known as
  • Bk[1]
  • TheRula
  • Santanny
Born
Brooklyn Candida Rodriguez[2]

2002[3]
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2015–present[1]
LabelWarner[5]
Member ofThe Scythe

Brooklyn Candida Rodriguez (born c. 2002), known professionally as Bktherula (styled BKTHERULA), is an American rapper and singer from Atlanta, Georgia.

Early life

Born in 2002,[3] Brooklyn Candida Rodriguez was raised in Atlanta, Georgia in a Roman Catholic household.[6] Her mother was a singer,[7] and her father was a rapper in a 1990s group called Planet X[4] that opened for A Tribe Called Quest. She grew up influenced by the mix of old-school hip-hop and R&B in her home, including the sounds of acts like Tribe and Michael Jackson.[8]

Rodriguez recorded her first song at the age of 9 on a tape recorder.[4] She started uploading songs to SoundCloud at the age of 13. Discovered on Instagram by some young creatives who became friends and supporters, she began performing live at age 15.[7] But in high school she was bullied and left after her sophomore year to be homeschooled.[7]

Career

2018–2023

Bktherula began getting traction on the streaming platform SoundCloud in 2018 with the release of her singles "Faygo" and "Left Right".[4] In 2020, her song "Tweakin' Together" went viral on social media platform TikTok.[4] In January 2020, she released her single "On Me"[9] and her mixtapes Nirvana[10] and Love Santana.[11][12] Early in 2020 Bktherula produced her own festival, RULAFEST.[13]

Millions of plays of tracks such as "Tweakin' Together"[14] helped lead to her July 2020 signing with Warner Records.[15] Pitchfork highlighted her first Warner single, "Summer."[16] In 2021 Warner released her album Love Black,[10] which included the single "Placement" featuring Matt Ox.[17]

In March 2022, she released two singles titled "Keep da K" and "Coupe"[18] and collaborated with Rico Nasty on the track "Vaderz."[19] In August 2022, she performed at Rolling Loud in Miami.[3]

In February 2023, she released her mixtape LVL5 P1,[20] from which she earned the No. 2 spot on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of "50 Innovators Shaping Rap's Next 50 Years."[21]

That year, she modeled for fashion designer Mowalola Ogunlesi at London Fashion Week[22] and featured in a Marc Jacobs fashion campaign along with Debbie Harry and Lila Moss.[23]

Also in 2023 she collaborated with NBA YoungBoy on a new remix of her song "Crazy Girl."[24]

2024–present

Forbes named Bktherula to its "30 Under 30" list for 2024.[25]

In March 2024, Bktherula released LVL5 P2, the sequel to LVL5 P1.[26] An Alternative Press profile described her as a "genre-bending rapper and singer-songwriter" with a "distinct and experimental sound that continuously pushes the boundaries of rap."[27] In the spring she was a support act on part of Pink Pantheress's "Capable of Love" North American tour.[28] On June 14, 2024 Bktherula performed for Lyrical Lemonade's 2024 Summer Smash in Chicago.[29] In late 2024, she joined Ice Spice on her Y2K! World Tour in Europe.[30]

On June 27, 2025, Bktherula released her fourth studio album, Lucy,[31] the name of a character Bktherula conceived as a kind of spiritual alter ego, with inspiration from several sources: Saint Lucy; the 3.2 million-year-old female hominin known as "Lucy";[32] and the title character of the Scarlett Johansson film Lucy because that Lucy, Bktherula said, "basically accesses 100 percent of her brain."[33] The advance singles included "BBGIRLGOSLOW" with Ty Dolla $ign,[34] and "BIG FEELING" which went viral on TikTok.[35] The album included five songs Bktherula recorded herself while staying in Joshua Tree, California.[36] Her "Lucy Experience Tour" supporting the album included shows at Irving Plaza in New York City,[37] ZeyZey Miami,[38] and the Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[39]

Also in 2025 Bktherula was featured on Coi Leray's September single "Pink Money."[40]

Her January 2026 single "BIG FEELING"[41] received more than 17 million streams on Spotify by June. Her 2026 tour schedule included appearances at Middle Tennessee State University with GloRilla[42] and at First Class Fest 2026 in North York, Ontario, Canada.[43]

Her May 2026 single "I GO PUNK," her first collaboration with hardcore producer Whethan, was a blend of rap and EDM that marked her entrance into the EDM space.[44] It was the first single from her announced summer 2026 album N5ON.[45] A summer 2026 European tour consisting of headline shows and festival appearances was announced in May.[46]

The Scythe

In January 2026, rap supergroup The Scythe was formed, featuring Bktherula, Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, ASAP Ferg, and Key Nyata as members. (Bktherula had worked with Curry on the October 2024 track "Still in the Paint.")[47] The group's debut album, Strictly 4 the Scythe, was released on March 6, 2026, with the lead single "Lit Effect" featuring Curry and Bktherula.[48]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Release date
Love Santana January 11, 2020
Nirvana October 23, 2020
Love Black October 22, 2021
LVL5 P1 February 17, 2023
LVL5 P2 March 15, 2024
Lucy June 27, 2025
N5ON 2026
EPs
Title Release date
Love Nirvana June 16, 2023
Singles
Title Year Album
"Left Right" 2019 Non-album single
"No Crip"
"C4" 2020 Love Santana
"Tweakin' Together"
"Uh Huh"
"Summer" Nirvana
"Admit It"
"OKOK" / "Depressing"
"Not Wock" 2021 Non-album single
"Blue" / "Santanny"
"Keep Da K" / "Coupe" 2022
"Through 2 U" Love Black
"Forever Pt. 2" LVL5 P1
"Tan" 2023
"Pssyonft"
"Crazy Girl Pt. 2"

(with YoungBoy Never Broke Again)

 Non-album single
"Tatti" LVL5 P2
"It Wasn't Me" Non-album single
"Crayon" 2024 LVL5 P2
"The Way"
"Adult Swim" Lucy
"Delilah" 2025
"Bbgirlgoslow"
"Dumb Shit"
"Big Feeling"
"I GO PUNK" (with Whelan) 2026 N5ON

References

  1. 1 2 Aku, Timmhotep. "Bktherula wants you to vibrate higher". The Fader. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Information on Bktherula's songs in ASCAP ACE database". ASCAP. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Silano, Jaime (September 16, 2022). "6 Hours With BKtherula, Before Her Fiery Set at Rolling Loud". Vice. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 High, Kemet (January 27, 2022). "The Break Presents – Bktherula". XXL. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bktherula – Love Black". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ Scott, Nicolas-Tyrell (February 24, 2023). "Bktherula, the Atlanta rapper walking the runway for Mowalola". Dazed. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Schade, Alessandra (March 15, 2024). "Bktherula is a student of the universe". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Bktherula". Audible Treats. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ Pierre, Alphonse (January 14, 2020). "The Ones: Bktherula's "On Me"". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Pierre, Alphonse (October 28, 2021). "Love Black". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  11. ↑ Draughorne, Kenan (October 26, 2020). "Bktherula Had A Spiritual Awakening Making 'Love Santana' That Revealed Her True 'Nirvana' Power". HipHopDx. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Admit It, You Love Bktherula". DJBooth. September 16, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ "BKTHERULA DROPS NEW VIDEO "IDK WHAT TO TELL YOU"" (PDF). press.warnerrecords.com (Press release). Los Angeles, CA. October 26, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  14. ↑ Aku, Timmhotep (October 20, 2022). "Bktherula wants you to vibrate higher". Fader. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bktherula Makes Her Warner Records Debut with New Single "Summer"" (PDF) (Press release). Los Angeles, CA: Warner Records. July 2, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ Pierre, Alphonse (July 8, 2020). "The Ones: Bktherula's "Summer"". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  17. ↑ Barlas, Jon (October 21, 2021). "Bktherula releases third album 'LOVE BLACK'". Our Generation Music. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ Rouhani, Neena; Lee, Cydney (March 7, 2022). "R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Cochise, Morray, Tiana Major9 & More". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  19. ↑ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (April 20, 2022). "Rico Nasty and Bktherula Share Video for New Song "Vaderz"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ Cho, Regina (February 23, 2023). "Bktherula returns with new 'LVL5 P1' project". Revolt. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Bktherula returns with new 'LVL5 P1' project". Forbes. January 1, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ Nicolas-Tyrell Scott (February 24, 2024). "Bktherula, the Atlanta rapper walking the runway for Mowalola". Dazed. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  23. ↑ Haffenden, Dayna (June 12, 2023). "Blondie's Debbie Harry Brings Her Rock and Roll Edge to Marc Jacobs' Latest Campaign". People. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  24. ↑ Smith, Nadine (September 22, 2023). "Song You Need: Bktherula and YoungBoy Never Broke Again share a toxic anthem". Fader. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  25. ↑ Medithi, Vivian (March 15, 2024). "Music". Forbes. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ Medithi, Vivian (March 15, 2024). "Bktherula expands her consciousness on LVL 5 P2". The Fader. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  27. ↑ Schade, Alessandra (March 15, 2024). "Bktherula is a student of the universe". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ Paul, Larisha (November 14, 2023). "PinkPantheress Schedules Headlining 'Capable of Love' North American Tour for Spring 2024". People. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  29. ↑ Fisher, Caroline (June 21, 2024). "Summer Smash 2024: 7 Most Memorable Performances Of The Weekend". Hot New Hip Hop.
  30. ↑ Morton, Devin (May 5, 2025). "Bktherula Gets Brutally Honest On Banger Track "DELILAH"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  31. ↑ Cole, Alexander (June 27, 2025). "Bktherula Returns With Genre-Bending Full-Length Album "LUCY"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  32. ↑ Marisa, Kalil-Barrino (August 18, 2025). "DIGITAL ISSUE 01: Who is LUCY?". 1202. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  33. ↑ Fondren, Precious (July 2, 2025). "How Bktherula and TiaCorine Built Their Own Lanes in the World of 'Boy Music'". Type.Set.Brooklyn. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  34. ↑ Cole, Alexander (May 16, 2025). "Bktherula Teams Up With Ty Dolla $ign On Vibey Single "BBGIRLGOSLOW"". Hot New Hiphop. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  35. ↑ "BKTHERULA IGNITES VIRAL MOMENT WITH "BIG FEELING" MUSIC VIDEO". Imprint. 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  36. ↑ Swinton, Taylor (November 5, 2025). "Ascendant Atlanta rapper Bktherula is ready for 'superstar status". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  37. ↑ Abreu, Alfonso (January 15, 2026). "The Hype is Real for Bktherula (Irving Plaza Concert Review)". SoundFynd. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Bktherula". Shotgun. October 26, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  39. ↑ Losano, Lacey (December 7, 2025). "Bktherula Closes Lucy Experience Tour with Chaos at The Sinclair, Cambridge - Review". Siren. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  40. ↑ Williams, Aaron (September 12, 2025). "Coi Leray Tries Out A New Style With 'Pink Money' Featuring Bktherula And G Herbo". Uproxx. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  41. ↑ Murray, Robin (January 27, 2026). "Bktherula's 'Big Feeling' Is A Colossal Viral Moment". Clash. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  42. ↑ "GloRilla feat. BKTHERULA – April 29, 2026". mtsu.edu. April 21, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  43. ↑ "First Class Fest - Day 1". Live Nation. October 30, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  44. ↑ Callwood, Brett (June 2, 2026). "Video of the Week: BKTHERULA Goes Punk". MusicConnection. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  45. ↑ Brabo, Joseph (May 30, 2026). "BKTHERULA and Whethan Unleash "I GO PUNK" Ahead of N5ON Album and International Tour". Respect My Region. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  46. ↑ Alper, Eric (May 6, 2026). "Atlanta Alternative Hip-Hop Trailblazer BKTHERULA Takes the N5ON Tour Across Europe This Summer". thatericalper.com. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  47. ↑ Schube, Will (October 30, 2024). "Denzel Curry Shares "Still in the Paint" From New LP Version of King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2". Flood Magazine. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  48. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (January 22, 2026). "Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, A$AP Ferg, Bktherula, and Key Nyata Form Supergroup the Scythe". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
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