My City June 2021

MYMUSIC

THA BEAST LANI

Little Girl, Big Dream BY PETER HINTERMAN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PORSCHE JACKSON

“It’s Tha Beast Lani!” R ight before the beat drops and you hear that signature phrase, you know you are in for an exciting performance.Tha Beast Lani is the stage name for aspiring Flint rapper Milan Reaves and for her, the past year has been a busy one. She has been recording, writing songs and performing in local venues and as far away as Atlanta, GA. She has released seven singles and as many music videos. She has thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok and fans throughout the U.S. Oh, and she’s only ten years old – so she’s got school, to boot. “I like school because it’s fun being with the other kids, but this year I’ve been learning from home,” she says. It all started a year ago after Lani listened to her Uncle Ramone (known as Elite) perform. “She wrote and presented two songs, ‘Big Bands’ and ‘Good Grades,’” says her mother and manager, Raquel Reaves. “I was blown away. We all were. She was serious about it, so we jumped in and have had our foot on the gas ever since.” Her father, a music producer known as Do Good, helped with the production and Lani provided the rest. She was a natural. “The music just works for her,” says her mother. “She writes about the things she loves to do and wants to talk about.” p

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