Brooklyn Rodriguez had been making music with her mother since she was nine years old before uploading her first songs to Soundcloud at the start of her teens. Starting as simply BK, the Atlanta native added “therula” to her stage name as she embarked on a musical journey that spans years of trial and error. 

“It honestly was just a journey of finding out what I really want to do,” explained Bktherula.”It is almost like finding yourself because I made a lot of music just kind of based on what I heard sometimes and what was around me at times. And then I was just like, I'm tired of this sh*it.”

Bktherula’s breakout moments would take place around 2019 through the release of popular tracks like “Faygo” and “Left Right.” She musically fit right in with surrealist trap-inspired cloud rap that gave rise to artists like XXXTentacion, Rico Nasty(whom she would collaborate with on several occasions), and Trippie Redd, among others. Setting Bktherula distinguishing her the most was a focus on more queer themes and a purposefully off-pocket flow which worked well with sung rap delivery. 

“It took a lot of, I guess, self-awareness and not wanting to be just a clone of someone else,” Bktherula said. “I didn’t want to be in one genre, thought about winning awards and wanted to be in my own genre. I would describe it as man trance music, mantra music, like dream matrix, I don't know, level five music, level five.”

Level Five or LVL5 is a series of albums that began early last year through LVL5 P1 [Player One], which featured popular tracks including “Tan '' and “Forever PT2. (Jezabel)” featuring Destroy Lonely. Besides other projects like 2021’s Black Love and singles such as the Ski Mask The Slump God assisted “THROUGH 2 U,” there’s always been this video game aesthetic about Bktherula. Out of her dozens of tattoos, she even has some dedicated to popular games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty. She even aspires to make the soundtrack to Rockstar Games’ billion-dollar open-world shooter series Grand Theft Auto.

“I’m so excited for GTA IV,” said Bktherula. “I’m trying to get in that b**ch. I need my song on that radio. I’m trying to get on while I’m on a hype.” 

In an Instagram video last year, Bktherula even discussed how she got into video games. “When my brother was asleep, I would play Call of Duty on his Xbox until I started standing on business and got my own,” she said. 

Until that happens, Bktherula is gearing up for LVL5 P2 [Player Two]. Out now, the sequel marks a significant evolution in her artistic and spiritual journey. Demonstrating remarkable growth, she crafts a distinctive sound blending distorted and chaotic elements with celestial melodies and bold flows through tracks like “TATTI” and “The Way.”  According to Bk,  LVL5 P2 is a more mature project than previous ones, hoping listeners understand her evolving creative freedom. 

“She’s more in the mode for sure and definitely brought that money in,” said Bktherula. “I want listeners to take away the idea that there’s no such thing as black balling or black listing. You can do whatever the f**k you want and still go there. You don't have to follow that fucking blueprint that everyone's telling you to follow. It's actually very possible for you to do what you want as the world is limitless. But a lot of people have fear and that is what holds people back, but not me.”

Like other projects from Bktherula, features on LVL5 P2 are kept to a minimum while being as impactful. There’s “SHAKIN IT” featuring Cash Cobain in addition to JID guested “Woman.” She recalls getting introduced to the “Surround Sound” rapper at a Rolling Loud festival they both performed at in Europe.

“I was a type of nervous because he’s a f**king Atlanta GOAT,” Bktherula said. “Then he invited me and the gang into his green room and we all started taking shots. We talked for a dummy long time and we got cool as f**k. Then he told me to send him some stuff and I thought he was lying because I be lying. But I sent him music and that’s how “Woman” came to happen.” 

Bktherula has succeeded at playing the game exactly how she wants to. With over a million followers across Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, she knows the power she wields in keeping her fans attentive. Then again, most of her fans watched Bktherula grow from teenager to full-grown woman.

“It’s scary, no cap,” she said. “Looking back and seeing how many years that has gone by since I started and I think about your parents telling me don’t try to grow up too fast. I’m like nah.  But it's beautiful at the same time. It's beautiful getting to know different versions of yourself and we're going to be gone forever. So it's a little nerve wracking because one day I’m going to be 50, but it's just like, it is nice. It's fun.I wouldn't change anything.”