In Motion with Flyana Boss

WORDS BY: JESSE ZAPATERO

PHOTOS BY: ANGEL RIVERA

Flyana Boss have never been interested in standing still. Long before viral marketing became a blueprint for success, Bobbi and Folayan were sprinting through city streets, turning everyday locations into the backdrop for a movement that felt impossible to ignore. Those now-iconic videos may have introduced the world to their quick wit and magnetic chemistry, but they only scratched the surface of what the duo has been building. Equal parts rappers, performers, storytellers, and cultural disruptors, Flyana Boss have spent the last few years proving that originality isn't a gimmick—it's a long game.
Their latest project, UNDER THE INFLUENCE, arrives at a moment where the pair feel completely at home in their own lane. Pulling inspiration from the dance floors, club records, and larger-than-life personalities of the '90s and early 2000s, the eight-track EP channels the kind of nights that become stories years later. There's an undeniable sense of fun woven throughout the project, but beneath the high-energy production and playful bars is a celebration of confidence, individuality, and the freedom to take up space exactly as you are.
That balance has become Flyana Boss' greatest strength. Their music can make you laugh one minute and make you feel unstoppable the next, blurring the lines between hip-hop, pop, dance, and anything else that sparks their creativity. Whether commanding festival crowds, sharing stages with some of music's biggest names, or building a brand that feels entirely their own, Bobbi and Folayan continue to move with the same fearless energy that put them on the map—only now, they're setting the pace instead of chasing it.

Your rise started with people literally watching you run through cities, now that the world has caught up, what are you running toward creatively?

Bobbi: Running to our next creative awakening, running to full creative autonomy!!!

Folayan: We're running toward peace and prosperity. It's a never ending marathon where the journey is the destination.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE is dropping on Juneteenth. What does releasing a project centered around freedom, confidence, and uninhibited energy on that date mean to you personally?

Bobbi: It means everything. Our whole brand is about confidence, freedom, and self expression. While this project doesn't touch on Juneteenth themes specifically, as a descendant of slaves in this country, Juneteenth means a lot to me.

Folayan: There isn't a strong correlation between the date and the mixtape. Our project is about having fun and dancing, releasing your inhibitions. And we pour libations for our ancestors who paved the way for Black girls to be able to have fun.

"Feelin' It" sounds like the moment after self doubt dies. What experiences pushed you into this more fearless era?

Bobbi: Honestly, people having me fucked up in life, because they gonna have you fucked up either way, so it might as well be on your own terms.

Folayan: I think life experiences teach you that the only way to defeat fear is to walk with it and understand that it doesn't define you. It's an ongoing lesson. My father dying taught me that life is not promised, so you better live life loudly.

The internet rewards attention spans that last 10 seconds, but music careers require longevity. How do you balance making moments versus making legacy?

Bobbi: Honestly, you just gotta keep going. That's it. People's attention spans are gonna be what they are, you just gotta keep going and keep doing you.

Folayan: I think this era of artists having to promote themselves online can be fatal for creation. It's definitely not easy, but the only way through it is to keep creating no matter what. If you don't put your focus on "the moment," those organic moments will come.

"Feelin' It" and "Jungle" lean into club and EDM energy without losing your rap identity. Was there ever a moment where experimenting with genre felt risky?

Bobbi: No, never. Genre experimentation never feels like too big of a risk. It's more of a risk not to try new things and experiment.

Folayan: It definitely felt a little risky, but our supporters are very open minded and eclectic.

You've worked with brands like Nike and DoorDash while maintaining a rebellious, anti box image. What's your internal test for deciding whether a partnership still feels authentically Flyana Boss?

Bobbi: That's kind of a loaded question, but we just try to do things that make sense for us. If it don't make sense, it can't make no dollars.

Folayan: It's mostly about whether we feel like we can still maintain our authenticity throughout the collaboration process. Some brands are very strict, so the ones that allow us creative freedom are the ones we like working with.

Touring with artists like Janelle Monáe, Kesha, and Black Eyed Peas means seeing completely different fanbases react to you. Which audience surprised you the most?

Bobbi: Playing Birmingham, Alabama opening up for Janelle Monáe was probably the most surprising. It was so queer, so liberating, and very unexpected for Birmingham.

Folayan: Janelle Monáe's tour changed our lives. We were freshly going viral, and her audience welcomed us with open arms and amazing energy.

Missy Elliott co-signing you feels almost symbolic because she also built a career off originality that couldn't be boxed in. What did that validation unlock mentally for you?

Bobbi: It's been so valuable. She's always been someone that we admire, and to get a co-sign from her felt like we were on the right track.

Folayan: It unlocked that our dreams are closer than we think

Your music often sounds playful on the surface, but underneath there's a lot of commentary about confidence, femininity, ambition, and power. Do you think humor is one of your sharpest weapons?

Bobbi: Absolutely. It's been my tool through life, internally and externally. I don't know what I would do without my humor.

Folayan: Joy is definitely our sharpest weapon. We want to spread joy through dance, humor, and community.

If someone only knew Flyana Boss through social media clips, what part of your artistry do you think they're still missing?

Bobbi: We're so much more than social media. We're a force on and off the stage, and I don't think you can get a full scope of that from watching us online. You gotta see us live.

Folayan: Our stage presence. Performing is our favorite part of this experience.

A lot of artists say they "don't care what people think," but your music feels more like you've learned not to care. What taught you that lesson?

Bobbi: I'm glad our music feels that way. Overall, it's a good message not to care what people think, but it's not realistic. In some moments I care deeply about what people think, and in others I couldn't give a fuck.

Folayan: I've been an oddball my whole life, and everyone always have opinions. You have to go where you're loved and appreciated. There's an audience for everyone.

The title UNDER THE INFLUENCE can mean so many things, influence of music, culture, ego, nightlife, freedom, even social media. What "influences" shaped this project the most?

Bobbi: The early 2000s. That era is always a heavy influence, and its presence is really felt throughout this project.

Folayan: The '90s and 2000s! Drinking responsibly and dancing irresponsibly!

Songs like "TRY ME," "C*NT," and "Feelin' It" feel intentionally confrontational in different ways. Are you trying to provoke people, empower people, or expose people?

Bobbi: I think all of the above. It's up to you what you wanna get out of Flyana Boss.

Folayan: Empower! You can be full of joy and light and still tell a bitch not to try you!

Your music celebrates confidence, but confidence can sometimes become performance art. What's the difference between feeling yourself and protecting yourself?

Bobbi: Sometimes confidence is quiet, and that can be protection. Sometimes it's popping your shit and feeling yourself!

Folayan: The more you perform confidence, the more you'll actually become it. No one else will advocate for you but you. Feeling yourself is the first step, then you protect yourself by KNOWING that you're that bitch. You build armor against outward negativity.

If you both were a book, what book would you be and why?

Bobbi: Probably The Color Purple. It's the story of a Black woman being liberated and freeing herself, and what a process that can be. It's also my favorite color and I can't walk by it without feeling something.

Folayan: I'd be Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, because I'm a mf star!!!!!