After the release of her single “Water” in 2023, Tyla became an international pop sensation. She won a Grammy in February for Best African Music Performance, and on Monday (April 29), the song was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA.

People started comparing her to Rihanna early on, mostly because their intertwined acts of interaction were so similar. While the “Diamonds” singer departed for the US when she was sixteen years old, Tyla spent her formative years in Johannesburg, South Africa, before making the journey to the UK.

After months of having her compared to the music superstar for a Cosmopolitan cover story, Tyla finally spoke out about it today (April 30). The reason Rihanna is Rihanna is what makes it flattering, she elaborated. That’s very kind of you. Meanwhile, I’m the one who creates the art.

Hey there, I’m Tyla. And I’m quite aware that when people hear my music and come to know me, they will just recognize me as Tyla. This is alright with me now, she went on to sаy. Wow, it’s wonderful that people are trying to link me to something they know. The fact remаins, nevertheless, that our endeavor is unique and unlike anything anyone has ever attempted.Tyla expressed her enthusiasm for RiRi’s rise to fаme during an interview she gave to Trevor Noah in 2023 for Interview Magazine. I usually identify with music, not with certain performers,” she said. Even though Rihanna was born outside of America, I still recall being enamoured with her tale. I felt like my fantasy could come true since, as you mentioned, it’s not something that happens to us very often.

Tyla released her first album, simply titled Tyla, earlier this year. Hits like “ART,” “TrutҺ or Dare,” and “On and On” were among the many fan favorites included. “No.1” from the project has Tems’s vocals, and “Jump” features Gunna and Skillibeng. Kelvin Momo, Becky G, and Travis Scott were among the other featured guests.