Yo!
This is the first installment of a new series we're calling MCV Community Highlight! This segment is created to highlight some of the dope people in Nashville and what they are doing to make a difference in the community.
For our very first community highlight guest, we are highlighting D'llisha aka Elles!
1. What legacy would like to leave behind?
D'llisha: I would love to see even more women entering spaces in Nashville's hip hop/urban community's ecosystem. I can count several who are beginning to be the next advocates for the city and it is beautiful to see. Knowing there are people that look up to me for what I do for the city has never been taken for granted. I cannot wait to see what publications come next, what creative team of women pops up, the women who saw the puzzle piece that I played in this community and want to do the same if not more.
2. Describe the most pivotal moment in your career?
D'llisha: Tough one. I would say a pivotal moment in my career when it comes to event production and concert booking has been reaching out to Tobe Nwigwe's team after noticing Nashville wasn't on the tour schedule. I ended up getting the date added and the show sold out. I would say this moment shares space with booking Larry June and the show selling out in 2 days. It just shows artists that Nashville, indeed, has more to offer than country music and rock. There's music lovers here of artists in R&B and Hip Hop that NEED these shows. I'm happy to play my part in bringing these memories to the city.
3. What is the hardest belief you had to unlearn navigating in the industry?
D'llisha: That women had to answer to someone or play certain roles. We truly can do it all on our own if it comes down to it. A quote I keep as a reminder is: "Only limitations you'll ever have are those you place upon yourself." -GLC
4. Can you describe how music impacted your life?
D'llisha: Wow music is a big part of my life, on a business level but also very much personal as well. I have always been attached to music through my older brother, sister, and parents. It was one way I felt I could always learn from them in a different way to make me feel more mature haha. My brother fed me Nas, Jay-Z, and Ruff Ryders; my sister fed me Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, and TLC; my dad Too Short, SOS Band, and Warren G; my mom Kirk Franklin, Janet Jackson, Tony Toni Tone, and Kem. After I started venturing off listening to things I liked, I realized how timeless music was. It has pushed me through the toughest times, the happiest moments, and is an immediate time capsule depending on what song I hear.
5. Name 3 pieces in your closet you can’t live without.
D'llisha: A jacket of some sort, a pair of black jeans, my shoe collection
6. How did you get the name 2L’s On a Cloud?
D'llisha: I was a big fan of Wiz Khalifa and during the blog era his song "Name on a Cloud" was literally on every blog. As a big fan of The Pharcyde and their song "Runnin" I decided to put the hardest part of my name on a cloud "2Ls." I added a double entendre on it and used the 2Ls as "Living Life in the Clouds of Success" as a means of reaching the top.
7. Can you explain your initial concept for Nashfeels? Has it altered anyway since it’s initial launch?
D'llisha: Nashfeels actually came into fruition by accident. We were working with a business colleague out of New York who wanted to bring a music tour to Nashville in July of 2019. It ended up falling through but we still did the event on our own. There was a great turn out and we knew we needed to call it something that we could build upon. I told my business partner, "Nashfeels" and we immediately began discussing how we would want people to FEEL entering the party: we wanted everyone to feel safe, that you could unwind, and have a good time. The initial concept was strictly R&B. However, we recognized our love for music overall and did not want to limit it to just R&B. We changed it to a theme based party experience because we wanted to keep it refreshing and make patrons feel like there was a new experience each time.
8. Did you predict Nashfeels to create such an uproar in Nashville?
D'llisha: We knew we were filling a serious void in our events. I think once I started seeing "SOLD OUT" after the third one in February 2020 (right before the pandemic), I knew we had something special. We had so many spaces for hip hop and r&b music lover to attend in my earlier days, so we wanted to bring that feeling back. Since then it has spoken for itself. We've sold out every event since returning from the pandemic. It's been beautiful to witness.
