Keke Palmer, a multi-talented performer known for her acting, singing, and producing, has spent nearly her entire life in the entertainment industry. Despite her early success, including her breakout role in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee, Palmer reveals that her journey through the music industry was far from easy. In a candid new interview for The Cut, the 31-year-old actress opened up about the challenges she faced as a young artist and how she took control of her music career by launching her own label, Big Bosses Entertainment.
Palmer’s music career began shortly after her rise to fame. Just one year after her Akeelah success, she released her debut album, So Uncool, under Atlantic Records. However, her path in the music business was marked by frustration. After parting ways with Atlantic, she signed with Interscope Records and later Island Records, releasing the Lauren EP in 2016. Despite her efforts, Palmer felt that the music industry struggled to understand her as an artist.
“You need to know how to understand data and how to speak to people who are not creative so they can make more money,” Palmer explained in her interview with The Cut. “Music is a numbers game. It feels a little more soulless.”
For Palmer, the disconnect with the industry wasn’t just about creative differences, but also a lack of support for artist development. She believes record labels were more focused on numbers and quick successes, leaving artists like her to fend for themselves in a complex and often overwhelming environment.
“There’s no real artist development,” Palmer reflected. “A lot of times, labels just try things, throw things out, and when they don’t work, they blame the artist. They don’t really support the artists in discovering how to share their voice or tell their story.”
This sense of frustration ultimately led Palmer to take matters into her own hands. In 2023, she launched her own record label, Big Bosses Entertainment, and released her latest album, Big Boss, through the company. The album represents Palmer’s newfound freedom as an artist, one where she controls the direction of her music, image, and career.
In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Palmer spoke about how her past experiences with major labels shaped her decision to go independent. “I learned a lot about what I really needed as an artist, which was artist development,” Palmer shared. “I spent a lot of those years figuring out what went wrong or why things weren’t connecting for me as an artist.”
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Her approach to her music career has been a journey of self-discovery. Palmer compared the process of becoming an artist to the experience of breastfeeding—something that may come naturally, but is not without its challenges. “It’s like breastfeeding is a natural thing, but getting into it doesn’t come to you naturally. I think that’s what it’s like being an artist,” she said. “I’m talented, I can sing, I can perform, but knowing how to present that to the world, there’s still an art to that.”
Palmer’s determination to carve her own path has paid off, with Big Boss receiving attention for its bold sound and empowering message. The album marks a pivotal moment in her career, as it showcases a more authentic version of herself, unfiltered and unapologetically real.
In addition to her music career, Palmer has also been making waves in other industries. She stars alongside SZA in the newly released film One of Them Days, a project that has already generated significant buzz. Fans and critics alike have praised Palmer for her versatility, demonstrating that she is more than just a multi-hyphenate performer but a force to be reckoned with in multiple areas of entertainment.
Palmer’s journey from a child star to a self-made mogul is inspiring. As she continues to expand her creative ventures, she remains determined to create art that is true to herself. “My experience with labels taught me that I had to figure that out because they weren’t able to really help me with it,” she explained.
Her evolution in the music industry serves as a reminder of the challenges many artists face when navigating a system that often prioritizes profits over creative freedom. By taking control of her own destiny, Palmer is proving that success in the entertainment industry doesn’t have to come at the expense of one’s artistic integrity.
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As Palmer continues to thrive in her career, she also uses her platform to advocate for change within the industry. In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Palmer discussed how movements like #MeToo need to extend into the music world, stating, “Everybody’s a crooked cop,” highlighting the systemic issues that artists, particularly women, face behind the scenes.
Palmer’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and empowerment. By refusing to conform to industry expectations, she is paving the way for other artists to take control of their narratives and pursue their dreams on their own terms. As she continues to break boundaries in both music and film, Keke Palmer remains an inspiring example of what it means to be a true artist in today’s world.