Ms. Tique / Kayla Character Analysis in On the Come Up

Bri first meets Kayla as Ms. Tique during one of Kayla's rap battles at the Ring. Kayla is a small young woman and an exceptional rapper—she wins her battle, and Bri idolizes her. When she's not rapping, Kayla works at Sal's with Trey, and Bri later discovers that the two are romantically involved. As Bri gets to know Kayla better, she finds that Kayla is a saint and willing to put up with Grandma's nosiness in order to be around Trey. Kayla is attending college and studying marketing, in addition to working independently as a rapper.

Ms. Tique / Kayla Character Timeline in On the Come Up

The timeline below shows where the character Ms. Tique / Kayla appears in On the Come Up. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Hype calls the room to attention and announces the first battle: a young woman named Ms. Tique and a guy named M-Dot. He introduces the judges, and M-Dot starts. Bri thinks he's... (full context)

...insists this isn't true. Laughing, Trey congratulates her on her Ring performance and says that Kayla—Ms. Tique, whom he works with—told him about it. Bri thinks that it's sad that someone... (full context)

Trauma, Poverty, and Childhood Theme Icon

...soon. He asks if that's because of Bri's song, and says he knows about the Ring—Kayla texted him links immediately after it happened. He reminds Bri to not involve herself with... (full context)

...is shocked that Trey has an Instagram account, but teases him when he says that Kayla made him get one. He points out that the video will look bad to future... (full context)

...lets Bri in and sends her to Trey in the back. Trey is mopping while Kayla watches. Kayla seems tinier in real life and takes issue with Trey's mopping. They flirt... (full context)

...and wonders if Pooh has to save herself. Trey reminds Bri that Pooh made choices. Kayla calls Trey to the front, and he makes Bri swear to not do any more... (full context)

...about what Miles said about being himself as she arrives at church the next day. Kayla is with Trey, as he recently introduced her to Jay as his girlfriend. Bri finds... (full context)

Bri heads over to Jay, Trey, and Kayla, smiling so hard it hurts. They take their seats in the pews and Grandma and... (full context)

...with the cooking—making Bri wonder if Grandma is an alien—though Bri isn't allowed to help. Kayla and Trey arrive. Trey goes to talk with Granddaddy, and Grandma refuses to let Kayla... (full context)

Grandma tells the table everything she learned about Kayla while Bri, Trey, and Mom were upstairs. Kayla is rapping and studying marketing. Grandma latches... (full context)