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Azealia Banks
Ollie Millington via Getty Images
Azealia Banks may be self-destructively petty and engage in strange chicken rituals, but there is one admirable thing about the “212” singer: she doesn’t want to be defined by her sexuality. Ever since, the rapper’s following has grown unstoppably – with four million monthly listeners only on Spotify.
As festivals are being held throughout the world this June in honor of LGBTQ Pride Month, homage is simultaneously being paid to black music pioneers in acknowledgement of Black Music Month.
Given the hip-hop community’s reputation of homophobia, which is particularly geared towards gay men, iLoveMakkonen’s decision to come out to the public was commendably unapologetic.
Songs like "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" directly confront prejudice with powerful, sometimes provocative music videos.
8. But, as chronicled on VH1’s “Love and Hip-Hop: New York,” Pearson has also been trying her hand in the music business.
In addition to having her own record label, she also appears in Tony Yayo’s song “It’s A Stick Up.” Pearson’s tumultuous romantic relationship with former girlfriend J.
Adrienne also served as an interesting storyline on the reality show.
15. Frank Ocean
Ilya S. Savenok via Getty Images
Frank Ocean fans were annoyingly shook when the “Thinking About You” singer revealed that he once fell in love with a man in a 2012 Tumblr post. From these elements, the pair build statements that address ideas of belonging, LGBTQ+ rights and the spectre of postcolonial Africa, and translate them to the global stage.
Honey Dijon
She’s played almost every festival and club around the world – before the pandemic, she could play four different sets in just two or three days.
He’s played every major festival, opened for Tyler, The Creator, and has collaborated with the likes of Puff Daddy, Toro y Moi, and Tei Shi, among many others.
Faka
Hailing from South Africa, Faka is a duo formed by artists and performers Fela Gucci and Desire Marea, who use sound design, performance, literature, video and photography in their constantly expanding and multi-hyphenate practice.
Taylor Bennett
Emma McIntyre via Getty Images
Chance The Rapper’s adorable little bro Taylor Bennett came out via social media in January when the rapper and actor took to Twitter to declare his bisexuality. That means listening to their music, understanding their messages, and seeking out new, diverse gay black singers to elevate.
Because in a world where music is all around us, shouldn't it sound as diverse and beautiful as the world itself?
Sylvester: The Disco Trailblazer Embracing His True Voice
Sylvester, known as the "Queen of Disco," was a force of nature whose flamboyant stage presence and powerful falsetto vocals helped define the dance music era of the 1970s.
Todrick Hall
C Brandon via Getty Images
Todrick Hall didn’t win the ninth season of American Idol where he was told by Simon Cowell that his singing career would never go beyond Broadway.
Hall did star in Broadway’s “Kinky Boots” beginning last November, but he wasn’t limited the stage as salty Simon predicted.
After videos and images of a brutal aggression to black trans Minneapolis woman Iyanna Dior at the hands of her Black peers/protestors went viral, it was clear that the pro-Black, antiracist revolution isn’t enough. With an almost innate vocation to help and take care of their community, Ali has been improving their surroundings by writing poetry, performing on stage, hosting parties like Kahlon – where they brought the likes of then-unknown Juliana Huxtable and Princess Nokia –, and starting podcasts like Drumbooty, where intellectuals and activists discuss themes such as gender politics and colourism.
Big Freedia
With one million followers on Instagram, Big Freedia, known as the Queen of Bounce, is a New Orleans-based rapper and ambassador of Bounce music.
Young M.A
The hip-hop community’s acceptance of gay rapper Young M.A marked an important moment within and outside of the music genre last fall. These artists aren't just shaping the future of music, they are inspiring activism, fostering community, and embodying the transformative power that music holds.
Beyond his groundbreaking music, Sylvester challenged norms with his androgynous style and open embrace of his identity as a gay black man. He embodied the liberating spirit of disco—expressing yourself through music, movement, and a refusal to be confined by expectations.
His androgynous image blurred gender lines, with dazzling costumes and bold makeup making him an impossible-to-ignore stage presence.
Kaytranada
Noam Galai via Getty Images
In a 2016 interview with Fader, DJ & music producer Kaytranada revealed he was over being closeted.
“I do recognize myself as a bisexual male & do & have always openly supported the gay community & will keep doing so in 2017.
French DJ and producer Kiddy Smile is no stranger to the fashion and cinema worlds, intertwining his music practice with other artistic interests that make him more complete as a performer and creative.
Lil Nas X
The rapper broke the record for longest consecutive run in the No.
1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – seventeen weeks. The rapper, poet and activist started making waves in the early 2010s with works like Cosmic Angel, Betty Rubble and Gay Dog Food, and she’s collaborated with everyone from Dazed to Gucci, to Teyana Taylor, Woodkid and Devendra Banhart since then. Siya
Gabe Ginsberg via Getty Images
Rapper Siya first entered the public eye when she starred in Oxygen reality show “Sisterhood of Hip-Hop.” Since then, she’s become a regular on the series and has teamed up with R&B artist Tank for a few musical collabs.
Just one year later, he released his first work, Miles From Heaven, a 10-track album exploring her experiences as a young trans girl living in NYC – titles range from Death Drop and Drama to Rough Club Sex and Bonfire.