Are we finally nearing critical mass for queer representation in hip-hop? Two years after Frank Ocean’s Blonde debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, hip-hop collective Brockhampton — featuring openly gay member Kevin Abstract — achieved the same feat with their new album Iridescent.
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Abstract, 22, even raves about boyfriend Jaden Walker on “Something About Him,” the album’s fourth track:
“Something about him / His car ain’t nice and flashy. There’s something about him / Yeah, his attitude, it’s like magic / There’s something about him / I know I got to have it / And oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”
Brockhampton’s triumph is worthy of celebration, to be sure, but Abstract — born Clifford Ian Fernando Simpson — imagines a future in which his sexuality will be so normalized that it won’t even be noteworthy.
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“I don’t want to be labeled as a ’queer rapper,’ I just want to be a rapper,” he told BBC Radio 1. “I have to exist in a homophobic space in order to make change, and that homophobic space would be the hip-hop community. So me just existing and being myself is making change and making things easier for other young queer kids. I want to be me and express that and break new ground along the way.”
Speaking of breaking ground, here are some of the other queer rappers and hip-hop stars who have climbed the Billboard charts over the years:
Frank Ocean
This bisexual artist’s track “Thinkin’ About You” peaked at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012. And in 2016, his third album, Blonde, debuted at #1.
Azealia Banks
Banks is also bisexual, though her relationship with LGBT population is complicated at best. Nevertheless, her album Broke With Expensive Taste reached #30 on the Billboard 200 in 2014.
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Young M.A.
This lesbian rapper hit the jackpot with her 2016 single “OOOUUU.” The track went triple platinum with more than 3 million certified units sold, and it was remixed by everyone from 50 Cent to Nicki Minaj.
Cazwell
This gay rapper has been burning up dance floors for over a decade, reaching #31 on the Dance Club Songs chart with three of his tracks and #14 with his 2013 effort “Guess What?”
ILoveMakonnen
Boosted by a guest verse from Drake, this rapper’s track “Tuesday” reached ascended to #12 on the Hot 100 in 2014. He came out as gay on Twitter just over two years later.
Taylor Bennett
Never mind that Chance the Rapper is his big brother: Taylor Bennett is becoming a star in his own right. He was featured on the Krewella track “New World,” for example, which rose to #29 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
Zebra Katz
This queer rapper earned guest spots on two tracks on alt-rock band Gorrilaz’ 2017 album Humanz — one of which, “The Apprentice,” reached #18 on the Hot Rock Songs chart.
Syd
Syd, a former Odd Future collective member, co-founded a soul/hip-hop group called The Internet in 2011, and the group’s album Hive Mind reached #26 on the Billboard 200 in August. As a solo artist, the openly gay artist peaked at #7 on Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart.
Donston
Can this site please stop giving people “labels” when they have completely avoided them? You will not find any interview, social media or anywhere in his music where Ocean says he’s bi or gives himself any identity. And Azealia never said she was bi either. In fact, the only identity she has given herself is “gay” and “queer” despite only men and currently dating one. We’re not talking about people from fifty or sixty years ago. Let them speak for themselves.
Terrycloth
I stopped reading after the words hip hop.
dcbanks
your a moron
Mr_Heffel
He wants to be known as a rapper, not queer rapper. Good for him. Not everything has to be about someone’s sexuality. People need to stop using labels when they aren’t necessary.
This labeling is becoming so over done and OLD! The current generation needs to stop using labels like it’s a fad.
Your a human being and you might like men, women or both…enough said….now do something productive in your life.
Mozo83
He’s cute as hell. If I were 200 years younger…
sfhairy
So now we have to do the billboard 200? if you’re cracking the 200, that means you aint selling anything.
dcbanks
Why so bitter?
CanadianGuy62
I love it when someone tries to call someone out on being stupid and says, “your a moron.” It’s, “you’re a moron.” ;-P
simulations
It’s been the Billboard 200 since May 1967. Where have you been the last 51 years?
Birdbrain1963
NO