Dykes on the mic: lesbians in hip hop

September 29th, 2008

There’s more to lesbian music than guitars - Bianca Camminga introduces some of the top dogs in lesbian hip hop.

They are referred to as ‘gayngsters’ and put out a brand of hip hop that is all gay all the time.

They are claiming the airwaves internationally with their infectious blend of music, searing political commentary and unashamedly filthy mouths.

They say it like it is and if you have ever been asked what do lesbians do (in the bedroom/ in general/ feel free to place any term here), chances are more than likely that these ground breaking acts will be able to supply answers and make the person asking want to sing along.

It’s not all about the music

The hip hop industry is one fueled by violence, homophobia, bravado, misogyny and extreme masculinity. It’s all about who can take the most drugs, get shot more and have the ugliest tattoos to prove it. Women being heard without having to grind their booty or sing about how they are going to search your ‘big trunk’ is not only praise worthy but ‘dance on the tables and celebrate’ worthy.

Think about it, if I asked you to name an openly gay mainstream hip hop artist (not someone you think/ desperately wish could be gay), you’d probably come up empty. There is something to be said for a massive musical genre that has almost no visible male or female gay artists. But the homohopolution (ok I made that one up) is coming and we better be ready.

Who’s leading this not-so-underground lesbian army?

Yo Majesty are an American duo made up of rapper Shunda K and singer Jwl B. They recently appeared on Mercury Nominee, Neon Neon’s celebrated debut album and are set to tour with them in a couple of weeks.

NME rates them as one of the top ten bands to watch out for in 2008. They have toured with The Gossip and have been hailed as one of the most exciting bands in America right now. Shunda K is famed for claiming that if Fitty Cent can take off his top at a show, why can’t she?

KIN are the stylish up and comers but by no means strangers to the music industry having been around for 10 years.

They recently recorded a track with super producer Pharrell Williams called ‘Goodfoot’ which is receiving a surprising amount of attention. Interestingly enough, the group claimed that in the beginning of their careers they hid their sexuality but after receiving widespread support from their LGBT fan base decided to change tactic and be out and proud.

Let’s not forget London’s finest and 2008 black LGBT Community Awards nominee, Mz Fontaine. Originally from the US, Fontaine released her first album New Era in 2003.

She has called London home since 1992 and is considered a leading face within the black LGBT community. Her songs have featured on The L Word, at London Fashion week and she was the first, youngest and so far only black Patron of Pride London.

Mz Fontaine is a busy lady. She runs her own record label Fondation records, organises music workshops and has been involved in a documentary distributed in British schools to help combat gun violence. According to GO NYC Magazine “Mz Fontaine… is the most exciting British import since metro sexual power couple David Beckham and Posh Spice took New York by storm.”

Last but certainly not least and my personal favourite, God-des and She. Probably best known for their downright dirty single ‘Lick It’ (video below) and for appearing at Carmen’s batchelor party in The L Word, this NYC based duo have been tearing up the club scene since 2004.

Although parallels have been drawn between them and other mainstream artists like Da Brat and Eminem, the duo have made it clear that they will not bow to record label demands and change who they are and how they dress. Their single ‘Love You Better’ appears on the debut release of gay record label Music with a Twist.

In the words of God-des, ‘They want to mould me and make me into a clone. A hip hop robot I wouldn’t stand alone. I stand next to Foxxy, right behind Kim, right next to Trina - damn she’s looking slim - staring at Latifah turning feminine. I like Eve with the short hair and not with the weave in but I totally respect them it’s not their fault the labels hold the key to this musical vault. Money does the talking and so sex does the walking, so these females do the walking so they can do the talkin‘ (God-des& She -This is the Life)

Artists like Usher can claim that they believe that ‘Women have started to become lovers of each other as a result of not having enough men‘ but who really cares what he thinks? I would far rather listen to Yo Majesty’s Club Action than his not so original, yet annoyingly catchy, Love in this Club.

It’s about time the hip hop closets got thrown wide open, and it’s great to see the women leading the revolution.

Watch the (too hot for MTV!) video for God-des and She’s Lick it:

Posted in: Books & Art, Community, Exclusives, Music |

 comments