Mykki Blanco
Mykki Blanco is a Black trans rapper, poet, activist and performance artist. She is credited as one of the pioneers of queer rap, breaking boundaries in gender expression, hip hop and art.
In 2016, she released her debut album Mykki – an affective and candid album which grapples with anger, angst, vulnerability and sadness. The opener, ‘I’m In A Mood’ is a fierce and frank anthem, full of direct address and self-knowledge, she sings: “I’m in a mood tonight / sitting in my room can’t fuck with you tonight, yea I’m fucking rude”. The next track, ‘Loner’ is an ode to isolation in a digital world, one that is both deeply personal and universal. It is softer – featuring vocals from indie R&B singer Jean Deaux – but not without potency. The album is tonally and lyrically perfect, featuring bangers like ‘You Don’t Know Me’ – about Blanco’s experience coming out as HIV-positive – and ‘High School Never Ends’ about forbidden love and the classroom politics that filter into adult life.
Mykki is an important album for Pride month because it is daring, experimental, political and frank. Her profound words and catchy beats have carried me through moments of darkness and joy, pride and shame. In terms of earlier and dancier tracks, I recommend the catchy ‘Wish You Would’ featuring fellow queer hip hop giant Princess Nokia, or ‘Ace Bougie Chick’, a major big 90s throwback where Blanco sings: “You ain’t get no love for me / your ass was shady on the low”. Characteristically playful and bold, in another iconic tune, ‘Wavvy’, she asks: “What the fuck I gotta prove to a room full of dudes who ain’t listening to my words cuz they staring at my shoes?”
Read more: My Pride Month Reading List: 6 Black LGBTQ+ Authors To Read
After a four-year musical hiatus, Blanco has released new music and announced an upcoming album this lockdown. One of her releases, ‘You Will Find It’ is an atmospheric track featuring Venezalan-American singer Devendra Banhart. Blanco notes “it felt necessary” to release “something tranquil and sanguine to counter all of our current anxieties.” Her ability to tap into the cultural and collective consciousness is what makes Blanco a musical genius, and I am excited to see what shape the next album takes.
Words by Gabby Koumis