20 Rappers Who Are Part Of The LGBTQ+ Community
In this post, we list some rappers who embrace being gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual, and are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Attitudes toward sexual orientation remain a complicated issue especially in hip hop music. Nonetheless, you’ll find openly LGBTQ+ rap artists who are eager to show you that there’s a vibrant and diverse community within the music industry, unafraid to express themselves through their music.
1. Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, is definitely more out there about his sexual identity than other openly-gay artists. Jeremy O. Harris of GQ magazine mentioned that “His detractors thought he was going to fade away after “Old Town Road.” And yet Lil Nas X has been, for both hip-hop and pop culture, a destabilizing force—a “trickster,” if you will—who has changed how we do what we do, and who gets to do it, forever.” He acknowledges that his fame has made it easier for him to come out but says there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of acceptance for the LGBT community in society.
2. Tyler, the Creator
https://youtu.be/hqduuVWIGyU
Tyler’s discussion of sexuality is nothing new, then, the question (if there is one) is whether he’s talking autobiographically here or just being provocative and operating within fictional parameters. The controversial rapper’s lyrics in a few songs suggest a switch from homophobia to an admission of homosexuality, sending fans into a confused tailspin. Nonetheless, his music has made numerous direct references in lyrics and interviews to having had same-sex relationships or experiencing same-sex attractions.
3. Young M.A
In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Young M.A stated that she often felt out of place when she was hiding her sexuality. Her mother would often try to get her to discuss her sexuality, but she would always deny she was a lesbian. She stated that she feared her mother wouldn’t accept her if she came out. In the interview, she said, “I used to be scared to tell my moms, though I knew my moms wasn’t the type of mother to be like ‘Oh, I don’t like you’ or ‘I’m gonna ignore you,’ but part of me still was scared.” However, in an interview with Hollywood Unlocked, the rapper explained to ‘that she does not consider herself as a gay woman. She went on to tell that she doesn’t see the need to have labels or pronouns. She would rather be referred to as a human being who is romantically attracted to women.
4. ILoveMakonnen
In January 0f 2017, Makonnen announced on Twitter that he was gay. Later on in 2021, he tweeted a litany of claims reminding fans that he introduced rap to homosexuality: “I started this gay shit.” Along with this, he said he was the reason for the prevalence of gayness in the mainstream now, with tweets like “I’m the reason u gay” and “Ur timeline says otherwise sweetheart cus all I see is that gay shit” in response to somebody tweeting he did not do a good job introducing gayness to people.
5. Snow Tha Product
Snow Tha Product says her experience as a gay Latin female recording artist hasn’t always been easy, but she assures that honesty is the way to go. In an interview with Billboard about her decision to come out she said “I think the decision affected my art in the sense that I can speak about certain things even though I’m still not very forward. I say things with a lot of double meanings but I feel like being able to talk about girls in my songs, at least people can understand me more now.” In this clip, Snow Tha Product also discussed her role in the hit series Queen of the South and detailed how she landed the role. She also talked about her experience being in a same-sex relationship, how she came to know she was bisexual and opened up about getting married at 19.
6. Da Brat
Da Brat revealed her sexual orientation in an emotional Instagram post, where she confirmed her relationship with Kaleidoscope Hair Products CEO Jesseca Dupart by celebrating an early birthday gift: a white Bentley tied in a red bow. In an interview with TMZ she said that, “There’s a different vibe these days when someone comes out as gay versus back when she was coming up in the industry … when artists could lose everything just for coming out.”
7. Queen Latifah
Latifah long refused to address speculation around her sexuality and personal life, telling The New York Times in 2008 that “I don’t feel like I need to share my personal life, and I don’t care if people think I’m gay or not”. At the BET Awards 2021, during her acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award, she publicly acknowledged her partner Eboni Nichols and son Rebel for the first time, ending the speech with “happy Pride!”.
8. Kevin Abstract
Kevin’s brazen expression of his gayness pushes forward hip-hop’s growing acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. Abstract came out as gay in 2016 and his records often mention his sexuality. He has stated he will rap about being gay as long as he can imagine a fan in need of a voice.
9. 070 Shake
070 Shake uses female pronouns when describing lovers. A 2017 Vogue essay on rising queer stars in rap music mentioned Shake being in a relationship with Sophia Diana Lodato. In a 2018 Pitchfork article, Shake said she doesn’t like to put labels on her sexuality. “I don’t really identify myself as queer or gay or anything. I just like girls.” She was also in a relationship with singer Kehlani.
10. Kidd Kenn
Kidd Kenn is Chicago’s most popular openly gay male rapper. He first established himself in 2018 as one of modern hip-hop’s most commanding voices with the Soundcloud premiere of his unabashedly queer freestyles, “Gummo” and “Slide Remix.”
11. Mykki Blanco
As of 2019, Mykki Blanco identified as transgender and uses she or they pronouns. Blanco has used different gender pronouns throughout her career. She began hormone therapy for her gender transition in 2019. The non-binary rapper has been living outside the US for the past five years, residing mostly in Europe: London and Portugal’s countryside but moved to Hollywood.
12. Big Freedia
Though Freedia identifies as a gay man she is ambivalent her about pronouns, using she/her pronouns. In an interview she mentioned that, “My fans prefer me to be called ‘she’, it doesn’t matter to me either way whether you call me ‘he’ or ‘she’. I’m comfortable being who I am. My pronoun is ‘me’.” The bounce superstar says that she’s become more outspoken for her community, and tries to use her platform to spread positivity wherever she can.
13. Cakes Da Killa
Cakes Da Killa appeared on the Hot 97 radio show Ebro in the Morning where he freestyled live on air. Throughout the interview, he’s sexuality kept being a topic of discussion, with Ebro calling him a “gay rapper” and Bradshaw correcting him to call himself “a rapper that happens to be gay”. In another interview he referenced the rap industry’s general lag — miles behind pop and rock — in promoting LGBT voices on its grandest stages, especially men.
14. Angel Haze
Angel Haze spoke candidly on her sexual identity during an appearance on Fusion TV. The rapper was asked if she identified with pansexuals or people “who love across a spectrum.” “It exactly is…If I had to identify, that is the term I’d use to describe how I feel,” said Haze. The rapper maintained that she doesn’t like labels on sexuality and classifies herself moreso for other people. She further explained that her sexual identity has little to do with actual sex and she’s still a virgin. “I see people for who they are…I don’t base all of my relationships off of sex. I’m still a virgin… I care about connecting with people on a deeper level…I want something that’s deep-rooted.”
15. Saucy Santana
Saucy Santana came out as gay at age 17. As an openly gay rapper in the notoriously homophobic hip-hop landscape, Santana has always had to work with a thick skin. His unapologetic attitude towards his gender non-conforming fashion sense plus his lyrical genius has made him a trailblazer. In an interview he said that “The world has changed so much, and gay is everywhere,” he said. “[We need] to just keep banging down the door.” For him, that involves recording songs that prove just how talented he is.
16. Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia identifies as bisexual and has stated such in a past interview and has also talked about how growing up near the queer community of New York City was an important part of her life. The early stages of Princess Nokia’s musical career began through performing at gay clubs, as she gained popularity among the gay nightlife scene. She also identifies as a gender non-conforming person and uses both they/them and she/her pronouns.
17. Lil Wop
Rapper Lil Wop has come out as bisexual via an adorable Instagram post. The rapper, who was formerly signed to Gucci Mane’s record label 1017 Records, commemorated Valentine’s Day with a selfie posted to Instagram. In it, he’s wearing a white T-shirt rolled up to resemble a crop top, and has his half-bleached hair pulled into pigtails. On Twitter he wrote “I’m Bisexual I Like Guys & Girls,” he wrote, keeping it simple with smile and heart emojis. “It’s W.E.”
18. Taylor Bennett
Bennett first came out as bi-sexual in January of 2017 — one day before his 21st birthday. “Growing up I’ve always felt indifferent about my sexuality & being attracted 2 one sex & today I would like to openly come out to my fans,” he tweeted. “I do recognize myself as a bisexual male & do & have always openly supported the gay community & will keep doing so in 2017.” Later on, he posted a picture with the mother of his child, professing his love for her, and thanking her for blessing his life with a child. When one user decided to question his sexuality asking “I THOUGHT YOU WERE LGBTQ,” Bennett responded in the classiest way possible. “I AM THE B meaning Bi-Sexual,” he wrote, before adding a full-fledged explanation of what that means. “The definition is also on Google,” he added.
19. Chika
Chika is part of a new wave of artists who aren’t afraid to be ‘explicitly queer’ in their art. She identifies as bisexual and addresses her sexuality in her music and videos. In her video for “Can’t Explain It”, she put her own spin on A Different World, one of her favorite sitcoms.
20. Cazwell
Cazwell is openly gay and his work focuses on gay and bisexual urban themes and content, and his music and videos are frequently played on Logo, a US cable channel geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The rapper began his venture into music in New York City and has since gained a cult following within the LGBT community.
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