Black Queer Artists That Are Reshaping the Music Industry

After being swept under the rug for far too long, black queer musicians have shown through their innovation, creativity, and raw talent that they will no longer be ignored. Many of these musicians have been releasing genre-defying, groundbreaking music for several years, all while under the radar; let us show you what you have been missing.

“osquinn”

Atlanta, GA📍

A pioneer of the “Hyperpop” genre that emerged during the pandemic, Quinn has consistently demonstrated her ability to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing music scene. After her initial upsurge with the release of “i dont want that many friends in the first place,” a bass-heavy record with strategically distorted synths, fans were left eager to know what was next for Quinn. It was then that she shared “Drive-By Lullabies” with the world, a self-produced album with elements of EDM, Indie, and old school rap music, which showed that she would be here to stay. This project reflects a lot of Quinn’s angst after dealing with backlash on the internet following her transition. Being only 15 years old at the time, one could only imagine the toll that it took on her; instead of succumbing to these remarks, she planted all of these overwhelming emotions into a magnificent work of art. In the current year, Quinn still releases mixtapes frequently, showcasing her production and vocal skills, with tasteful sampling sprinkled throughout.

“Lucy Bedroque”

Los Angeles, CA📍

Following the release of their biggest project to date, Unmusique, Lucy Bedroque has continued to show us why they should be talked about. Having released experimental self-produced music under the name “lostrushi” since 2020, Lucy took a turn with this project and began to invite several other talented producers (prettifun, egobreak, cranes, etc.) to collaborate on this highly energetic, expectation-breaking Hip-Hop/Rap album. On social media, Lucy has been very open about identifying as non-binary and frequently expresses themself through androgynous clothing and poses. Artists such as Lucy show us what it’s like to break free from social norms and internalized false concepts of gender. Since releasing Unmusique, Lucy has continued to welcome collaboration into their music, further progressing their polished sound. Even with this new era of music from Lucy, it has been made clear that they are not done showing off their production niche; they have done so through several songs on Unmusique, as well as one of their follow-up singles, “ERASE YOUR SOCIAL.” With each of these tracks being unique in their own way, we can see into Lucy’s mind when making these creative decisions; from hard-punching 808s to addictive motifs within both the instrumentals and vocals, it is safe to say that Lucy Bedroque will continue to shine. 

“Xaviersobased”

New York, NY📍

It is much less frequent that we see new sub-genres emerging in rap music in the current day, but the upcoming artist, “Xaviersobased,” has proven himself to be a trendsetter. Releasing music for over 5 years now, it has been made clear from the beginning that Xavier enjoyed experimenting with vocal mixing and production that differed from the traditional bandwagon. After establishing a signature snare-pattern and distinct cadence that would recur in countless songs, Xavier grew a dedicated, loyal fanbase that grew ravenous for more. His initial spark was subsequent to the release of “Patchmade,” a single produced by “Kashpaint” where Hip-Hop was redefined with playful sound effects and that authentic groove heard in each of his songs; some would consider this the start of the “Jerk” subgenre in the rap community. Xavier went on to create a plethora of songs within this caliber alongside his long-standing group of friends known as “1C34.” Xavier has been known to include lyrics in his songs that portray his bisexuality; while some musicians within his field have opposing beliefs to his identity, he continues to promote positivity and be unapologetically himself.

LONG STORY SHORT: These black queer artists have pushed for the spotlight all in their own way, with common themes of unconventional approaches, embracing complexity/minimalism, and creativity that stretches for miles. Check out what each of these artists has been up to during this Pride Month!