Over the weekend, the world wide web exploded with reports about Mykki Blanco’s brave decision to reveal a secret he’s been keeping to himself for a few years. Mykki Blanco took to Facebook to state that he’s been HIV Positive since 2011. Although the post has garnered over 11,000 likes and people seem to be in support of his newfound freedom, Blanco points out that he still lives in a divisive world and he will still have to deal with harsh realities.

“The music industry ain’t gonna like I admitted this so if a curator could help me move more into the art world that would be awesome,” he stated.

On June 12th, the Harlem-based rapper wrote, “I’ve been HIV Positive since 2011, my entire career. Fuck stigma and hiding in the dark, this is my real life. I’m healthy I’ve toured the world 3 times but I’ve been living in the dark, it’s time to actually be as punk as I say I am.”

I think this is truly a great step forward into a new era.

The post Beginning of a New Era: Mykki Blanco Reveals He’s HIV Positive appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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Last week, RESPECT posted about the release of rapper Mykki Blanco‘s latest single, “Moshin’ in the Front” (feat. Cities Aviv and prod. by Naked). Yesterday, the artist released his full-length mixtape, Gay Dog Food, a culmination of experimental sound developed over two world tours.

The mixtape is a departure from Blanco’s usual acid-rap game, a blaring cacophony of industrial noise, new age sounds, screams, and the occasional rap verse. In truth upon first listen, there doesn’t appear to be very much rapping. In an interview with PAPER Magazine, Blanco said, “At the time when I’d create music that wasn’t specifically Mykki Blanco, I’d go by the name, ‘Gay Dog.’ The direction on this project is closer to what I was making when I first started in the New York scene with more hardcore music. It’s still a Mykki Blanco record, but I’m beginning to bridge this new wave sound that I’ve been making.”

It’s definitely different, but Gay Dog Food is also drawn from Blanco’s origins on the experimental scene in New York City. . Some tracks are lo-fi head thrashers while others are true dancehall hits. Blanco managed to nab some really interesting collaborations: Kathleen Hanna and Cakes da Killa appear, plus a few more. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this release is the bonus track entitled, “Solange in the Elevator” featuring Katie Got Bandz The lyrics read: “I’m Solange in the elevator; watch your ass. You’re phony, faking in my face; that shit don’t get a pass.”

Despite all of the attention from Gay Dog Food and two consecutive world tours, Blanco maintains true to his morals, and his fan base. In a statement to Pitchfork magazine, he said: “You can choose to call me a gay rapper, you can choose to not even call me a rapper if you want to, it doesn’t matter, I’m a punk, a creative punk and i’m going to continue to create and entertain without boundaries.” Blanco continues to defy the heterosexual culture that qualifies him as lesser due to his sexuality, “No matter what crossover I may have, no matter what genders or backgrounds the people that enjoy my music have, a large part of my fan base is gay and those are my people. They’re the people I represent. I always want to reinforce to my fans that regardless of any issue with homosexuality that people want to debate about, it’s about owning your sexuality and not allowing the heterosexual world to think they can critique it — no one is critiquing heterosexuality.”

You can download the full mixtape for free by heading to Mykki Blanco’s website and entering your e-mail address:

http://mykkiblancoworld.com/gaydogfood

Tracklist:
Gay Dog Food:

01 Runny Mascara
02 New Feelings
03 For the Homey’s
04 Baby’s Got Big Plans
05 Self Destruction
06 Fulani [ft. Ian Isiah]
07 A Minute With Cakes [ft. Cakes Da Killa]
08 Moshing in the Front [ft. Cities Aviv]
09 Something Special [ft. James K]
10 A Moment With Kathleen [ft. Kathleen Hanna]
11 Cyber Dog
12 Lukas [ft. No Bra]
13 GDF Interlude

Watch Mykki Blanco’s video for “She Gutta” here:

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Lesser-known queer and experimental rapper Mykki Blanco has teamed up with Memphis-based rapper Cities Aviv on his latest release, “Moshin In The Front,” which became available for download via souncloud yesterday. Blanco is generally known for his raw, un-polished rap beats and visuals that include dual-versions of himself as a masculine grime-rapper and also as an ultra-feminine temptress in drag. The contrasting themes of masculinity/femininity are a duality that persists throughout Blanco’s music. Blanco constantly questions the hyper-masculinity of the rap industry and weasels his non gender-binary persona into the game.

This latest track, “Moshin In The Front,” is an especially jarring one. Grating synths sound like electronica chainsaws intermixed with high hats and quieter drum hits. The song slogs through til Cities Aviv’s verse, where the listener has a moment of reprieve from the massive weight of the beat so far. Aviv’s slow, effortless verse complements Blanco’s woozy, intoxicated “pass me the blunt” type lyrics.

While at first this track takes a few listens to really get behind, the more it plays, the more it makes sense. By the end of your second listen, this track will have you slow-head banging in front of your computer. It’s deeply hypnotic in a semi-unsettling way. By the time Blanco demands, “all the white boys in the pit scream!” You might even be tempted to.

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Accompanied by a minimally sinister beat from UK club DJ Sinden and MaTRiXXMAN from 5kinandbone5, Mykki Blanco dominates the track with her flamboyant flow. “It’s survival of the fittest” states Ms. Blanco menacingly. Looks like the rap queen superstar is determined to become the leader of the pack.

Check out the track below, and be on the lookout for her LP.

The post New Music: Mykki Blanco – “HAZE.BOOGIE.LIFE” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Ok, we’ll admit it. We’re a little behind on the Mykki Blanco craze, but if there was ever a perfect time to highlight the New York City rapper, it’s now. With the release of his music video “Wavvy,” directed by Francesco Carrozzini, Blanco proves he party’s harder than you and most definitely raps harder than you. He might even rap harder than your favorite rapper. His mid-video drag may come as a shock for the straight-edges out there, but his relentless flow attacks the infectious beat and it becomes increasingly clear that Blanco’s right, there’s a “new world order.” Strap in because you’re about to enter the wonderful world of Mykki Blanco. And it’s wild.

The post New Video: Mykki Blanco — “Wavvy” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Asymmetrical hair, tight pants, cheetah-print sneakers and a toothless smile. If you guessed hip-hop up-and-comer Danny Brown, pat yourself on the back.

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Photo by Jake Moore

“Gayngsta rap” is now a genre. At least according to LE1F‘s Facebook page. So forget your personal position on who should be allowed to marry who and open your mind to this potentially game changing New York rapper. His style, reminiscent of Big Freedia and Azaelia Banks, takes advantage of infectious beats, mostly electro, and his slick rhymes. And don’t write him off as some kind of kitchy fad. He’s got a range of talents, including production credits on Das Racist’s hit “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” and Spank Rock and Big Freedia’s “Nasty.” If you’re trying to compare him to someone you know, it’s most often New York’s other gayngsta rapper Mykki Blanco, but he probably said it best himself– a “male Missy Elliot” and “gay Method Man.”

Video directed by Sam Jones

Listen to his mixtape Dark York:

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