What was once seen as career suicide is slowly becoming more accepted as mainstream rappers come out of the closet and share their queerness in the open. Cam and Kanye started the pink polo trend, opening the door for rainbow-haired, gender non-conforming rappers and theoir peers to rethink sexuality in rap. Rap artists like Syd, Queen Latifah, Janelle Monae, Tyler the Creator, Nicki Minaj, and Frank Ocean made it more mainstream to embrace their sexuality and make rap more inclusive for the LGBT+ community.
Da Brat
The Chicago rapper blew minds with her Funkdafied album and broke down barriers for gay women, coming out and professing her love for Judy Dupart.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X came out at the height of his early success, announcing he was gay on June 30, 2019- the last day of Pride Month.
ILOVEMAKONNEN
The “Tuesday” rapper came out out on January 20, 2017 via Twitter. “As a fashion icon, I can’t tell u about everybody else’s closet, I can only tell u about mine, and it’s time I’ve come out.
Young M.A.
The New York rapper has been open about her attraction to women from the jump with her hit “Ooouuu” making it known who she was attracted to. “I held in being sexually attracted to women for so long that once I got that out of me, the music became easy.”
Kevin Abstract
A founding memeber of Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract ran away from his religous Mormon family at age 15 because of his sexuality. He came out in 2016 and often represents his gay identity in his lyrics.