Pick Up the Mic

A successful author, spoken word artist, and impressive MC who co-founded Deep Dickollective with Juba Kalamka in 1998. He says he coined the term "homohop" to give a name to the burgeoning movement in which he found himself a player. A bi-coastal artist that tours the country regularly with...

Taking herself from the dairy farms of Madison, Wisconsin, to the mean streets of New York City, God-Des has set her sites on the fast-track to fame and fortune - and she'll "never quit 'til she gets that hit." Along with soulful vocalist Tina G (aka She), she's quickly gathered a following that's...

The homothug face of the Los Angeles hip-hop scene. Self-described as "that faggot with a gat," who's "out for the attack," Deadlee takes control of the stage with a ferocious power, often leaving audiences as frightened as they are mesmerized.

Known for "takin the ladies and rockin' the mic," this youthful force of nature from the South San Francisco area has worked with an impressive line of local Bay Area hip-hop artists, straight and queer alike. JenRO's electrifying blend of rough lyrics and youthful insight have garnered her a fan...

Outspoken and outrageous, he refers to himself as an adult entertainer first before being a hip-hop artist. His brashly brilliant lyrics and raw, in-your-face talent are complimented by the production skills of MC Tori Fixx. Together, the two are keeping the Midwest contingent of the hip-hop...

Some see him as godfather to the homohop movement. An early member of Rainbow Flava and a founding member of Deep Dickollective, Juba also launched Sugartruck Recordings, the place to find releases by homohop artists from around the world. In 2001, Juba was instrumental in the development of...

Money has been a gospel singer, MC, producer, and more recently, the successful proprietor of her own Houston-based label, Money Talks Records. Her work is consistently guided by her deep faith and spirituality, which - along with her upbeat, outspoken manner - has made her one of the most unique...

An early member of influential group Rainbow Flava, Tori now resides in Minneapolis where he's built a new family of musicians, MCs and vocalists. With his hip-hop flavored grooves that keep fans bouncing 'til dawn, Tori is an impresario not unlike the Minneapolis-bred musical genius he once...

A bigger-than-life MC originally from the Detroit area. His plan to "pull the Melissa Etheridge" was sidelined after he was "outed," which cost him his original producers, friends, and part of his fan base. Relocating to Atlanta, he quickly found new freedom - and power - as an out and proud...

The founder of Rainbow Flava, the first queer hip-hop group to reach out to others through the internet and begin building a community of out rappers. When he relocated to New York City, Dutchboy founded the group BQE with fellow "raptivist" Paradigm. He also runs Phat Family records, an indie...

Winner of 2005's OutMusic Producer of the Year Award, Katastrophe is the Man, with an intense, tongue-twisting style all his own. His debut album, "Let's @*&!, then Talk About My Problems," takes listeners on the emotional rollercoaster that's been his own life's journey -- a deeply personal album...

A veteran spoken word artist that joined Deep Dickollective in 2002, Marcus' lyrical imagery and effervescent vocal delivery bring a touching, peaceful poetry to the world of homohop. His gentle approach often places him in stark contrast to more assertive performers, but his messages are often...

A multi-faceted, Brooklyn-based artist, Paradigm had often worked with Dutchboy, where their close collaboration led them to form the group, BQE. In 2004, they established the East Coast's first homohop event, Peace Out East. This exclusive gathering of musical talent from across the country was...

The U.K.'s top queer rapper, as profiled in numerous British mags. Along with his "Pac-Man Team" crew -- including Mister Maker and Mz. Fontaine -- QBoy's relentless promotion and performance schedule has been instrumental in spearheading the homohop movement across the pond, loudly and clearly...

Self-proclaimed "queer superheroes," Scream Club has leapt from a home base of Olympia, WA, to the queer-friendly shores of Amsterdam, taking their "socially awesome" messages to fans the world over. The Scream Club live experience is something no one should miss, with its freaky-fun costumes and...