LGBT representations in hip hop music have existed since the birth of the genre even while enduring blatant discrimination. Due to its adjacency to disco, the earliest days of hip hop had a close relation to LGBT subcultures, and multiple LGBT DJs have played a role in popularizing hip hop. Despite this early involvement, hip hop has long been portrayed as one of the least LGBT-friendly genres of music, with a significant body of the genre containing homophobic views and anti-gay lyrics, with mainstream artists such as Eminem and Tyler, the Creator having used homophobia in their lyrics. Attitudes towards homosexuality in hip hop culture have historically been negative, with slang that uses homosexuality as a punchline such as "sus", "no homo", and "pause" being heard in hip hop lyrics from some of the industry's biggest artists. Since the early 2000s there has been a flourishing community of LGBTQ+ hip hop artists, activists, and performers breaking barriers in the mainstream music industry.
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born rapper and singer based in the United States. Often referred to as the "Queen of Rap", she is known for her musical versatility, animated rap flow, and alter egos. She first gained recognition after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009.
Azealia Amanda Banks is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, she began releasing music through Myspace in 2008 before being signed to XL Recordings at age 18. She subsequently signed with Interscope and Polydor Records before separating in 2013. Banks became an independent artist and started her own independent record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. She later signed to Parlophone and Warner Records before quitting her label in 2023.
Karly Marina Loaiza, known professionally as Kali Uchis, is an American singer and songwriter. After releasing her debut mixtape Drunken Babble (2012), she gained recognition for enlisting rapper Tyler, the Creator and Diplo to produce for her debut extended play, Por Vida (2015). She signed with Virgin EMI Records to release her debut studio album Isolation (2018), which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim. She then signed with Interscope Records to release her second studio album and first Spanish-language project, Sin Miedo (2020). It spawned the single "Telepatía", which first gained virality on TikTok and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, also receiving double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her third studio album, Red Moon in Venus (2023) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, while her fourth album and second Spanish-language project, Orquídeas (2024), peaked at number two.
Katorah Kasanova Marrero, better known by her stage name Young M.A, is an American rapper. She is best known for her 2016 single "Ooouuu", which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its accompanying music video also became a viral hit, receiving over 400 million views on YouTube by 2019. Her debut studio album, Herstory in the Making (2018) peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200 and was met with positive reception.
Belcalis Marlenis Cephus, known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper. She is one of the most commercially successful female rappers of her generation. Born and raised in New York City, she first gained popularity through videos shared on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to early 2017, she appeared as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, which depicted her pursuit of her music aspirations, and earned further recognition with the release of her two mixtapes: Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 (2016) and Vol. 2 (2017).
Kiari Kendrell Cephus, known professionally as Offset, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as part of the hip hop group Migos, alongside Quavo and the late Takeoff. In 2017, he released a collaborative album with American record producer Metro Boomin and English rapper 21 Savage titled Without Warning; it reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 and spawned the single "Ric Flair Drip," which peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he guest performed alongside Canadian rapper Drake on Metro Boomin's single "No Complaints." In 2018, he guest featured on the single "Taste" by Tyga, which marked his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist, and was later certified 9× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). That same year, he co-performed alongside Travis Scott on the single "Zeze" by Kodak Black, which peaked at number two on the Hot 100.
Suicideboys is an American hip hop duo from New Orleans, Louisiana. Formed in 2014 by cousins Scrim and Ruby da Cherry, the duo initially rose to popularity on SoundCloud for their abrasive, self-produced beats, as well as their harsh lyrical content and themes prominently featuring substance abuse and suicidal ideation. They own and operate their own label, G*59 Records, under which all of their music is distributed by The Orchard.
City Girls were an American hip hop duo consisting of Yung Miami and JT, both of whom originate from Miami, Florida. The duo signed with Quality Control Music, an imprint of Motown and Capitol Records in 2017 to release their debut mixtape, Period (2018) the following year. Two months later, they garnered mainstream attention following their guest performances on Drake's 2018 single, "In My Feelings", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Girl Code is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo City Girls, released on November 16, 2018, through Quality Control Music, Motown Records and Capitol Records. It was released six months after their first mixtape Period in May, and while member Jatavia Shakara "JT" Johnson was incarcerated for credit card fraud. The first single of the album, "Twerk" featuring Cardi B, became City Girls' first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 after debuting at number 92; it has since peaked at number 29. The album's second and last single, "Act Up", reached the top 40 on the US Hot 100. It also reached the number one on Billboard's Rhythmic Songs chart in its July 6, 2019 issue. Eventually has peaked at number 26 on the Hot 100, making it the duo's highest charting entry.
"Twerk" is a song by American hip hop duo City Girls featuring American rapper Cardi B, from the duo's debut album Girl Code (2018). It was released to US rhythmic contemporary radio on January 8, 2019, as the album's lead single. Filmed in Miami, the song's music video was released the same month. "Twerk" is a New Orleans bounce-inspired song, which heavily samples Choppa's "Choppa Style". It also samples the popular Triggerman beat, which is prominent among the New Orleans bounce scene. It peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
American hip hop duo City Girls have released three studio albums, one mixtape and 31 singles.
Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, known professionally as DaBaby, is an American rapper. After releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018, he signed with Interscope Records in January 2019 in a joint venture with North Carolina-based record label, South Coast Music Group. He released his debut studio album, Baby on Baby (2019) to belated commercial success, later receiving support from the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Suge" a month after its release.
"Leave Em Alone" is a song by American singer Layton Greene and American rapper Lil Baby featuring American hip hop duo City Girls and American rapper PnB Rock. It was released on May 29, 2019, as the lead single from American record label Quality Control's compilation album Control the Streets, Volume 2 (2019). The song was produced by Hitmaka and Cardiak and it samples "Can't Leave 'em Alone" by Ciara featuring 50 Cent.
Danielle Leigh Curiel, known professionally as DaniLeigh, is an American singer and songwriter. Initially appearing as a backup dancer, Curiel began her career by posting covers of popular songs on YouTube before moving to Los Angeles, California, where she began choreographing for other artists and dancing. She made a career breakthrough after working with Prince on the music video for his single "Breakfast Can Wait". DaniLeigh was signed to Def Jam Recordings in 2017, releasing mixtapes and singles starting that year.
City on Lock is the second studio album by American hip hop duo City Girls. The album leaked in its entirety on June 19, 2020, whereafter it was released on June 20 by Quality Control Music and Motown Records. It serves as the follow-up to their 2018 debut studio album Girl Code and features guest appearances from Yo Gotti, Doja Cat, Lil Durk and Lil Baby. The album's first single, "Jobs", was released hours before the album release alongside a music video. The album's second single, "Pussy Talk" featuring Doja Cat, was released on July 6, 2020, alongside a music video.
Jatavia Shakara Johnson, better known by her stage name JT, is an American rapper. She formed the Miami, Florida-based hip hop duo City Girls with Yung Miami in 2017, and began her solo career in 2023. Her co-performance on Summer Walker's 2021 single, "Ex for a Reason" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and marked her first entry on the chart as a solo act. Her 2024 single, "Okay", peaked at number 74 on the chart.
"Throat Baby (Go Baby)" is the debut single by American rapper BRS Kash. It was released on July 24, 2020, originally through Team Litty and later with Love Renaissance and Interscope Records, as the lead single from BRS Kash's debut mixtape, Kash Only (2021). The dirty Southern hip hop and R&B song was written by Kash & Elliot Prince, who wrote it as an ode to fellatio inspired by two separate sexual encounters, with production by Adamslides and Chi Chi.
"Twerkulator" is a song recorded by American hip hop duo City Girls. It was released on May 21, 2021, through Quality Control, Motown and Capitol.
"Ex for a Reason" is a song by American singer Summer Walker with rapper JT of hip hop duo City Girls, released on October 15, 2021, as the lead single from Walker's second studio album, Still Over It (2021).
