Its been two years since Cakes da Killas bizarre Hot 97 interview with Ebro and Peter Rosenberg. For those who are unfamiliar, Ebro praised the emcees skills but said thatbecause of the lyrical content, the music wasnt for him. The session got even more strange when Rosenberg implied that Cakes should hook up with his lesbian assistant, following it up with the mind-boggling Is it directly penis that interests you the most? To his credit, Cakes laughed off the query: Oh, this cannot be a serious question. Yes, its directly the penis that excites me. <\/p>\n
Theres no bad blood, though in fact, Ebro invited him to be a guest on his Beats1 show. And its not just the Hot 97 personality whos taken notice; DJ heavyweight Diplo tweeted that he liked Cakes latest album, Hedonism. <\/p>\n
But Cakes is more than the sum of his cosigns, and his latest visual, for the Rye Ryeassisted Gon Blow, is proof. Cakes talked to us about the mesmerizing clip, premiering on VIBE today, as well as hip-hops relationship with the queer community and his dream collaborators: I just need someone like Missy Elliott to put me in an incubator for, like, six months, and then its, like, done. Ill even go back in the closet at this point. <\/p>\n
What is the inspiration behind the Gon Blow visual? The visual is a collaboration with myself, photographer Eric Johnson and animator Ben Marlowe. For me, the track is all about movement, so we included some B-roll from a party Eric and I threw. Bens animations helped add some dance sequences to the video, because dance culture influences my music a lot, and I feel there is a disconnect between that and rap culture lately. <\/p>\n
When did you discover ballroom culture? I discovered ballroom culture in high school via YouTube clips. For me, ballroom culture is the new B-boy, in a sense, where a community releases a lot of tension and pain through movement and art. During the time I discovered these clips, I also discovered artists like Jay Pendarvis on MySpace, who made tracks people could vogue to. That sound had a huge influence on what would become my rap style in the future, as far as cadence and speed. <\/p>\n
What music did you listen to growing up? Well, growing up, music wasnt really my thing. It wasnt until my cousin introduced me to different types of music. Going through her CD collections I found No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, more alternative music. Obviously Im black, so hip-hop is always around. Its very much like a second language around the neighborhood. <\/p>\n
The artists that I gravitate towards say fuck the system. They kind of do what they want to do, like Peaches or Beth Ditto. Or in the hip-hop realm, people like Lil Kim and Busta Rhymes. People who kind of dont really ascribe to playing by this formula. They come in and change shit up. <\/p>\n
There was a lot of homophobia in 90s rap music. Did that ever fazeyou? No. I feel like rap gets this very negative [reputation] for being very homophobic, but theres homophobia in all genres of music. It didnt really bother me because I realize that rap is made up of different people with different opinions. <\/p>\n
A few recent events have shown a shift toward queer acceptance in the hip-hop world: Yung Thug wore a dress on his Jeffery album cover, and Young M.A had a top 20 hit on the Hot 100. Do you feel like any of those moments were groundbreaking? I think overall as far as visibility, I think that it is cool, but to be critical, masculine female rappers have been making rap music for years. Thats really not reinventing the wheel. The problem is more so if youre a feminine artist: If youre a gay male or transgender, thats the issue. I mean, congratulations to Young M.A to getting that, but thats not really groundbreaking. <\/p>\n
For the Young Thug moment, thats fab that people are now taking fashion and being more gender-fluid. But gay people have been doing that forever: Its kind of still straight privilege. For Young M.A to put on a dress I mean Young Thug, but thats fucking funny for Young Thug to put a dress on is kind of like progressive. But for me to put on a dress, its not progressive. Theres a double standard. <\/p>\n
Do you think there is a shift toward queer inclusiveness in hip-hop? Theres not this panel of people in hip-hop who are saying we are being more welcoming to gay people. You have to keep in mind that hip-hop kind of came about after disco. The early rappers were kind of in the same places as gay people. You could even look at the early rap stars. They look kind of flamboyant. You know what Im saying? Its not really like theres a question of hip-hop. Its more so when the 90s came about, and there was that whole wave of hypermasculine, gangster rap music, which is what were still in now. Thats the problem. Its not rap or hip-hop, its that whole toxic masculinity. <\/p>\n
A lot of your lyrics are implicitly gay. A lot of gay musicians [Laughs] Well, I am implicitly gay. <\/p>\n
Ha! A lot of openly gay musicians shy away from their queerness. Do you think its important to vocalize your queerness? When I started making music, I never really thought that anyone would hear my music. Why would I be taken seriously? For me to be out, it wasnt an issue. <\/p>\n
There are some privileges for being mysterious or not using specific gender pronouns in love songs. There is a kind of marketability to that. Do I get some setback for talking about blow jobs? Yes. But does that also empower some kids in Ohio? Yes. I think its more so a gambling thing. What do you really want to do with the record. <\/p>\n
My grandmother had a gay best friend, and when he would come over for the holidays he was fabulous. He had money, he wore a mink coat. We all loved him. That was a positive reassurance: that if you were gay, you would be loved. My first viewing of seeing gay people on television was the Stonewall riots documentary. For me, gay people were never painted as less than or weaker than. We were people that started revolutions and bought nice clothes. <\/p>\n
Do you think the hip-hop world is ready to move out of gangster rap and embrace a queer superstar? I think hip-hop is definitely the most mainstream its ever been. Its always gonna have that gangster in itself, because everybody wants to be a damn gangster for some reason. Ive always pointed the mirror back at the community. Obviously a fraternity in Atlanta probably isnt going be into my record. I can make peace with that. The gay club in New York, though? You guys should be supporting me. The music isnt that bad, you know what Im saying? The gays sustain a lot of these older divas who are still performing at Pride festivals. I feel like we should support each other. <\/p>\n
If you got to hop on any mainstream pop stars track, who would you want to work with? Definitely Nicki Minaj. Definitely. <\/p>\n
That would be phenomenal. Why that hasnt happened yet? Well, Im not that big yet. I just need someone like Missy Elliott to put me in an incubator for, like, six months, and then its, like, done. Ill even go back in the closet at this point. Ive been out long enough. I can go back in and start over. I came out in the third grade, Ive proved enough already. <\/p>\n
Wait, so you actually came out in the third grade? Why would I lie about that? I told you my first piece of gay cinema was a documentary on Stonewall. I literally was ready to tell my mom Im gay, and if she didnt like it I was just gonna run away and live on the pier. <\/p>\n
Diplo tweeted that he liked your album. When is that collaboration happening? Sooner the fucking better, I hope! I dont know. Diplo is a very busy person and Im a very busy girl, but Im down. Im sure itll happen down the line sooner or later. Im just constantly working on my own shit now. I have to strike while its hot. Im not getting any younger. <\/p>\n
Whats next for you? Im about to drop some new singles for the fall, prepping for a European tour and finalizing a new project with a whole new sound. Ive been working in the same vein artistically for a few years, and Im interested in using another side of my brain. Im trying to be on the freshman XXL cover before Im too old. <\/p>\n
Cakes Da Killa Official Tour Dates Sat Aug 26 Brooklyn Afropunk Festival Sun Aug 27 Chicago Oakwood Beach Tue Aug 29 Tel Aviv Gagarin Club Thu Aug 31 Berlin YAMM Fri Sep 1 Sopot Soundrive Festival Sat Sep 2 Oslo Blaa Mon Sep 4 Copenhagen Ideal Bar Wed Sep 6 Malmo Inknst Fri Sep 8 London -Jazz Cafe Sun Sep 10 Dorset Bestival Wed Sep 13 Brno Fleda Thu Sep 14 Zurich Exil Fri Sep 15 Dudingen Bad Bonn Sat Sep 16 Paris Smile Festival Fri Sep 29 Lincoln Lincoln Calling Festival Fri Oct 6 Haverford Haverford College Sat Oct 21 Bristol Simple Things Festival @ SWX Stage Sat Oct 28 Tromso Insomnia Festival <\/p>\n
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Premiere: Cakes Da Killa Feat. Rye Rye Gon Blow (Video) - Vibe<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Its been two years since Cakes da Killas bizarre Hot 97 interview with Ebro and Peter Rosenberg. For those who are unfamiliar, Ebro praised the emcees skills but said thatbecause of the lyrical content, the music wasnt for him. The session got even more strange when Rosenberg implied that Cakes should hook up with his lesbian assistant, following it up with the mind-boggling Is it directly penis that interests you the most? Continue reading