Lunch With Lola By Khalil Amani

Lunch With Lola By Khalil Amani

As you might know, I was in Miami this past weekend, planning my fiftieth birthday party/family reunion, which is in April, so I had to meet Miami native Lola Mazarati, the Transgender rapper who came on the scene a few months back rapping and singing her song “Pretty Money.”

I had to meet her to see if she was the real deal or a flash-in-the-pan. After procuring some transportation, I made my way to her North Miami Beach home and picked her up and went to Red Lobster for a Saturday lunch and interview.

I must say—this was the first time in my 49 years on the planet having lunch with a Transgendered woman—at a Red Lobster. Lol! I was nervous as I believed she was too (but for different reasons).

But, we had a very nice lunch—so nice that I nixed the idea of writing in my notepad, after telling her “the dullest pencil is sharper than the sharpest mind.” Somehow I didn’t feel the need to write anything down and quote her verbatim.

So these are my reflections and impressions on meeting Lola Mazarati.

Lola is taller than I thought—5’8”—with heels 6’0”. A dark-skinned woman with beautiful African features. Thicka than a Snicka. Body like whoa! Dressed to impress. Smells like “Pretty Money.”

(Transgender rapper Lola Mazarati)

Lola and I had a very deep and stimulating conversation, enlightening me on growing up gay/Trans and revealing her struggles as a woman trying to find her voice in this hip-hop shit. We talked about her supposed “beef” with Transgender rapper Foxxjazell, which, apparently, her words have been misconstrued and misinterpreted, which I’m glad to hear because Foxx is my girl too. I don’t want to see two hot Trans rappers feuding over nothing.

We talked a lot about sex! Dare I say that we flirted?

Lola Mazarati is a tigress, waiting to pounce on a track and rip it to shreds. The problem is finding a studio and producers who are open to working with a Trans artist and letting the music speak for itself. Like many other Out/gay artists, I try to instill patience in Ms Mazarati. We have a long way to go and a long road to travel, but given the tools, Lola is a hellava artist—I mean, just listen to “Pretty Money” and understand that this young lady is a triple threat—rapper, singer, entertainer. Lola has the skills to pay the bills.

Thus far, all of my interaction with gay rappers has basically been in gay circles, so it was quite different sitting in Red Lobster with a Trans woman—a very attractive Trans woman at that! It was eye-opening and an exercise in homophobia for me. As a straight man who claims to “walk the walk and talk the talk,” meeting Lola Mazarati was a test of my convictions as an advocate for gay people—gay hip-hop heads in particular—to be seen in public with a Transgender woman on a “date.” Clearly, we were being “watched” by other patrons in the restaurant and admittedly, I felt some discomfort (what will these people think about me?), but Lola, being the strong and intelligent person that she is, put my uneasiness to rest. Lola taught me more about homophobia and gay people than all the books that I could ever read on the subject. I now have an inkling of what gay people and Transgender people, in particular, face in a hetero-world filled with homophobia.

I can only imagine this is what some good white folks used to deal with years ago when having a black friend in secret, but were hard-pressed to be seen in public with them for fear of “what will my white friends think?”

I have often wondered why I take up the cause of gay rights—like really, why? Well, while I was in Miami my daughter answered the question when she read my horoscope (Taurus) in this book that was crazy on point and put to rest why I am like I am. I was born to do this!

Going to Miami—meeting Lola Mazarati—finding my Raison d'être (Reason for Being) through horoscope was one of the most important weekends of my life. Thank you Lola and thank you Keturah, my daughter!

As we exited the restaurant, Lola leading the way and me in tow, I heard some woman say, “That’s a man.” Like damn! Could you at least wait until I/we were out of earshot range to make your comment? I was upset by her comment. And Lola? She dismissed it as ignorance and that woman’s personal problem. She made me understand that if you’re comfortable in your own skin—who the fuck is anybody else’s opinion/observation about you?

“Out of the mouth of babes comes wisdom!”—God & Khalil

Lola is my friend—my homegirl. I am honored that I had the opportunity to receive this life-lesson from a young person. I’ve been on many lunch dates, but this is one that I will never forget! If only every straight person could have the experience I had. I can’t wait to see her again and go out to a (straight) club and kick it. Thank you Lola Mazarati for teaching an old dawg a new trick—letting my actions follow my words. Bless.