This where ALL OutHipHop.com interviews will be placed. We've consolidated the "New Artist Spotlight" section into one main Interviews section. Some interviews will be "Exclusive Interviews" while others will be "New Artist Spotlights". To be considered for an interview, please email your press or Bio and website to: interviews@outhiphop.com.

Heidi Barton Stink is a transgender out hip hop artist based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota who has been performing at queer community events. She recently released an EP. Here is our interview with her. 

Alright so I guess the first question is, your name - Tell us what “Barton Stink" means.

It's a play on the title of a Coen brothers (Who are from the twin cities) movie called Barton Fink. Originally I was just going to use Barton Stink as the title of a concept album using the themes of the movie (writers block and the creative process). Once I started writing though, the songs ended up having more to do with Queer and Trans issues. The "Stink" part of the name came partially from doing a lot of shows with punk bands who were more ready to hear this stuff rapped about then local rappers. Also, I was always the fat stinky kid on "time out" as a kid, it's kind a reference to me being an outcast. I've gotten shit from other M.C.s saying like, "why would you want stink in your name? that's going to turn people off!" but people are smart, they get it. I'm a dirty stinky Queer

Please introduce yourself to the world of out hip hop that might not know of you.

I'm Heidi Barton Stink, I'm trying to fuse positive HipHop with the topics of social justice, Queer and Trans rights and I'm making it sound real nice while I’m at it. I'm trying to give a voice to my friends and my community and hopefully teach some people some shit.

Now you are a trans artist and I believe you are transitioning from female to male, is that correct?

Nope, I get this mistake a lot, I'm

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Lady Mobsta is the latest in a growing number of out female emcees proudly stepping up the mic and keeping the world of out hip hop on it's games. This Queens based artist who will headline the forthcoming Turn Us Up Concert in NYC gets us to know her just a little bit more.

Introduce yourself to the world of out hip hop that might not know of you.
 
Hello Out Hip Hop world I'm Lady Mobsta of Reality Muziq!!! I am an MC and I've been entertaining for 17years now... Started when I was 9yrs of age, and now I'm 25yrs old..

Where do you call home, and have you always been there or have you
moved around?
 
Jamaica Queens!!! I always lived in Queens, just moved to different places... I will also say that I grew up in Newport News, VA.. Because I would stay there for the entire  summer and go back every holiday!!! So that's my second HOME!!!

How many CDs have you put out? Including any EPs, mixtapes, etc. Fill us in on your discography.
 
 Its CRAZY cause I've been doing this for so long but, Mix This is my 1st complete project.. So many problems & boundries thrown in my way!! I have PLENTY of songs just never put anything together!!

Where/when did your rap music career begin and how was Lady Mobsta born?
 
It began when I use to battle my Uncle's at the age of 9.. Getting the name Big Ash!!! Then my Step brother & cousin came to town when I was 13 and I was bad ass hell.. Fighting playing Basketball/ Cops, Robbers & Drug dealers!!! So my Cousin Johnny Blanco gave me the name * Lil Lady Mobsta * cause I was a bruiser he said!!!!

What made you decide to be an MC who is out?
 
My Uncle's / Joe Naughty my ( step brother ) & johnny Blanco my (cousin)

Have you ever heard of other out rappers/hip hop performers? If so, who and when.
 
I am sure that they are other out hip-hop artist, but

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VS (Verbal Science) is a Tampa, FL Bay Area based rapper who had been accumulating fans as a straight rapper in the local markets, he had worked with some people in the scene who had some visibility and was hustling like everyone else in the industry. Then, at the end of 2009, he suddenly came out of the closet, as we reported here.

Here is our first interview with him since his announcement last Fall.

Introduce yourself to the world of out hip hop that might not have heard of you yet.

What up, out hip hop world?  I go by the name VS (Verbal Science).  If ya don’t know, now ya know…or at least after this interview, then you’ll know. 

Alright so you have had some exposure as a rapper before you came out. Tell us about some of the people you've performed with or worked with?

When I first moved to Tampa, I signed with DJ Shorte’s independent label (Hot4eva Records).  This gave me the opportunity to work with several talented local artists and producers, as well as an official music video that featured T-Pain, Paul Wall, Mike Jones & Chopper (Making Da Band) to name a few.

When did you start rapping or get involved with music?

I’ve been listening to hip hop since cassette tapes.  I enjoyed writing poetry and short stories at a young age and that progressively transformed into “rap” songs as early as 1995.  It was a hobby.  I didn’t get seriously involved with the music until about 2002-2003.

You seemed to be doing quite well in the closet, what made you decide to come out?

I felt the time was right.  I came out for the first time about a year before I moved to Florida, but as soon as I got to Tampa I was thrown deep back into the closet.  I think coming out the 2^nd time, as a hip hop artist, was even

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Lady L.U.S.T. may be new to a lot of people that follow the general out hip hop movement, but she has been doing her thing for quite some time, releasing numerous mix tapes and culminating in her 2009, release, “The Ms. Ceily Complex” which was nominated for Best Out Hip Hop CD of 2009 in our readers poll and actually came in 2nd place. In this interview she tells us what it means to be an out hip hop artist for her, where she’s come from and where she’s going.

So tell us about your name - what does it stand for and how did you decide on it?

LUST comes from my last name which is LUSTER, in school people started calling me Lust or Ms. Lust.  The name stuck when I became an artist but I wanted it to mean something more than what you think of typically when you hear LUST so I came up with the acronym, Last Undisputed Spit Truth.

Introduce yourself to the world of out hip hop that might not know of you.

I'm an MC, I started my career as an audio engineer and a producer, but I was always an MC.

I created a movement of females out of the Bay Area and Vegas called Chocolate Mommi and that’s how my buzz began.  We were artists, promoted events; pushed mix tapes and had a clothing line.  Now, I stand alone as an artist, and I feel like I'm really introducing myself to the world for the first time even though I've done a lot.

Have you always been in Vegas? We heard something about Oakland in your bio. What brought you to Las Vegas?

Right, I was born and raised in Oakland, CA.  I moved to Vegas 7 years ago.  My business partner at that time convinced me that Vegas was where we needed to be to grow our company and I was with it, for the most part I've been here ever since.

 How many CDs have you put out? Including any EPs, mixtapes, etc. Fill us in on your discography.

In 2003 I put out a project called When Love Turns LUST, it was actually to showcase my skills as a MC/producer/engineer.  2004-Chocolate Mommi Mafia Mixtape Vol 1, 2005-Chocolate Mommi Mafia Mixtape Vol 2, 2007- Lady L.U.S.T.,The Po Black Woman Act(mixtape), 2008- Lady L.U.S.T.-The Annie Sue Chronicles(mixtape)...and my newest album is "The Ms. Ceily Complex"

When did you start rapping or get involved with music?

I always love this question;

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Anyé Elite released his promotional demo “Todo De Mi” in late 2006 , he has helped coordinate Atlanta’s first week long celebration of African-American Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual & Transgendered History aptly titled PHYRE (www.afterthephyre.com) in 2007. We did not hear his music until he sent us the cute and catchy boy on boy love song track, “I Got Him”. The song was mostly well received and has been played on Hot Mess Radio and Da Doo Dirty Show. Now, he will be performing at the opening ceremonies at this year's Atlanta Black Pride on Labor Day Weekend. We decided to take some time and get to know just who Anyé Elite is. Enjoy our interview:


When did you start singing and performing music?

Well I come from a family of singers and musicians so it's been a presence in my life every since I can remember. I started writing songs and recording myself at age 7. (Stuff I hope no one ever hears!) I didn't start performing for others until I began singing solos along with my church choir when I was about 11 or 12

Do you rap as well as sing? It sounds that way on the earlier version of "I Got Him" but just want to confirm.

Yes I rap in addition to singing. And that's been a source of confusion for some people because they like to put you in a box. I might have to come up with a new term to make them happy. Maybe a "SingRapper" or something. But, I try to be really careful about labeling myself as a rapper because I think there are so many talented artist who really focus on that and they deserve that distinction.

I started rapping to fill voids in my own songs cause I couldn't get the collaborators that I wanted. I love, love, love collaborating! I actually sent "I GOT HIM" to Last Offence but the logistics didn't work out so I ended up doing it myself. I have not given up on Lasto, I've started my official "Last Offence Shout Out Campaign" to get him on a song one day! Get at me man! Lol

I want to have that Mariah Carey/Mary J. Blige/Ashanti relationship with hip-hop. I suppose I'll just have to wait til I blow up like them so I can have my pick of litter.

Now your profile tells you have done some things in Florida but you seem to call Atlanta home now. Where were you born and which do you consider your home now?

Originally I'm from Philly and I was there until my sophomore year of high school. My mother didn't take me coming out the closet very well so I ended up moving to Florida. I moved to Atlanta in 2006 and haven't looked back since. Well except for this one time. LOL. I love Atlanta!


What made you decide to be a performer who is "out"? How long have you been performing as an "out" artist?

I think that it was perfect storm of sorts. I lived

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Photo by Keith Huang

(Soce's "Too Many Fish" ft. Prince Cat-Eyez, Lester Greene, Humility's Hand, Tim'm West, Amnesia Sparkles, Foxxjazell, Mistamaker, Tori Fixx, Wayne Latham, JFP, DELACRUZ and Chewy - Download HERE.)

I've never come up with interview questions as quickly as I did for an artist as I did for Soce. He had an appearance in the Pick Up the Mic DVD, he initially came across as what some gay rappers did not want people to think of when they thought of gay hip hop, yet there was no denying the man can rap. On top of that, he is one of the kindest, most respectful people in the game today, something that is not seen on a frequent basis and goes really far. His new CD is "Master of Fine Arts" and the CD release party in NYC is this Saturday (August 1) and in L.A. on August 16th at MJ's Bar (with Benni E and Hollywood). Get to know Soce:

Exactly how long have you been doing this "out hip hop" thing?

I've been rapping for over 15 years. I started in Jr High School with a track called "Help Make the Violence End", which stated that although many people wanted to be violent because they thought it was cool, it was not the way to go! The second verse was about this time in 6th grade when I got into the one fight I've ever had in my whole life. The guy who picked on me that day happened to be the one kid who was actually smaller than me, so I bested him by tripping him, sitting on him and giving him a nuggie (ie rubbing my knuckles against his skull).

A few years later, I realized I might be gay, but I didn't officially come out until 2000, at which point I wrote my first song as an out rapper. It was called "H but H", which stood for "Hot but Het". It was all about my anger at good-looking men who are straight! It has a universal vibe about wanting what you can't have, so it's one of the few classic joints I still sometimes perform at current shows, although usually as a remixed version.

Why did you choose to rap? What or who is your inspiration?

I'm the youngest of five children, so I had to be different. While everyone else joined the chorus in Jr High, I joined the school band on the trombone. I've always been a huge fan of hip hop music, even though I grew up in rural New Hampshire. Some of my favorite rappers as a kid were A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang Clan, The Pharcyde, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Masta Ace.

You won the Shade 45 Gay Rapper contest on Sirius Radio. Do you think their contest was based in comedy or do you feel they were serious about judging the gay rappers?

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When J.R. first came to our attention we were not sure what to think. Is this a porno star turned gay rapper? A gay rapper turned porno actor? Someone who is both(yes)? But we checked out his site(s) and apparently he is serious about what he does. He is another one of the gay rappers who is VERY sexual and seems to expand his name on the "shock value" of such things (see his recent listing in MediaTakeOut), this interview tells us more about just who J.R. is.  He also gave us a frew downloads you can check out here.

So tell us about your name. We noticed you've had several - J.R., TheKing of Gay Music, Young Cool J

Well, my stage name is J.r. - The other titles have come from my fan Base. My 5thCD/DVD was entitled “Young Cool J” And now my new album is called “The King Of Gay Music”, Which does fit me, because I do not limit my music to one Genre, I have tapped into them all.

How many CDs have you put out? Were they EPs, mix tapes, original material or...? Fill us in on your discography.

I have released 6 albums on my label Scandocious Entertainment. As well as two of my 14 artist. My first record was “From A Bottom’s Perspective” 1999 CD,“OOPS I DATED A QUEEN” 2003 CD,“J.r. Style” 2006 CD/DVD, “Chocolate Cream” 2007 CD, “Young Cool J” 2008 CD/DVD,“The King Of Gay Music” CD/DVD, I do not do the Mix Tape thing, but I will record a Gay Mix (REMIX) here and there. But I put out my music with original material.
Editor: We think putting out a gay mix is um, the same as a mixtape track? Rex Stone, correct us please.

When did you start doing out hip hop?

I first put out a Gay mix of TLC’s “NO Scrubs”, called “NO QUEENS”. In 1999. That’s when I started, and from there made an entire CD called “From A Bottom’s Perspective” But I was actually signed to Jive Records at the age of 15, but things didn’t work out, after waiting for A&R to push my project, and it got worst after he suddenly passed.

Why be a hip hop artist who is out?

Well honestly, it started as a joke! A friend of mine was with me when I was recording material to present to Jive, when he said, wouldn’t it be funny if a guy made a song to another guy. So I did. I went and privately record the whole 1stalbum, and what started out as a joke, turned into my 24 hr career. So now my mission is and has been to give our community a voice in music. Something for us to relate to.

In Chicago, there are a couple of other out gay rappers, namely Johnny Dangerous and Q.B of Da Midwest. Have you ever met either of them?

Well Q.B. Started out on Scandocious Entertainment. He was in a group named Envy. We had our own different ideas about the direction of the group, so we parted ways. But I see he is doing well for himself. So good for him. Johnny Dangerous I have not met.


Name 5 full CDs in your iPod/Mp3 player?

Wow this is bad.. cause I do not listen to an iPod or Mp3player..lol! I am so busy being the CEO and doing all of my work as well as everyone else’s I do not get the chance to relax. But I do play CD’s in my Car...Mostly crazy stuff Like Janet Jackson Discipline, Another Bad Creation Playground..lol I can’t think of anything else..lol

Do you listen to any other out hip hop artists? If so, who?

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Foreword by Humpty/OutHipHop.com, Interview by SOCE

He's a construction worker by day, gay rapper by night. Like most of us in this scene, he needs his day job to feed his passion, his occupation as a gay rapper, collaborator, and supporter of the out hip hop movement. He hasn't released a full length CD of original material, but he's already had to change his name from Smokey Da Bandit to Humility's Hand (chosen because of his desire t be thought provoking, but in a manner of humility at the same time).  He has not performed live yet, but he has been involved in two of the more high profile collaborations in the scene (QFam's "A Lil Something Like Diss" and the Tim'm West coordinated "We All In"). In addition, he is the creator of HomoHop Radio, a task that has been bigger than initially envisioned. Here is an artist who is not just another gay rapper, but an artist who longs to see the movement do well. Here is our New Artist Spotlight interview with Humility's Hand:

 

Where did you grow up, and how did you end up in Denver?

I was born in Hobbs, NM... Grew up in Plainview, TX... Went to college for a minute in Amarillo, TX... Lived in Lubbock, TX for 5 years... Ended up moving to Midland, TX with an ex-boyfriend for 3 years. So most my life I have lived all over West Texas.

When I was in Midland I finally got fed up with West Texas. Half the cars have bumper stickers saying “man + women = marriage.“ There were KKK rallies in front of the courthouse building, and I was sick of living in George W Bush’s hometown. I was just done with the bible belt conservative way of living so I broke away and made my way to Denver. My life in Midland before I came to Denver was the basis for my lyrics in “We All In.”

How many gay rappers have you collabo'd with, and how did you first start working with them?

Man... I honestly don’t even know how many hehe. I have way more collaboration tracks than any solo tracks mainly because the door is always open with me to work with other artists.

I have been doing collab tracks from the start. The first track I ever recorded was with Mister Maker. It started off with me posting raps on gayhiphop.com back and forth with Maker, Illform, Chaser, Q-Boy ect ect but it was Maker who helped me start recording and I just kept going with it. I began collaborating with other artists and have never wanted to stop. (Shout out to Maker for getting me started and sticking with me all these years. BTW I have seen a preview of the new gayhiphop.com and its looking sick... everyone needs to check it out when it drops).

What are the new themes you prefer to rap about?

I really don’t have set topics I write about. Working with so many other artist everyone has different opinion/style/bravado they like to convey. I try to lean to the artist I’m working with on the track. A track that works for one artist might not work for another. It’s interesting seeing the eclectic styles in the collaboration music. Some tracks like “We All In” or “A Lil Sumfin Like Diss” are exciting for me cause I don’t think you would think to ever see these artist on the same tracks together.

There are some tracks I been putting off doing cause they are more personal and not collab material. They’re tracks that are specifically about my life and I do intend on making more personal tracks about my life in the future. I really don’t feel like I know a lot of artist through their music and I want to give people insight into who I am. I think that’s where “Robbie‘s Revenge“ and “Veritas” will be a worthwhile project for me on a personal level.

You have a very unique voice when you spit on the mic. Please discuss.

Awww...

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(DaLyrical performs at this year's Mondo Homo, Friday May 22, 2009 in Atlanta, GA)

We learned a lot about this talented lesbian hip hop artist who has been largely silent over the last year or so. DaLyrical has been on the scene for quite some time, putting out not one, but two CDs. She has been on the HomoRevolution Tour 2008, Unity Tour, performed at Atlanta Pride and a number of events. She gets very personal with us as she disccusses last year's tragic events, goes back to her start as a rapper, and talks about where she is going and what is on her plate. Check out this interview and see not just a great artist, but a good spirited human being we could all get to know a little better. Here's DaLyrical:

How did you get your creative name? What does it mean, and how did you come up with it? 

I first came up with the name "Lyrical D" when I had my first rap group.  "Lyrical" because of my love for music and my new found ability to write songs others would actually listen to, and secondly "D" which is the first letter of my first name.  Later I hooked up with my first producer "Mousequake" Barrett and he suggested we change the name around by putting the "D" in the front and instead of "D Lyrical" or "The Lyrical" make it "Da instead of The".

We know you are presently in Atlanta, but where is DaLyrical repping from - OHIO? KANSAS? ATLANTA? The MondoHomo site says Ohio, so we want to get it right.

I'm originally from Wichita, Kansas and am currently residing here since my mom passed in July '08.  I've previously lived in several cities including Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Columbus, Ohio and most recently Atlanta, Georgia.  I guess you can say I'm from the Midwest by way of the Dirty South.

Speaking of Mondo Homo, this forthcoming appearance will be your third time at the event. How would you describe Mondo Homo and what can people expect from you this year?

Mondo Homo is an eclectic, energy-packed, awesome, fun-filled festival.  It is a great experience for festival-goers as well as the performing artists and entertainers.  I feel blessed to have been chosen to perform again, so I'm gonna give it all I've got and then some.  Expect my performance to consist of new songs off my upcoming CD entitled "Can't Stop".

Tell us about your first CD, what did it represent and is it still a picture of where are you right now? 

My first CD represented my coming out to the world musically.  I use to write songs that were not gender specific before then...which I felt wasn't being true to myself.  I don't feel like my first CD, "Lez Is More" is a picture of where I am now but rather my foundation, my beginning.  "Proud" is actually my 2nd CD and it represents progression...it shows my versatility.  Unlike before now I have a no holds barred approach to my music.  I don't feel contained like I once did.  ("Lez Is More" songs available on MySpace only...myspace.com/dalyrical.)

You had the privilege of being on not one - but two high profile tours - HomoRevolution and Unity -What were some of the highlights or things you remember about the tours. 

First of all,

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