Mykki Blanco / Morado / Naranja / Azul

on

Mykki Blanco
Blanco in 2023
Blanco in 2023
Background information
Born (1986-04-02) April 2, 1986 (age 40)[1]
Orange County, California
Education
Genres
OccupationRapper
InstrumentVocals
Labels
Websitemykkiblan.co Edit this at Wikidata

Mykki Blanco (born April 2, 1986) is an American rapper, performance artist, writer, poet and activist. He[a] has collaborated musically with artists including Madonna, Charli XCX, Blood Orange, Michael Stipe, Kanye West, Teyana Taylor, Big Freedia, and Devendra Banhart.

Early life

Blanco was born in Orange County, California. As a child, he lived in San Mateo County, California, near his paternal grandparents, before moving to Raleigh, North Carolina.[2] He attended Enloe High School.[3]

At the age of 15, Blanco won an Indies Spirit Award for the performance collective she founded, Paint In Consciousness Experimental Theater, in Raleigh.[4][5]

At the age of 16, Blanco ran away from home before moving to New York City. He then spent time in California,[6] before winning a full scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but dropped out of college after two semesters in 2006.[7] She also briefly attended Parsons School of Design in New York City.[5] In 2024, Blanco graduated with a masters degree in Fine Arts from The Art Institut Gender Natur (FHNW) at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.[8]

Career

Blanco's book of poetry, From the Silence of Duchamp to the Noise of Boys, was published on OHWOW's imprint on June 17, 2011.[7][2]

Blanco has contributed essays to several publications, including The Queer Bible and We Can Do Better Than This. He has also written for magazines such as Vogue and Them. [9][10] In 2018, he served as a guest editor for Dazed magazine.[11]

In 2012, Blanco made his musical debut with an EP, Mykki Blanco & the Mutant Angels.[12]

In November 2012, Blanco released the mixtape Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss.[13] The mixtape was produced by Brenmar, Flosstradamus, Gobby, Le1f, Boody, Matrixxman, and Sinden.[6][14] He makes an appearance in the album Junto by Basement Jaxx.

In 2013, Blanco released his second EP Betty Rubble: The Initiation.[12] May 2014 saw the release of the Spring/Summer 2014 EP,[15] followed by his second mixtape Gay Dog Food in October.[16] Gay Dog Food features a spoken word track with Kathleen Hanna, and contributions from Cities Aviv, Cakes Da Killa, and more.[16]

Blanco's debut album, Mykki, was released on September 16, 2016.[17]

Blanco's ad-libs appeared on Teyana Taylor's song "WTP", from her June 2018 album K.T.S.E.; he also has writing and production credits on the track.[18]

In 2018, Blanco collaborated with Kanye West on the track "Bye Bye Baby" for West's scrapped album Yandhi; the track was later leaked.[19]

Blanco released Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep through Transgressive Records in June 2021.[20]

Artistry

Blanco performing at Glasslands, 2014

The persona Mykki Blanco began as a teenage girl character for a YouTube video in 2010, but evolved into a musical and performance art piece. Blanco's name is inspired by Lil' Kim's alter ego Kimmy Blanco.[21] His influences include Lil' Kim, GG Allin, Jean Cocteau, Kathleen Hanna, Lauryn Hill, Rihanna, Marilyn Manson, and Anaïs Nin.[5][22] He is also inspired by the riot grrrl movement and queercore, namely the director Bruce LaBruce and the drag queen Vaginal Davis.[7][23]

Blanco has been called one of hip hop's queer pioneers; although he struggled to identify with the label of "gay rap" or "queer rap", she has begrudgingly "accepted it".[24][25] Blanco also disagrees with those who portray him as a drag artist, saying "You can't tag me as the rapping transvestite. I never vogued in my life. I'm from a punk and Riot Grrrl background."[24] Blanco has often described himself in terms of other artists, saying that he's not a "Marilyn Manson" or even a rapper, but rather says she wants to be Yoko Ono.[25] In fact, his album Mykki was originally going to be named Michael in reference to Michael Jackson.[26] Blanco, along with Rosie O'Donnell and Anderson Cooper, presented Madonna with the GLAAD Advocate for Change award on May 5, 2019, in Manhattan.[27]

Blanco has also tried to bring his "persona" closer and closer to his non-artist self, having to repeatedly say through interviews and alike that he is indeed transfeminine, and that the aesthetic evolution of the Mykki Blanco persona over the years is the aesthetic evolution of his entire self, rather than just a "drag performance".[26]

Personal life

In June 2015, Blanco revealed via his Facebook page that she has been HIV positive since 2011.[28][29] Blanco initially worried that being HIV positive would be detrimental to his career, saying of the decision to make finally that information public, "I did it for myself. At a certain point, my real life has to be more important than this career".[30]

Blanco is transgender.[31] Blanco has used different gender pronouns throughout his career.[28] As of 2026, Blanco uses he/him pronouns.[32]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
Mykki
Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep[33]
  • Released: June 18, 2021
  • Label: Transgressive
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD
Stay Close to Music
  • Release date: October 14, 2022
  • Label: Transgressive
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD

Extended plays

Title EP details
Mykki Blanco & the Mutant Angels
  • Released: May 15, 2012
  • Label: UNO
  • Formats: Digital download
Betty Rubble: The Initiation
  • Released: May 21, 2013
  • Label: UNO
  • Formats: Digital download
Spring/Summer 2014
  • Released: June 20, 2014
  • Label: UNO
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
Postcards from Italia
  • Released: September 22, 2023
  • Label: Transgressive
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download

Mixtapes

Title Mixtape details
Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss
  • Released: November 9, 2012
  • Label: UNO
  • Formats: Digital download
Gay Dog Food
  • Released: October 28, 2014
  • Label: UNO, Ormolycka
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Song Year Album
"Head Is a Stone" 2012 Mykki Blanco & the Mutant Angels
"Join My Militia"
"Wavvy" Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss
"Haze.Boogie.Life" 2013
"Kingpinning (Ice Cold)"
"Feeling Special" Betty Rubble: The Initiation
"The Initiation"
"She Gutta" 2014 Spring/Summer 2014
"Wish You Would"
<(featuring Princess Nokia)
"Runny Mascara" Gay Good Food
"New Feelings" 2015
"Self Destruction"
"High School Never Ends" 2016 Mykki
"The Plug Won't"
"Loner"
(featuring Jean Deaux)
"I'm in a Mood" 2017
"You Will Find It"
(featuring FaltyDL and Devendra Banhart) 		2020 Non-album single
"Free Ride" 2021 Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep
"Love Me"
(featuring Jamila Woods and Jay Cue)
"Summer Fling"
(featuring Kari Faux)
"It's Not My Choice"
(featuring Blood Orange)
"Family Ties"
(featuring Michael Stipe) 		2022 Stay Close to Music
"Your Love Was a Gift"
(with Diana Gordon and Sam Buck)
"French Lessons"
(with Kelsey Lu)
"Steps"
(with Saul Williams and MNEK)
"Pink Diamond Bezel"
"Holidays In The Sun" 2023 Postcards from Italia
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Ring Around The Moon" 2013 Sinden Ring Around The Moon
"Unclassified" 2014 Etnik Unclassified EP
"Buffalo" Basement Jaxx Junto
"Femmebot" 2017 Charli XCX, Dorian Electra Pop 2
"WTP" 2018 Teyana Taylor K.T.S.E.
"My Sex" Brooke Candy, Pussy Riot, MNDR Non-album single
"Play" 2019 J-E-T-S, Machinedrum, Jimmy Edgar ZOOSPA
"Collide" 2020 Shea Couleé, GESS Non-album single

Music videos

Song Year Director
"Join My Militia" 2012 Mitch Moore[34]
"Head Is a Stone" Nick Hooker[35]
"Wavvy" Francesco Carrozzini[36]
"Haze.Boogie.Life" Danny Sangra[37]
"Kingpinning" 2013 Clarence Fuller[38]
"Feeling Special" Danny Sangra[39]
"The Initiation" Ninian Doff[40]
"She Gutta" 2014 Jude MC[41]
"High School Never Ends" (feat. Woodkid) 2016 Matt Lambert
"My Sex" (Brooke Candy feat. Pussy Riot, MNDR and Mykki Blanco) 2018 Pastelae

Bibliography

  • From the Silence of Duchamp to the Noise of Boys (2011)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As of 2026, Blanco uses he/him pronouns.[1]

References

  1. ^ "Michael David Quattlebaum". California Birth Index. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Chapman, Alex (April 4, 2012). "The Multiplicities of Mykki Blanco". Interview. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  3. ^ Blanco, Mykki (July 10, 2020). "Rapper & Activist Mykki Blanco's Lockdown Diary Is The Most Powerful Thing You'll Read Today". British Vogue. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  4. ^ Hornburg, Mark (June 26, 2002). "Michael Quattlebaum". Indy Week. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Schulman, Michael (July 17, 2012). "The Evolution of Michael Quattlebaum Jr., a k a Mykki Blanco". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "The Come Up". XXL. April 10, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Sauers, Jenna (April 10, 2013). "The Making of Mykki Blanco". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  8. ^ "Mykki Blanco: Poetry Reading - 24/04/2025 20:00:00". Cubittartists.org. April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  9. ^ "Soho House | The Queer Bible by Jack Guinness". Sohohouse.com. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  10. ^ "Amelia Abraham on the future of LGBTQ+ rights". Theface.com. June 7, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  11. ^ "Mykki Blanco is Dazed's guest editor!". Dazeddigital.com. August 8, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  12. ^ a b "The Wind Up Series of After-Hours Events Presents Performance by Mykki Blanco" (PDF). thejewishmuseum.org. The Jewish Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. ^ Battan, Carrie (November 16, 2012). "Mykki Blanco: Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  14. ^ Battan, Carrie (November 9, 2012). "Listen to Mykki Blanco's New Cosmic Angel: Illuminati Prince/ss Mixtape". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  15. ^ Minsker, Evan (May 28, 2014). "Mykki Blanco Shares "She Gutta" Video, Releases New EP, Announces Tour". Pitchfork Media. Pitchfork Media Inc. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Camp, Zoe (October 28, 2014). "Mykki Blanco Releases Gay Dog Food Mixtape". Pitchfork Media. Pitchfork Media, Inc. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  17. ^ Murphy, Sarah (July 20, 2016). "Mykki Blanco Details Debut Album, Shares "The Plug Won't"". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  18. ^ "Teyana Taylor Shares Self-Directed Video for 'WTP'". Papermag.com. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  19. ^ Jael Goldfine, Hear a Scrapped Kanye West-Mykki Blanco Collab From 'Yandhi', December 19, 2019, Paper
  20. ^ "Mykki Blanco: 'I've helped to push open some closed doors. It's a cool feeling'". the Guardian. June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "New World Order - Mykki Blanco". Clash. January 21, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  22. ^ Empire, Kitty (March 2, 2013). "Mykki Blanco - review". The Guardian. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  23. ^ Oliver, William (February 12, 2013). "Mykki Blanco: This is not Queer Rap". District MTV. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  24. ^ a b Moa, Johnsson. "Werkin' girls: a critical viewing of femininity constructions in contemporary rap" (PDF). Södertörns University. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  25. ^ a b Lynskey, Dorian (September 15, 2016). "Mykki Blanco: 'I didn't want to be a rapper. I wanted to be Yoko Ono'". The Guardian. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  26. ^ a b Geffen, Sasha (October 19, 2016). "Mykki Blanco Is Her Own Problematic Fave". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  27. ^ Spencer Harvey (May 5, 2019). "Madonna Declares "It Is Every Human's Duty To Fight, To Advocate" at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York". GLAAD. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  28. ^ a b Flanagan, Jack (June 13, 2015). "Queer artist Mykki Blanco reveals he is HIV positive". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  29. ^ Allen, Samantha (June 16, 2015). "Mykki Blanco, The Rapper Challenges Rap's HIV Stigma". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  30. ^ Reynolds, Daniel (October 9, 2015). "The Exclusive Interview With Mykki Blanco You've Been Waiting For". HIV Plus. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  31. ^ Azzopardi, Chris (January 6, 2020). "Mykki Blanco Finds Power in Transparency". POZ. Retrieved May 22, 2020. In that spirit, Blanco disclosed in November 2019 on Instagram that they started transgender hormone therapy. "I'm not gay," Blanco wrote, "I'm trans."
  32. ^ "Mykki Blanco". Office Magazine. August 23, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  33. ^ "Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep – Album by Mykki Blanco". Apple Music.
  34. ^ Chapman, Alex (May 14, 2012). "Exclusive Video Premiere: 'Join My Militia,' Mykki Blanco". Interview. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  35. ^ Catarinella, Alex (July 23, 2012). "Backstage Pass: Mykki Blanco". Elle. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  36. ^ Michelson, Noah (August 24, 2012). "Transgender Rapper Mykki Blanco Premieres 'Wavvy' Video". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  37. ^ Friedlander, Emilie (October 12, 2012). "Video: Mykki Blanco, "Haze.Boogie.Life"". The Fader. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  38. ^ Zeichner, Naomi (January 25, 2013). "Video: Mykki Blanco, "Kingpinning" (Prod. by Brenmar)". The Fader. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  39. ^ Hogan, Marc (April 18, 2013). "Watch Mykki Blanco's Noir-Nodding 'Feeling Special' Video". SPIN. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  40. ^ Battan, Carrie (June 5, 2013). "Video: Mykki Blanco: "The Initiation"". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  41. ^ Minsker, Evan (May 28, 2014). "Mykki Blanco Shares "She Gutta" Music Video, Releases New EP, Announces Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykki_Blanco
Warholla at your boy