TikTokBlack Music Month x Pride: Hear From TikTok's Black LGBTQ+ Music Creators
LGBTQ+ culture is a galvanizing force in music, pushing boundaries of sound, image, and subject matter and elevating the artform to new heights. TikTok is home to a vibrant community of LGBTQ+ creators and musicians, who are shifting the culture by being unapologetically themselves. We at TikTok are happy to have a frontrow seat to the community's innovations, and we're honored to have the opportunity to facilitate and celebrate their progress on the app.
In celebration of the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ music creators to the TikTok community, we are excited to highlight five new artists who are pushing boundaries, making an impact, and continuing to be an example of what “Free to Be” really means.
Hear them talk about their identity, their music, and Pride in their own words below:
Dizzy Fae is a 22-year-old classically trained singer and dancer from St. Paul, MN.
How has your identity influenced or shaped you?
My identity influences present me so much. I allow my identity to shape and move around as she pleases because truly, I can be whoever I want when I speak my truth and that’s enough for me.
What does Pride mean to you? How has that meaning changed for you over time?
Pride is a lifestyle to me. It’s the confidence of my life and how I chose to live it. I think once I really allowed myself to identify as queer my confidence and pride grew even more.
How has the TikTok community inspired you?
TikTok is such an amazing base and community of LGBTQA+ members. I immediately felt so welcomed when I would post anything from the community. It’s inspired me to continue on, on every platform being myself.
What TikTok are you most proud of creating?
New Jersey's Fousheé is a TikTok favorite, known for trending songs like "Deep End" (3.4 million video creations).
How has your identity influenced or shaped you?
Your identity can be the difference between feeling seen in this world and not. It’s how you want to be perceived. A lot of people feel like strangers in their own skin and identity can help people understand who the person in it really is. I’m still finding and challenging my identity to this day.
What does Pride mean to you?
To me, Pride is accepting yourself for who you are. It means finding your identity and proudly standing in it regardless of what anyone has to say.
How has that meaning changed for you over time?
Since I’m still exploring my identity, it can be hard to feel proud. You have to remind yourself that it’s okay to not know or to change how you identify and you can be proud in that. We’re constantly moving and evolving and feelings change. We’re human and we’re all figuring it out.
How has the TikTok community inspired you?
The TikTok community is so diverse. I see so many different types of people embracing who they are. It makes me comfortable to be myself and it makes me feel less alone. Representation and understanding are so important.
What TikTok are you most proud of creating?
I think any TikTok that includes my original music. It’s a vital outlet of communication for me. My writing is honest and being able to create and share it is so freeing.
Kidd Kenn is an 18-year-old rapper from Chicago, called "Chicago's next teen sensation" by FADER, whose new EP 'Problem Child' released last week.
On His New EP Problem Child:
It's about a problem. I'm going to be a problem to someone. I'm going to be everywhere doing everything and I'm going to be on everybody's radar. Problem Child is really about me just having fun, writing music about regular everyday stuff in my life. It's me just pouring my heart out and turning it into songs for the summer.
On His TikTok Success:
It was really easy honestly. I was on TikTok every day. Once you're consistent, it really starts to work out for you. I was consistently on the app and posting and the fans started to love what I was doing. The TikTok community inspired me to be creative in many different ways. It shows creativity, new ways of filming, getting cute and doing all the things I love to do.
On Black Music Month and Pride:
Pride is all about being yourself and not letting anybody else stop you from being yourself. This is a really exciting time! As an artist I'm just having fun and writing music about my everyday life that I think my fans can relate to. Releasing Problem Child during Pride and Black Music Month just feels right! You can't listen to it without feeling yourself and you can vibe to it all summer.
What TikTok are you most proud of creating?
This TikTok for my song, "Good Day"
Marzz is a rising singer songwriter from Louisville, KY. Her new EP Love Letterz is releasing on all DSPs on Friday June 18th, along with the brand new video for her song "Countless Times"
How has your identity influenced or shaped you?
My identity has influenced me to be more confident in who I am. It’s okay to stand out and be different, I want to embrace that I’m unique and I have no problem with being comfortable in my own skin.
What does Pride mean to you?
What Pride means to me is loving yourself, being one with yourself and being in your true element - with scars showing and all. In spite of all the hate, show love and be proud of who you are. Love and positivity.
How has that meaning changed for you over time?
It has definitely made me realize it’s okay to be different and everyone has their opinions, but only yours truly matters and your happiness matters first.
How has the TikTok community inspired you?
TikTok is very supportive of the LGBTQ community and I appreciate them for allowing us to use these platforms to show our differences and make a change in the world, no matter how hard the world throws stuff at us. We have a very huge support system from TikTok and with that, they give us the platform to grow an audience and allow people to open up and build their confidence.
What TikTok are you most proud of creating?
Definitely, my SWV cover with my girlfriend secretly recording me. I was able to meet Lee Lee from SWV. She gave me nothing but love and support and she is always giving me advice and checking on me.
Born in Florida and based in Atlanta, MK xyz is a rising singer and performer.
How has your identity influenced or shaped you?
My identity has birthed the XYZ, and XYZ family. The unknown and ever changing parts of ourselves are the most beautiful to keep discovering. For me it’s all about authenticity and unity!
What does Pride mean to you?
How has that meaning changed for me over time? I live Pride each and every day. When I was younger I didn’t fully understand just how important it would be, but beyond it...it’s a time to not only celebrate, but give honor to those who led us here!
How has the TikTok community inspired you?
It has inspired people all over the world to be themselves in the rawest form. TikTok has created a fresh way for everyone to feel included.
What TikTok are you most proud of creating?
Free to Be, #ForYourPride
These five artists represent a bustling community of creators living their truth and eagerly sharing their music with the world. As always, we are proud to help bring their stories to the world and are thrilled to watch them grow. Follow @tiktokcreators for more updates about Pride Music activations, read the Newsroom for an overview of our Pride Month programming (along with creator spotlights on LGBTQ+ creators), and be sure to check out Pride-themed playlists on TikTok's music hub in-app.
