QBoy to Perform at Reykjavik Gay Pride
29.3.2007
T
he hottest gay music performer of modern times, QBoy, will be performing at Reykjavik Gay Pride this year. His new LP or full lenght CD is due out in May and he is currently touring US. QBoy has amazing story in music and as a true fighter for gay rights in his home country Britain.
Rapper QBoy has single handily become one of the leading faces emerging from a new wave in urban music: the next evolution in hip-hop. In such a short space of time, the half-Spanish, half-English artist has managed to reach audiences all over the globe and has hit the media with equal force. He just supported Boy George at the prestigious London venue ‘KoKo’ and is about to embark on two major USA tours; ‘The HomoRevolution Tour’ and ‘Pick Up The Mic College Tour’, traveling from state to state with his US counterparts.
He has also been nominated for Performing Artist Of The Year at the annual G&LA’s (Gay And Lesbian Awards), an award where the only other nominees in that category were Will Young and Stephen Gately. All this success with only his first E.P. release 'Even The Women Like Him' and his debut full album ‘Moxie’ due to drop May 2007. Expressive, experienced - an essential, positive influence in hip-hop… a wonder to watch… Confident, cocky, cute, clever, witty, unique, entertaining… Respected & praised from 40+ parents to traditional hip-hop heads… Providing the younger generation with a much-needed positive role model… a new political figure… breaking down stereotypes of hip-hop in the gay media…
The Brave and the Determined
The brave and determined artist has carved out a prominent place for himself in a culture known for it's apparent homophobia. From being editor of 'gayhiphop.com', dj and co-promoter of gay hip-hop club 'Pac-Man' to being one of the founding members of the UK homo-hop collective, ‘QFam’ and as one of the most documented openly gay rap artists in the world, he has pushed back stereotypes and stood his ground. Born and raised in Basildon, Essex to an English mother and Spanish father, he grew up in a difficult area where he was bullied throughout most of his school years, turning to music for comfort and in particular hip-hop for expression.
He's Leaving Home
He left his hometown at 18 to study acting and contemporary dance for four years. It was after this, in 2001 that he met up with DJ Mistermaker, creator of ‘gayhiphop.com’ and recorded his first ever rap. He has graced 9 magazine covers so far, including posing vacuus induviae for the cover of AXM in 2006. Also in this year his hit anti-bullying campaign track 'A Deal With God' led to him being invited to talk and perform for the UK Government Home Office and Permanent Secretary for their Diversity Conference. It also led to performances for many youth groups and schools to help combat homophobia in the classroom, working closely with charities Schools OUT and beatbullying, of which he is a patron.
In the Spring he attended the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival European Premiere of 'Pick Up The Mic', a revolutionary homo-hop film he features in that received sold out audiences at film festivals around the globe. As well as attending the premiere, he was the key organiser of the aftershow party, which he performed at to great success.
From EuroPride to Reykjavik
The summer saw him performing on the main stage in Trafalgar Square, London for EuroPride before flying off to begin his first USA tour when he performed in L.A., Philadelphia, Chicago and New York, where he also shot his new music video for ‘Q.B.O.Y. (Is Just So Fly)’ with Australian director Jarrah Gurrie and fashion photographer Nicolas Wagner. His excellent events management skills were put into play again later in the year when he helped organise the second annual European homo-hop festival; ‘Peace OUT UK’, a groundbreaking event he proudly presented for the first time in 2005.
In between all this he has been recording his long awaited new album, ‘Moxie’, which was been preceded by the promotional street release ‘Remixes Don’t Count – the Mixtape’ containing bootleg cuts and club remixes of his material. Lastly he completed presenting the documentary ‘Coming Out To Class’ for Channel 4, about 'out' gay teens and their experiences at school. This focuses especially on the little support LGBTQ teens are getting from schools at present and challenges the government into creating a safer environment for these teens. The programme is scheduled to air 26th February 2007.
You can view further info on www.qboy.co.uk and www.myspace.com/supaboyq where you can check out new tracks plus see future live dates and read Q’s personal blog. Details about 'Pick Up The Mic' can be found on www.pickupthemic.com Details about ‘HomoRevolution Tour can be found on www.homorevolution.com .
Photos by Greg Fredrick, taken from QBoy's MySpace web site