Premiere: Ripparachie’s “Party Over Here” Brings in New EP

Arts

Jun 27

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While there’s always been a great overwhelm of straight cis men holding helm in rap music, Ripparachie’s tireless love for revealing track after track in a massive continuation would seem to pay no mind to the historic wall of hetero. However, the past few years have not gone without some aim to challenge the status quo, even if just to express his truth: “Being out here on the scene and being one of the only gays in it, I have been pushing to end the shade between the straight scene and the gay scene.”

His latest EP hides no innuendo to the young rapper’s “lifestyle”. Initially called “Popstar Rachie”, in nod to the EP’s producer Popstar Benny, Rachie Pop became a ring that combined collaborative names as a cheeky concept genre. Afterall, the ATL-based artist has always had a specific brand of authenticity. “Rachie Pop is me popping my shit. It’s a vibe of being yourself and still being respected no matter what”, he explains. “I walk through some dangerous scenes in these booty shorts and still get through.”

With the Cakes Da Killa and Astrolith collab “You Could Neva” still fresh, Rachie Pop is an added testament to the queer rap experience. “The inspiration is proving an OPENLY gay rapper can also rap this trap shit and really be out here around it,” Rachie says. “Everyone knows the gay scene is full of drugs. I am not glorifying it but I am not shaming it neither. I know what’s going on and this is tea.”

The “Party Over Here” video with Losa is a taste of quarantine synergy (posing the question of how much weed have you bought in isolation and how many Neverending dishes do you do each week?). The EP has grit and humour, like the wild ride of “Hot Yoga” where Rachie runs into some unexpected money on the way to hot yoga class. Rattling off lyrics like “Step on that white girl like I was Bikram” and “come and give Star...bucks”, Rachie paints an image of Buddha and bud, harem pants in the trap house, laughing, “There aren't many trap cultured people that do hot yoga so I am flexing this life that some think only a suburban mom would be doing.” “Yea!” and “Butt, Fuck” cruise through in signature style, rounding out the Rachie Pop EP as a must listen for Summer 2020.

Regarding the imbalance in the rap scene, however, the artist has much to say. “I feel like a lot of people think being gay and doing trap music does not mix. I also notice there is not a lot of coverage of gay artists that rap about what’s going on, on the other side of the rainbow. It is dangerous being gay, Black, and out here in the field where most of the people on the scene are homophobic,” Rachie explains. “Not only will the cops try you but still will someone on this block just for being a little more feminine. People in this industry are scared to be on tracks with gay artists because of their fear of losing respect in the streets. I might see so-and-so and they be like ‘yo, you’re dope’ but they would never say that in public.”

It’s not simply an issue of social invisibility, the lack of outward support is a detrimental hindrance of a person’s creative livelihood and basic humanity. “When it comes to being a gay rapper who also likes to dabble with trap music, I find it hard to find the support on either side. The gay blogs aren’t really posting any trap artists,” Rachie explains. And yet non-Black artists have chased the rise of rap and R&B, especially as of late, no surprise as most queer terminology has been ripped from the queer and trans Black community, too. These copycats with cash flow can interject illusion of “hood” aesthetic into their self-bought musical careers and their glossed-over watered-down renditions will receive media attention, all while gay rap artists that actually live the life often remain underground.

“Most of the trap artists are openly homophobic so I understand why it’s not on their radar. Most come up in rap by being in the closet while they get on then they come out, or never come out. It’s still taboo for gay artist to be talking about the trap regardless of more gay artists popping right now.” Additionally, Rachie has a very clear view on why the BLM movement needs to be far more intersectional than it has been: “There is so much homophobia and transphobia in the Black community. I feel like it should be said. Black trans[people], Black gays, Black lesbians are also part of the Black lives that matter. There’s no Black lives without our lives being included.”

Environmental factors and attitude aside, Ripparachie continues to rise. He takes it in stride, yet doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind, continuing to carve space to express and enlighten, personal and political, a wellspring of radness regardless of the difficulties along the way.

Follow Ripparachie on Instagram and Spotify. Check out our past interviews and premiere of “Flickin’ Shade” and “Love Me Long Time (ft. Father)”. Ripparachie’s album Trippy Cunt will be releasing July 16th, produced by Kaddy Kobain.

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Sunni Johnson is the Arts Editor of WUSSY and a writer, zinester, and musician based in Atlanta, GA.

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