The origins of hip-hop and R&B are deeply rooted in the social, cultural and political contexts of their respective time periods. In the 1940s, the term R&B replaced the “race records” music genre, which encompassed a myriad of music created by African American musicians that included blues, jazz and gospel. The genre’s evolution coincided with the Great Migration of African Americans from the south to northern, western and midwestern U.S. municipalities.
Hip-hop was born in 1973 and with it, began a cultural and musical revolution. In 2017 for the first time ever, it became the biggest music genre in the U.S. in terms of consumption, surpassing rock music. Still, one cannot deny the influences R&B has had on hip-hop; over the decades, both genres have served as powerful platforms for artists to express their voices.
Five years after the creation of hip-hop, the first Pride flag debuted in San Francisco. Commissioned at the request of Harvey Milk — one of the first openly gay elected U.S. officials — and created by artists Gilbert Baker and Lynn Segerblom (Faerie Argyle Rainbow), the flag waved at that year’s Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco. The flag’s eight colors each reflected a unique sexual or gender identity representation.
Music, such as hip-hop and R&B, gives an audible expression to what the Pride rainbow represents with color. It turns silent symbolism into reverberating stories of resistance and resilience. Similar to the flag, hip-hop and R&B span across cultures and identities. The genres are also vehicles for community, liberation, protest and power.
Read more: How Queer Rappers Are Defining The Next Generation Of Chicago Hip-Hop
There are several artists who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community whose work has broken barriers in music and society at large — with some having also collected a bevy of golden gramophones and nominations. And although some of these artists may not necessarily fit neatly into a musical box, the culture’s influence on their work cannot be denied.
GRAMMY.com continues to celebrate Pride Month by honoring the following influential LGBTQ+ artists who have made great strides in the hip-hop and R&B communities.
Queen Latifah
Rap pioneer, actress and GRAMMY winner Queen Latifah has left an indelible mark on hip-hop, especially as she has achieved many firsts. Her extensive discography includes seven albums and seven GRAMMY nominations. Among her many acclaimed works, her biggest hit remains “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which earned Latifah her first GRAMMY Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1995.
Read more: Ladies First: 10 Essential Albums By Female Rappers
Queen Latifah’s impact extends beyond the stage, as she was the first rapper to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 1998. In 2006, she became the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Additionally, Queen Latifah, who has been partnered for 12 years and shares a child with her partner, officiated the marriage of 33 same-sex couples at the 2014 GRAMMYs during Mackelmore and Ryan’s Lewis’ performance of their hit song, “Same Love.”
Learn more: Why Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love” Was One Of The 2010s’ Most Important LGBTQ+ Anthems — And How It’s Still Impactful 10 Years On
Da Brat
Da Brat’s debut in 1994 on Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def label led her to achieve breakout success. Over the course of her career, she has garnered two GRAMMY nominations. She also went on to become the first female solo rapper to have a platinum album, marking a significant moment for female rappers.
In recent times, Da Brat has starred on her own reality television show “Brat Loves Judy,” alongside her wife, Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart. This month, Da Brat headlined a free L.A. Pride Village concert and released her first new single in several years, “Have U 2 Myself” featuring singer Jessica Betts, who is married to actress Niecy Nash-Betts.
Janelle Monáe
Singer, songwriter, actress and rapper Janelle Monáe’s melodic sounds and embrace of Afrofuturism solidified her status as a musical innovator and earned her 10 GRAMMY nominations over four studio albums. Her GRAMMY-nominated 2023 release The Age of Pleasure included multiple queer-coded tracks that embrace a spectrum of sexuality. In 2023, she became the first nonbinary person to win the Spirit of Soul Award at the Soul Train Awards.
Read more: Artists Who Define Afrofuturism In Music: Sun Ra, Flying Lotus, Janelle Monae, Shabaka Hutchings & More
Monáe also regularly leverages her platform to address social issues such as protesting police brutality and systemic racism. Notably, she delivered a speech on police brutality during a “Today Show” appearance. She has also performed at various social justice events in a fundraising capacity, including at #JusticeForFlint. In 2024, her performance at L.A’s Outloud Music Festival during West Hollywood Pride included a speech that highlighted her stance on several social justice issues.
Kehlani
Though a singer and songwriter primarily working R&B, Kehlani‘s music has strong hip-hop influences; they have collaborated with hip-hop artists including Cardi B and YG.
The L.A.-based, Oakland-born singer/songwriter, who identifies as nonbinary and uses she/they pronouns, has four studio albums and four mixtapes under their belt. Additionally, they also have received four GRAMMY nods. Kehlani’s most recent nomination came at the 2025 GRAMMYs for “After Hours,” which was nominated for Best R&B Song.
Read more: Crashing Into The Present: How Kehlani Learned To Trust Their Instincts And Exist Loudly
Beyond their artistry, Kehlani is also an activist who advocates for various social and political causes. In particular, their vocal support for Palestine has drawn both admiration and considerable backlash. Kehlani has also spoken widely about their battles with mental health and is an advocate for suicide prevention.
Frank Ocean
Singer and songwriter Frank Ocean achieved significant recognition in 2013 by winning two GRAMMYs, including Best Urban Contemporary Album for the critically acclaimed debut Channel Orange. An R&B artist whose work includes hip-hop elements from the genre.
Read more: Frank Ocean Essentials: 10 Songs That Embody The Elusive Icon’s R&B Genius
Beyond his solo work, Frank Ocean’s talents extend to songwriting, with credits including collaborations with artists such as Justin Bieber and Beyoncé, showcasing his versatility and impact across genres. He also played a pivotal role in the music collective Odd Future, which was founded by Tyler, the Creator. Though Frank Ocean has stayed out of the spotlight in recent times, Channel Orange’s debut release — and his subsequent sexuality reveal during that same year— remains important to the LGBTQ+ community. In 2013, he won the Outstanding Musical Artist award at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Young M.A
Young M.A, a five-time platinum-selling rapper hailing from Brooklyn, burst onto the hip-hop scene with her debut single, “OOOUUU.” This track quickly captivated audiences and led to many remixes by numerous artists, including Nicki Minaj. In 2020, her distinctive voice and lyrical prowess were featured on Eminem’s track “Unaccommodating” from his album, Music to be Murdered By.
Young M.A is the first rapper to be featured on the cover of Out magazine. Additionally, she has performed at the L.A.Pride Music Festival and parade. While Young M.A stopped labeling her identity several years ago, she is proud of her identity. “I do what I want. I love who I love. I want who I want.’ And I’m not the only one. There’s a lot of people in this world who just choose not to identify,” she told the magazine. The rapper also advocates for young LGBTQ+ people.
Saucy Santana
Originally gaining recognition as a makeup artist for the rap duo City Girls, rapper Saucy Santana, who uses he/him pronouns, embarked on his own musical journey in 2019. His presence in the entertainment industry was further solidified through appearances on the reality television series “Love and Hip Hop” and inclusion on XXL‘s Freshman Class of 2022 list.
Read more: Rapper Saucy Santana On Breaking Barriers, Blue Ivy & Becoming A “Freaking Superstar”
A significant milestone in his burgeoning music career occurred in 2021 with the release of the remix to his hit song “Material Girl,” which features pop superstar Madonna. Saucy Santana, who identifies as gay, has performed at several Pride events around the country, and will be co-headlining this year’s Kentuckiana Pride Festival.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X achieved a monumental feat in 2020, securing two GRAMMYs with his breakout single, “Old Town Road.” The song became a cultural phenomenon for its seamless blend of hip-hop and country in collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus on the remix. The genre-bending song itself hints at Black cowboy culture and the missing recognition of Black artists from country music.
“Old Town Road” is not only among one of the longest-running number one songs on the Billboard Hot 100, but also made Lil Nas X one of the few artists to publicly come out as gay while simultaneously holding a top spot in music.
Watch: Black Sounds Beautiful: How Lil Nas X Turned The Industry On Its Head With “Old Town Road” And Beyond
Aside from his 11 GRAMMY nominations — including Album Of The Year for Montero — Lil Nas X continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ support and representation. In 2021, he was honored by the Trevor Project with the inaugural Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year award. The following year, in 2022, he won the Outstanding Musical Artist Award at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Learn more: The Incomparable Creative Vision Of Lil Nas X: ‘Montero’ Collaborators Detail How “We’re All Just An Extension Of Him & His Ideas”
Big Freedia
Known as the Queen of Bounce, New Orleanian rapper and singer Big Freedia reps her city and her community with pride. She was one of the first artists to perform in her hometown after the devastating Hurricane Katrina and acts as an ambassador for NoLa throughout the world.
Although she initially came onto the music scene in the late ’90s, she achieved widespread acclaim with her major label debut album Just Be Free, in 2014. She attained further recognition when she was featured on Beyoncé’s GRAMMY-winning hit, “Break My Soul.” She was also prominently featured on Drake’s GRAMMY-nominated hit, “Nice for What.”
Read more: 11 Artists Who Advocate For The LGBTQIA+ Community: Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, Taylor Swift & More
Big Freedia starred in her own reality television series, providing an intimate glimpse into her career and life with her late partner, Devon. In 2023, Big Freedia was honored by PFLAG with the inaugural Breaking Barriers Award at the organization’s 50th anniversary gala. Earlier this year, she was honored with a star on the New Orleans Walk of Fame, as one of the inaugural inductees.
Doechii
Rapper, singer and songwriter Doechii, who identifies as bisexual, made a splash at the 2025 GRAMMYs, performing as part of the Best New Artist showcase and receiving three nominations. She secured the Best Rap Album GRAMMY for her critically lauded work, Alligator Bites Never Heal. This triumph places her within an exclusive group, as she is one of only three women to have ever won this award.
Learn more: 5 Ways The 2025 GRAMMYs Celebrated The LGBTQIA+ Community: Doechii, Lady Gaga & More
Her discography includes collaborations with artists such as rapper Westside Gunn and fellow labelmate SZA. This June, she headlined the WorldPride DC street festival’s closing concert. On the red carpet at the 2025 GRAMMYs, Doechii told GLAAD’s correspondent that she wanted to “see more gay artists. And more alligators” in the industry.
Read more: Doechii’s Sonic Evolution: From Rising Alt-Hip Hop Anomaly To Best Rap Album GRAMMY Winner
Kaytranada
Canadian DJ and producer Kaytranada‘s music combines elements of house, hip-hop, R&B and dance. The GRAMMY-winning artist has also done many collaborations with hip-hop artists, including with rappers Childish Gambino and Freddie Gibbs. The latter was one of the first artists to publicly support Kaytranada’s sexuality.
In 2016, prior to the release of his debut album 99.9%, Kaytranada came out during an interview. “I was trying to be somebody I was not, and I was frustrated that people didn’t know who I was,” told the Fader.
In addition to his solo ventures, Kaytranada is also part of the duo Kaytraminé with rapper Aminé. In recent times, Kaytranada brought his musical blends to the stage as one of the headliners of the annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia.
Mykki Blanco
Nonbinary rapper and poet Mykki Blanco initially burst onto the music scene in 2012 with their mixtape Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss. Prior to rapping, the California native (who uses they/them pronouns) released a book of poetry entitled From The Silence of Duchamp to the Noise of Boys. Musically, Mykki Blanco has since appeared on songs with singer, songwriter and actress Teyana Taylor and Kanye West.
In 2015, Mykki Blanco became an advocate for HIV positive members of the LGBTQ+ community after revealing their status in a social media post. Since their debut, they have performed at several Pride events around the world and in 2019, presented Madonna with the GLAAD Advocate for Change award, alongside Rosie O’Donnell and Anderson Cooper.
Jean Grae
Though she has retired from rapping, artist and writer Jean Grae was part of New York’s underground hip-hop scene in the mid-’90s. The South African born nonbinary artist released her debut album Attack of the Attacking Things in 2002, and went on to release three albums afterward.
Over the course of her music career, Jean Grae has also worked with rappers such as Immortal Technique, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch. She has since ventured into acting and has made appearances on television shows such as “2 Broke Girls.”
Me’shell Ndegeocello
While her most recent GRAMMY wins have been in the Best Alternative Jazz Category, singer and songwriter Me’shell Ndegeocello‘s music blends beats of rap, rock, funk and soul. The 13-time nominee has received nods in R&B Categories and has been credited with sparking the ’90s neo soul movement that spawned the likes of Erykah Badu and D’Angelo.
Over the years, Me’Shell Ndegeocello has worked with an assortment of artists across various genres and her work has appeared in numerous projects. She is also an activist and has been outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights.
PRIDE Month: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Voices
