Remember when music used to be dangerous and challenged social conventions by getting right up into your face? Mykki Blanco does. Often described as the "womanly side" of American rapper, poet, actor and author Michael David Quattlebaum Jr., Mykki Blanco's set on the opening night of Victoria's Rifflandia Festival won't be soon forgotten.
Sometimes more performance art than music, Blanco nevertheless had some sweet rhymes and confrontational lyrics about gender and sexism. Decked out in white bottom lingerie, complete with garters, a bare chest that was glistening with sweat within two songs, and long, luxurious hair, Blanco rapped hard, switching between a coy, playful voice and shouting akin to Death Grips' MC Ride. A hyper blur of stage diving into the crowd, yelling, playful singing and tons of attitude, Blanco worked hard to win over a crowd who clearly had never seen a rapper quite like this before. By the end of Blanco's commanding set, the issue of gender became the topic of conversation for a lot of the patrons on their way out. And because of that opening up of important dialog and just pure show-personship, Blanco is a must-see live act.
Sometimes more performance art than music, Blanco nevertheless had some sweet rhymes and confrontational lyrics about gender and sexism. Decked out in white bottom lingerie, complete with garters, a bare chest that was glistening with sweat within two songs, and long, luxurious hair, Blanco rapped hard, switching between a coy, playful voice and shouting akin to Death Grips' MC Ride. A hyper blur of stage diving into the crowd, yelling, playful singing and tons of attitude, Blanco worked hard to win over a crowd who clearly had never seen a rapper quite like this before. By the end of Blanco's commanding set, the issue of gender became the topic of conversation for a lot of the patrons on their way out. And because of that opening up of important dialog and just pure show-personship, Blanco is a must-see live act.