.gay Music Monday Feature: LBXX

Mar 5

Ready to shake up your Spotify playlist? Because for this week's Music Monday Feature, we bring you one of the hottest rising stars in queer music— LBXX. This Bay Area hip-hop/R&B hybrid artist has a style that is straight-up fire!

With his double dose of West Coast cool and East Side edge, you won't resist getting down to his latest single, "Blessed,"- a collaboration with Colombian producer Nathan Hayes.

Read our interview below and listen to “Blessed” - a track that will make any Monday feel like a piece of cake!

**What inspired you to start playing and making music?**
Well, my dad was a reggae artist in Long Beach before I was born. So growing up, I was surrounded by a love for music. When my father passed away in 2017, I swore I’d start doing more things that would make me happy because life was too short. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that I decided to fully dive into music. Deep down, I always knew I would be working in and with music, I just wasn’t expecting it to result from trauma.

What do you like most about playing music?

Connecting with my audience is my favorite part of performing my music. When I can hear people singing my music, and I can see them dancing, that’s when I feel the best. I feed off the crowd’s energy. So the more energy they have, the more I have.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

Lol, they girls are going to hate me for this but pop-hop. That’s what I call this lane of music. It’s pop music but with an emphasis on bar delivery. Honestly, this is just the beginning of my sound and catalog. I want to make a house music project, a dancehall project, and an alternative project. I was inspired by so many genres of music, so I want to channel it all through my art.

Why do you think it’s important to be out and proud in the music industry?

It’s important because representation matters. Especially identifying as a Black queer man, it’s crucial we take up space so those after us can exist. The craziest thing is, is that we’re already here. We’ve been here. It’s just we can finally be seen and come out. Shout out to all my brothers, sisters, and siblings who have paved the way. We still have a long way to go, but things have definitely changed.

As an LGBTQ+ artist, what do you want to convey with your music?

I want to convey passion and hope in my music. A passion and love for music that you can hear, and hope for future queer POC artists who want to explore their talents! I just hope to be of inspiration for the next.