- Welcome to the Muvaland.
- Although Cakes Da Killa was included in the media narrative of New York's queer rap scene in the early 2010s, his artistry has always rebelled against being put in a box. The arc constructed around Cakes and the likes of Mykki Blanco and Zebra Katz certainly provided him with new opportunities, but he's always had a distinct awareness of not becoming "a caricature of myself," an instinct central to his artistic identity.
His activity over the last 18 months shows this more strongly than ever, and reminds him of his early days making work to satisfy only himself and those who understood him. He wrote and starred in the semi-autobiographical film Visibility Sucks, which shone a light on the fine line separating artists from success and struggle by following a musician forced by the pandemic into seeking stable work. He's also consolidated his relationship to club music through a series of collaborative hip-house EPs with Proper Villains, which have been released by Derrick Carter and Luke Solomon's legendary Classic imprint and most recently London promoters HE.SHE.THEY. Cakes spoke to Heléna Star after a recent gig at Brooklyn Steel, covering everything from his appearance on Netflix's Rhythm And Flow to resisting pressure to conform to industry and media expectations.
TracklistCakes Da Killa x Proper Villains - Taste Test [HE.SHE.THEY]
Cakes Da Killa x Proper Villains - What's the Word (Proper Villains Warehouse Mix) [HE.SHE.THEY]