Zebra Katz
| Zebra Katz | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ojay Morgan |
| Genres | Rap, electronica, darkwave, queer hip hop |
| Occupations | Songwriter, rapper |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2010s–present |
| Labels | Mad Decent |
| Website | http://zebrakatz.com/ |
Zebra Katz is the stage name of Ojay Morgan,[1] an American rapper best known for his 2012 single "Ima Read".[1] He is part of a wave of "queer hip hop" artists who emerged in the 2010s, who were influenced by elements of the LGBT African American ball culture;[2] other artists in the same movement include Mykki Blanco, Cakes da Killa, House of LaDosha and Le1f.[2]
The single "Ima Read", which took off when fashion designer Rick Owens used a repeated loop of the song to soundtrack his 2012 show at Paris Fashion Week,[3] was released on Jeffree's, Diplo's imprint for the Mad Decent record label.[4] Its video was directed by RUBEN XYZ.[5] It has been described by The Guardian as "queer rap's crossover hit",[6] and has been widely remixed by artists as diverse as Tricky,[7] Azealia Banks,[7] Gangsta Boo,[7] Grimes[7] and Busta Rhymes.[1]
Zebra Katz was originally created while Morgan was studying at Eugene Lang College in New York City,[8] growing out of a performance art piece called "Moor Contradictions".[9] He subsequently worked on songs and videos as a hobby[9] while working as a manager for a catering company,[1] and began to pursue music more actively when he started garnering wider attention following the Owens show.[1]
Morgan conceives of Zebra Katz as "the dark rapper, the dark villain, the dark lord of the fashion world".[10] The single "Ima Read" is an allusion and tribute to Paris Is Burning, the influential 1990 documentary film about ball culture.[11]
Morgan has since released two mixtapes, Champagne (2012) and DRKLNG (2013).[12] He has performed numerous concerts in the United States and the United Kingdom, both solo and as an opening act for Azealia Banks,[13] and has also released several followup singles on Mad Decent.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Zebra Katz: 'Creating a strong, black, queer male is something that needed to happen'". The Guardian, May 25, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "We Invented Swag: NYC's Queer Rap". Pitchfork, March 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Fashion Week season's hottest soundtracks: Zebra Katz, Azealia Banks, Rae Morris". Yahoo! News, March 12, 2012.
- ↑ Cochrane, Lauren (7 March 2012). "How Zebra Katz became fashion's hot soundtrack". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ↑ Maxwell Kupper, Oliver. "Ima Read". Zebra Katz - Ima Read. Pas Un Autre. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ↑ "Zebra Katz, Mykki Blanco and the rise of queer rap". The Guardian, June 9, 2012.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Zebra Katz’ ‘Ima Read’ remixed by Tricky, Grimes, Azealia Banks and more". Fact, August 7, 2012.
- ↑ "You Have to Know the Context". The New York Times, March 14, 2012.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Zebra Katz Is Booking It". Interview.
- ↑ "Zebra Katz Talks Busta Rhymes, Covering Tiffany's 'I Think We’re Alone Now' & 'DRKLNG' Mixtape". Billboard, May 24, 2013.
- ↑ "Hip Hop's Queer Pioneers". Details, October 2012.
- ↑ "Listen to New Releases From Kylesa and Zebra Katz on Pitchfork Advance". Pitchfork, May 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Azealia Banks/Zebra Katz". New Musical Express, October 15, 2012.