“I choose to be provocative because that is a valid form of expression,” says Gyre (Photos: Chris Dennis Rosenberg) South African queer hip-hop trailblazer Gyre has had his fill of homophobia in the hip-hop scene.
Now he’s speaking out, the consequences be damned. Born S’bonakaliso Nene, Gyre released his 2018 debut album Queernomics while still a student.
He’s continued to make an impact with his no-holds-barred, unashamedly queer lyrics, sex-positive image, and provocative live performances.
Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t been an easy path to take. He recently went public about the homophobia he encountered from the influential SA Hip-Hop 24/7 platform, which censored a paid-for promotion of his new single Fem Physique.