Rosa Isabel Rayos, 28, is an Afro-Latina transgender rapper whose goal is to make music that uplifts, supports and encourages Black transgender women — including, at times, herself. “Everybody who raps only raps about what they know,” said Ms.
Rayos, who goes by Ms. Boogie when she performs. Her motive just happens to be very clear: to connect to other trans people who need a reminder that they deserve to feel safety, love and joy. “It’s imperative for me to center my work around spreading that ‘femme queen joy,’” Ms.
Rayos said. “It seems like the right thing to do, to create on an emotional level, to make the things I needed and continue to need to hear.