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We hope you’ve been enjoying our Pride Month portraits of local artists over the past few weeks, but in case you haven’t had a chance to read the one on BabiBoi, we’ll give you a quick recap. BabiBoi is the preferred handle for Austin’s Dorian Delafuente, who’s also a co-founder of House of Lepore, one of Texas’ few underground LGBTQ+ ballrooms. When BabiBoi’s not commentating burlesque shows at Lepore, they’re bringing that same sassy energy to the mic for an unapologetically queer hip hop project. Since 2017 they’ve performed at SXSW, Pride festivals across the state, and even an opening slot for Charli XCX. And for a genre as historically plagued with homophobia as hip-hop, it’s a breath of fresh air to hear voices like BabiBoi go balls-to-the-wall over absolute bangers.
Today BabiBoi, ever embracing the ratchet-ness of their image, dropped their bawdiest track to date, “Boyz 2 Men”. No, you won’t hear any a cappella harmonies or New Jack Swing. Instead it’s an explosion of unrestrained sexuality that sweats confidence across two and a half minutes of cowbells and beats. It sounds like a cross between Big Freedia and Megan Thee Stallion, but with an extra sense of southern flamboyance. If you like what you hear (and why wouldn’t you?), catch BabiBoi’s performance at Pride in Local Music Festival, 6PM this Saturday at the Long Center (ahead of our June 2022 Artist of the Month Caleb DeCasper). And if you really want to get down and dirty, come out to the “Boyz 2 Men” single release show 9pm next Friday at Neon Grotto along with Lavender Thug, Miss Girl6, Johnny Psycho, and Dreamiecloud.
