Over the course of the past nine months, Montreal-based songwriter Quinton Barnes has released not one but three full-length conceptual albums deeply probing his identity as it pertains to sexuality, race, and far beyond. While January’s Code Noir explored the former subject through the context of club music, and last August’s Have Mercy on Me leaned heavily into unfiltered autobiography, the latest record to arrive through this fertile period aims to question the racist tropes surrounding the designation “Black music.”
Released last week, Black Noise features dizzying raps set to piano and minimalist orchestration alongside surrealist jazz-inspired soundscapes leaning into the realm of avant-garde noise. The uncharacteristically collaborative record consistently eschews points of comparison as the focus remains on Barnes’ raging flow as he delves into the politics of race and other heavy subject matter. Between the full-band backing and his guarded vocals, the LP does occasionally bring to mind his American peer McKinley Dixon, with whom he coincidentally shared a release date.
In honor of the new record—and tying it back to Code Noir—Barnes put together a playlist of some of his favorite queer artists within hip-hop, musicians who helped pave the way for such bold transgressions of genre and sexuality within a category of music initially marred by homophobia. Stream Black Noise here, and check out his picks below.
Cakes da Killa, “What’s the Word”
Yeah, this song is just one of them ones. Cakes da Killa is a pioneer and has carved out such an iconic and inspirational lane. Also, this song makes me feel like a bad bitch about to get up to something on a Friday night.
Quay Dash, “Queen of This Shit”
Listen, if Quay says she’s the queen who am I to deny it? This song is ample proof if you ever felt inclined to question her.
Tyler, the Creator, “A Boy Is a Gun”
Love when he goes full homo, and this is one of my faves from him. And that chord at the end is just sublime.
DJ Delish, “Ashley Is Gagging”
Fuck Ashley, bitch I’m gagging! The bass line on here does it for me. Basically, everything about how the rhythm is working in this track feels tailor made for my taste and aesthetic sensibilities. I remember going crazy when I first discovered this body of work and I still feel it’s crazy underrated. My actual favorite song on it is “Nu Nigga,” which unfortunately isn’t available on streaming!
Aaron Carl, “Uncloseted”
Deliciously gay, unapologetic, the sound of freedom—I mean, the title alone gives you all of that. “Got to live my own life.” It’s a classic for a reason!
Quinton Barnes, “Not Too Much”
Yes, I’mma be the bitch who plugs her own music on the playlist. Deal with it!
Zebra Katz, “Ima Read”
With this song, Zebra codifies a quintessential homosexual emotion into musical form. There is not a single day that “Ima read that bitch” doesn’t cross through my head at least once—mostly during moments of frustration.
Frank Ocean, “Chanel”
Every bisexual person I know has a special relationship to this song—and if they haven’t yet, they will eventually.
Amaarae, “Princess Going Digital”
What a fucking tune. She slides on this beat, which is also killer. This is the summer tune for me, and it will be for the foreseeable future.
Kalifa, “Koi”
Kalifa and SOPHIE is a fucking lethal combo. It takes a special talent to command attention over bold and iconoclastic production like SOPHIE’s, and Kalifa slides all over this with ease.
Arca, “Electra Rex”
This some weird-ass, freaky-ass shit. Essentially, a perfect song. KicK iii is a perfect album for me—Arca is unfuckwithable and completely unapologetic.
