Culturally, the hip-hop scene has hardly been welcoming of LGBT artists. It’s only now that we have begun to embrace the idea, allowing artists such as Azealia Banks, Frank Ocean and Mykki Blanco to make their way into the mainstream. But, while they enjoy the warmth of the limelight, they can’t forget the pioneers behind the genre, who gave them a platform through their undying commitments to the genre.

Lying at the heart of homo-hop’s development in the UK is Essex-born QBoy, whose early contributions circa 2001 were invaluable in creating the initial stepping stone for previously apprehensive artists.

From DJing and promoting the first queer hip-hop parties nationwide to landing peformances across the globe in Australia, India, Europe and the US, QBoy has helped facilitate the growth of an entire subculture from the bottom up. This was soon recognised when he was invited to perform alongside industry greats Boy George at KOKO, Lily Allen and work with his hip-hop idols Salt-N-Pepa.

Taking a break, but by no means letting up, QBoy organises the UK’s only showcase for the freshest LGBTQ urban music, ‘GULLY LIVE’, which served as Cakes Da Killa’s monumental UK debut. He also runs roadblock party ‘R & She’ with fellow friends and DJs Neil Prince and David Oh, as well as firing up the G-A-Y crowd every Friday night with an eclectic mix of 90s and noughties hip-hop and R&B floor fillers at London’s famous venue, ‘Heaven’.

But now, after dipping his toes back into the hip-hop scene in 2014 with “Music Makes Us Dance” and “DragOn” in 2015, QBoy has brought back his boyish charm and quick-wit as he prepares to take back the helm with brand new EP ‘QING’.