interview: black trans artist lucas charlie rose on his trans-only mixtape

“Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?”—Professor Oak, Pokémon

In the Black Community, it can be next to impossible explaining that there exists more than three realms of sexuality (ie; Straight, Bi, and Gay), and that gender does indeed expand beyond that of Boy and Girl, Man and Woman.

And the all around refusal of acknowledgement, education, understanding, and acceptance from loved ones can be a living hell—particularly in the case of one having grown up Black and witnessing the rejections of Queer family members or loved ones, by (and/or) demonstrating (whether consciously or subconsciously) prevalent disdain and intolerance for the LGBTQQIP2SAA community as a whole. This intolerance only serves to drive closeted people further into the closet from fear of rejection, violence and threat of death (by way of outside attack and/or suicide).

In the Black Community talk of “Transitioning”, “Nonbinary”, and “Pansexuality” is casually (and damagingly) written off as “some of that whypipo shyt”, and following suit only means straying further and further away from Black Jesus’s smiling face every day.

This is why it was nothing short of a miracle that transwoman and remarkably talented slayangel King Giselle Nicole appeared in my life (and at such a critical time) to show me that not only do I exist as a nonbinary Black person, but that I am also far less alone in the Black Community than I originally perceived to be.

I learned that she is not only an astronomically talented songstress/rapper and dancer, but is also the First Lady of a Hip-Hop group that made Black history by releasing the first ever trans-only mixtape in November of 2016 (and has since released two more albums in January of 2017).

Trans Trenderz is the brainchild of Paris-born Black and trans-masculine rapper and hip-hop recording artist and model, Lucas Charlie Rose, of whom writes and produces the brilliant musical and visual anthologies that beautifully and profoundly encompasses the tribulations and triumphs of being ‘Black, Trans, and Living’.

Lucas Charlie Rose was more than kind enough to honor my request for interview with Afropunk and show the Black Community—and world—a side of music that is changing the game entirely.

I – What Was Early Life Like For You?

“I was born in Paris, France. My mom is a white woman from Brittany, which is called the nose of France cause it looks like a nose (lol) and my father is a black man originally from the Caribbean (Martinique and Guadeloupe which are two islands still under French colonization). Both my parents were involved in the radio industry. My mom was a grand reporter at the time and her work was to cover what was happening in Africa specifically and my father was a radio producer. Both of my parents broke stereotypes to advance in their careers; so did my grandparents. My paternal grandma – rest her soul – grew up as the only black woman in a convent in Paris before World War II; my maternal grandpa was the first person in his village to go to University. Whenever these people talk about their past and their accomplishments it’s hard not to be impressed. 

When I was 9 years old, my parents separated and I moved with my mother and my little brother to Niamey, Niger.  then moved every 3 years. First back to France, then to the States, and then Montreal where I’ve spent the last 7 years of my life.”

II – Where Has Your Journey Of Gender Identity Led You?

(Lucas Charlie Rose, age 10)

“First, I wanna say that the way I feel about my gender has never really changed. I’ve always felt like who I am today, what changed is that a new language was introduced in my life. A language that made it possible for me to truly be who I was.

I realized I was trans and came out on March 27th 2014, and I wrote a blog post about it.”

(“That’s me on the day I found out I was trans (lol). I look so uncomfortable.”—LCR)

III – How Would You Describe Your Music?

“I grew up not speaking English. When I was 15 years old, about 6 months before I moved to the States, I remember asking my English teacher if she thought I would ever become bilingual. My dream had always been to make music in the States, even if I didn’t understand the language, I didn’t care. I wasn’t interested in France, I wanted bigger. But she looked at me and told me ‘No.’, breaking my spirits for a second. How dared she tell me that I couldn’t do it? I had to prove her wrong. But when I moved to the States I was so embarrassed by my accent I refused to speak English for the longest time. It took a couple of years before I grew the courage to speak and I have been speaking mostly English ever since.

When it comes to the genre of my music, I try not to limit myself. I like Hip Hop in general, trap, old school, it doesn’t matter. Either a song grasps my heart or it doesn’t and it’s the same for the music I make. I’m not interested in putting myself in a box. I rap, I sing, I do it in French, in English, the only thing that I always do is stay myself. I don’t pretend to be somebody I’m not.”

III – What Inspired You To Create The Trans Trenderz?

“One of the things that happens whenever a community is being marginalized is that it divides itself. Trans people are made to believe that there is only one spot in the spotlight; as if there’s only one  token trans person allowed per circle. As a result of that, we fight each other. It’s basic survival of the fittest. And I hate that.

These were people who had never met in real life but were making music together like they’d known each other forever. And the lyrics were so raw, so unique, so powerful. Some of these folks had given up on music before finding out about this project, some of them didn’t think about getting into music as seriously as they are now and this project changed all of our lives.”

(Lucas Charlie Rose (left) and First Lady King Giselle Nicole (right) performing during the “Trans Trenderz Presents: #Capricornseason” show in Montreal, on January 7th , at the Sala Rossa. Photography by: Oldin X)

“Less than six months after my conversation with Sidney Chase, we were launching the mixtape in New York City in front of the most diverse audience I had ever seen. Trans people, cis people, black people, white people, gay people, straight people, everybody left the room feeling like they had attended something special and joined a new family.”

(Pictured above: Afropanther (left) and Lucas Charlie Rose (right) during “Trans Tenderz Presents: #Capricornseason” show. Photography by Oldin X)

“I still am having trouble believing that we made this happen. All I know is that, I am now addicted to that feeling: Freedom. Because that’s how we felt performing on that stage—We were free. This is why I decided that Trans Trenderz was more than a mixtape.”

IV – What’s In Store For Trans Trenderz?

“I want to release two mixtapes per year, while introducing new artists each time. I want to be able to produce and release other projects: solos albums, collaboration eps, music videos, you name it! I want to keep organizing shows. I want everything we do to stay financially accessible (free music – (IE: pay what you can, show covers etc), and I want us to get some funding, cause right now everything is coming from our pockets (lol).

We can make these people relate to our lives, we can make them dance, make them cry, make them feel like they can accomplish anything, we can make them feel closer to us. They might never be able to understand what it’s like to be trans, just like a white person will never understand what it’s like to be black, but with the power of music, they can feel our humanity.

Maybe I’m delusional, I don’t care. All I know is this music shit is all I got and I will fight for this until I’m dead. It doesn’t matter how hard it gets.”

(Photography by: Susanne Serres)

For performances, shows and events, tour information, booking, contacting Lucas Charlie Rose, and for more information on the talented Black artists involved in the project, be sure to check out the Trans Trenderz on Spotify, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Facebook.

http://transtrenderz.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/transtrenderz/
https://www.soundcloud.com/transtrenderz/
https://play.spotify.com/album/6QA1Ndr4mRoUQraK1oYbOY

*Jacqueline-Elizabeth Cottrell/ AKA: JaxJax Attaxx: Published and Professional Androgynous Model, Cosplay Deviant (active), SuicideGirl (former). Writer and Featured Contributor/Model/Cosplayer to/for Afropunk.com, BlackGirlNerds.com, NerdyButFlirty.com.
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