Angel Haze is one of the most prolific rappers around today, unfailingly raw and authentic. Her mixtapes and personalized covers of songs like Macklemore’s “Same Love” and Eminem’s “Cleaning Out My Closet” have catapulted her into the spotlight, where she has been lauded for her courage and lyrical prowess. Her debut album, Dirty Gold, showcases her ability to freestyle, and features songs that reveal many of Haze’s deeply personal experiences.
The rapper, who identifies as
pansexual, has always been honest about her experiences growing up in a
strictly Pentecostal household with a mother who didn’t understand her
sexuality. She has survived familial persecution, sexual abuse, and self-harm,
and her presence in the mainstream music industry has created important
dialogue surrounding these topics.
Lyrics like, “There was a point in my life where I didn’t
like who I was/ so I created other people I would try to be come/ sexuality
came into play and with I scarred as I was/ I was extremely scared of men so I
started liking girls/ I started starving myself fucked up my bodily health/ I
didn’t want to be attractive to nobody else/
I didn’t want the appeal, wanted to stop my own growth/ but there’s a
fucking reason behind every scar that I show…” are indicative of the pain
and trauma that Haze has endured in her life, but also reveals how strong and
independent she is as a woman, and as a musician.
As Cameron Keady explains, “Angel Haze continues to be a symbol of
strength and fearlessness. She is unapologetic and true, and she rejects
conventional expectations and labels. At just 22 years old, the young lyricist
has fought on too many battlefields. She may not have walked away unscathed,
but today she stands resolute, with an unwavering optimism for the future.” Keady,
like many, predicts a strong future for the artist. I can’t wait to see what
she does next.
Listen to Angel Haze remix
“Same Love” with her own lyrics on Soundcloud.
