Heidi Barton: The Familiar Pattern EP (Free Download)

Heidi Barton is a transgender rapper from Minneapolis, who just released The Familiar Pattern EP for free download. Here is the press release for that project:

Transgender HipHop artist Heidi Barton Stink grew up in south Minneapolis where the themes of struggling with gender identity and addiction became prevalent in her life and art. After coming out as trans she released The Familiar Pattern EP.

The lyrical content of The Familiar Pattern EP comes not only from a fresh perspective as far as traditional hiphop is corncerned but it also represents voices that aren't normally heard in mainstream gay culture. Shying away from the sexualized lyrics and party songs that have been a staple of "HomoHop," Heidi's songs hit on topics such as the lack of inclusion and visibility of gender variant people's needs in the mainstream ("Direct Action") addiction ("Pick your Poison") and the shame a transgender-queer faces growing up in a gender-normative "liberal" city ("Love Who"). Heidi's beats, like her verbal style have a wide range; from the warm positive midwestern style, experimental electro-pop to east coast epic with production by Homo-Hop MC/Comedian Soce The Elemental Wizard on the song "Direct Action".

Heidi Barton: The Familiar Pattern EP