Gay & Lesbian

If the ‘UK’s first out lesbian rapper’ seems remarkably self-assured for her tender 27 years, it may be because she’s been performing since the age of five: ‘I started singing with my mum in Guyana in gospel choirs. I’ve been a singer from birth and fell into rap music around the age of 17.’ Fontaine is not her real name: ‘It comes from the word “fountain” as I do so much. I added the Mz part as I’m not quite a Miss or a Mr!’ Did that help her win her Ms Butch title at the National Lesbian Beauty Contest? Feature continues

Apparently her version of Missy Elliot’s ‘Pass Dat Dutch’ was something of a crowd-pleaser. ‘Yes, I did win the Ms Butch title because I was honestly the best-looking “butch” there. Although I don’t see myself as butch, I see myself more as a female stud. I did one verse of “Pass Dat Crutch” and the crowd went wild.’ I hazard a wild guess that Missy might be one of Mz’s influences. ‘She sure is! She watches over me every day. I have the biggest poster of her as a centrepiece in the studio. It’s my dream to connect and collaborate with her. I also like Da Brat, MC Lyte, Foxy Brown, Lil’ Kim, Shawna and lesbian rappers like Ieh and God-Des. As far as my other musical influences go, I write about my everyday experiences.’

Including being the first out lesbian rapper in the country? ‘Well it doesn’t stop me, that’s for sure. I do think it is very momentous and necessary for the community I live in to be represented. Some name me an idol, others name me a role model. Either way I do music because it’s my life, and my sexual orientation just happens to be a major part of my lifestyle. It’s not an easy ride, believe me – I see myself as paving the first stone, cementing a change, but I don’t believe it hinders me either. If society is not ready for me – too bad, I’m here already.’

But there must have been negative stuff as well? ‘Negativity happens to the regular person every day and Mz Fontaine is no exception. I don’t get any negative feedback from shows, magazine features or TV appearances. I have individuals who come up and compliment me for the work I am doing for the community, but I have noticed people trying to figure out whether I am a boy or a girl. Recently I attended a function at a straight establishment and was asked to leave the women’s toilets!’

Mz Fontaine’s recent projects include acting in a film, ‘The Unloved’, featuring regularly on Passion TV and being made a patron of the PrideLondon Festivals (the youngest and only black patron). She is due to perform at EuroPride London then go off to join in the high-jinks at Portland’s Black Pride and Montreal’s Lesbomonde. She’s a model, producer and entrepreneur, and acts as ‘ambassador’ for Fondation Entertainment, ‘a label that caters for the individual who feels secluded from the inner circle of life. I act as the stepping stone and an example to others.’

Her album ‘Spoken Thoughts’ is out later this year and her company hopes to release ‘Wavin Da Flag’ to correspond with the Pride festivals, although for one surreal moment I thought she was going to say the World Cup. She is particularly proud of the track: ‘This is most certainly a gay hip hop anthem. Many have pegged it as a potential Number One.’

And in all that spare time? ‘One day, I hope that some other brave soul will take over and carry on the baton for me. Until then, I assist a local parenting charity and I work with other artists helping them to develop their talents. I love “The L-Word” and I would love to be offered the chance to portray a young black lesbian in the series. That’s a goal I’m hoping to achieve.
I work a lot on the web as well.’

Her website is pretty slick, very twenty-first-century girl: ‘My website definitely shows my personality. Wallpapers and screensavers are important; it’s all about advertising, getting yourself known and being seen when you’re not in places. I am most certainly a twenty-first-century musician, the first of a new wave to grace the music industry.’