Hudson Valley, New York–based artist K2 Cocky—formerly Cocky da Homo MC—emerged in 2012 as one of the first openly LGBTQ rappers in a hip-hop culture that was still largely hostile to queer voices. Instead of chasing record deals, he chose independence, releasing a high volume of self-produced projects spanning hip-hop, electronica, rock, and metal.
In 2017 alone, K2 Cocky dropped 17 projects, including Not of This World and the horrorcore-inspired The Awful Truth, earning critical attention for his fearless, genre-blurring approach. He later gained wider recognition through work connected to industry heavyweight Jeff Blue, and viral singles like Ugly Duckling, Some Other $#!+, and the raw a cappella track The Second P.
Now signed to indie label Screech Owl Entertainment, K2 Cocky continues to evolve. His latest single Try (Go ’Head) draws influence from nu-metal icons Limp Bizkit and Korn, delivering an aggressive, unapologetic sound that reflects both his roots and his refusal to conform.
It’s genuinely compelling that K2 Cocky chose independence over chasing traditional deals, especially navigating the early, hostile environment for openly LGBTQ rappers. I’m curious how that early self-production shaped his unique sound compared to artists who signed on early.