yo majesty: in this week's new yorker.

Critic’s Notebook
Three on a Match
by Sasha Frere-Jones May 28, 2007

The female hip-hop trio Yo Majesty, from Tampa, Florida, is composed of Shunda-K, Jwl. B, and Shon-B, who bill themselves as “the only openly lesbian rap group.” These days, hip-hop is an increasingly conservative genre, and Yo Majesty’s sexuality—along with their tendency to conclude their performances with some toplessness—will probably be discussed more than their music on the message boards and comment threads that form hip-hop’s online town square. Yo Majesty can take it—their music is a direct descendant of Miami bass, an unapologetically bawdy and rough-minded genre. The infamous 2 Live Crew—the most well-known practitioners of Miami bass—would probably respond to a song like “Kryptonite Pussy” (“Kryptonite” is a positive attribute in Yo Majesty’s world) with something equally filthy. But anybody who has a problem with Yo Majesty’s take on hip-hop will likely be greeted with a lively “Rub on my monkey!” Yo Majesty bring their high-energy, lowbrow rumpus to Irving Plaza on June 1. ♦

Illustration: MAXIMILIAN BODE