A Peckham-based gay rapper who has faced barriers trying to enter music wants to make space for himself and others on the UK scene.
Carter The Bandit (Denell Mullings), 26, is Peckham born and bred. He said he’s always been a dancer, which is what first got him noticed online.
But two years ago, he started to write and perform freestyles. “I started with drill because not a lot of queer rappers were doing that.”
He explained that because there aren’t many gay rappers, there’s a lot of competition in the scene. “It’s all about whose first to do it – everyone wants to be first to do a certain sound.”
He said another barrier is the lack of space for gay men in the rap scene itself. “I feel like being gay is made into something that is so sexual – like it’s something that kids should be ‘protected’ from.
“Some people, when they hear ‘gay rapper’ they think all we rap about is our sex life.”
He added that because there’s still a lot of homophobia, this “puts people off.”
“Someone asked me if I rap about my relationships, as if I don’t go through the same things as everyone else because I’m gay.
“That’s another reason why I’m doing what I’m doing – I want to bring further awareness to homophobia in music and hopefully inspire a younger generation to live in their truth too.”
After leaving his mum’s house in Peckham at 18, he moved around hostels across the city. “I had no money, and no plan,” said the 26-year-old.
“I did loads of different sales jobs – but this is what I want to do and with no management, it’s a full-time job.”
Recently, he came back to his home turf in Peckham to be closer to family.
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Carter has some loyal friends, including fellow gay rapper, Keanan and female rapper, £monzo, who have helped him along the way. That said, everything he’s got up until now, he said he’s done himself.
“Everyone in the music industry is hungry for money. So it’s really hard to find people to manage you when you’re still coming up.”
Despite all the setbacks, in the last year alone, he’s had 20 shows and released his EP, New Kid on the Block.
Last Friday, he performed at the first LGBTQ+ club night at Prince of Peckham Pub, Big Purr.
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He said he’s currently working on the music video for ‘Who’s That’ – one of his most popular songs – which he hopes to release soon. “I’m planning to bring back the dancing aswell,” he added.
“I want to be a household name, creating my own lane.”
And yet, he’s determined to bring others with him on his journey into the rap scene. “My role models have always been female rappers like Megan Thee Stallion and Ms Banks.
“So when I did my first headline show, I didn’t have any male artists opening – I had girls. I love what they do, and they’ve been pushed aside too so I want to support them.
He added that anyone wanting to check out other queer artists: “There’s King Dee, Tee Brazy, Karnage Kills, 6ndre, Cushy Haze – to name a few.”
Follow Carter The Bandit on instagram @carterthebandit to stay up to date with what he’s doing next.