At a time when many rappers seem to reach astronomical levels of fame within literal months of their first release, Mykki Blanco works at their own pace. For almost 10 years, they’ve cycled through multiple musical identities and genres, always prioritizing creative exploration over any particular niche. The diaristic, introspective lyrics and relatively sleek production of their most recent full-length album, 2016’s Mykki, represented a watershed moment in Blanco’s output—perhaps the nearest they’ve come to full self-realization in their music. Five years on, Blanco has made yet another about-face. With flourishes of R&B, house, and funk, the exuberant and sweltering nine-track mini-album Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep nails the transition from left-of-center cult favorite to bona fide diva.
Not that this record is some sort of overly produced pop confection. In the past few years, Blanco has struck up a blossoming partnership with electronic producer FaltyDL, and the pair have collaborated on some understated gems, including a remix of Ashnikko’s recent single “Deal With It” and “You Will Find It,” a subtly gorgeous electro-folk-trap track featuring Devendra Banhart (a somewhat unexpected early touchstone for Blanco). FaltyDL takes the reins on Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep, enveloping Blanco’s signature banjee rhyming style in a warm mist of languid beats, like summer jams spilling out of a parked car at the Christopher Street Piers on the hottest day of the year.
“Summer Fling,” with Kari Faux, is perhaps the best example of the album’s abiding mood. As a distorted vocal declares, “Summer come, no time to be boo’d up,” Blanco rattles off a list of seasonal conquests that harkens back to “men ain’t shit” classics like Lil Kim’s “How Many Licks?” Mykki’s firecracker wit is ever-present: When a “hippie dude” swears that “J. Cole saved rap,” Blanco spits back, “Your dick smells like hamsters, go take a bath.” This is what the persona of Mykki Blanco has always been—quick, cocky, confident, real. On “Summer Fling,” they sound ready to devour everything in their path.
Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep features an all-star cast of Blanco’s contemporaries; each supporting player brings their own flair, yet never outshines Blanco’s vision. When Big Freedia joins album closer “That’s Folks,” it’s not a frenetic bounce verse but a joyous, powerful moment to celebrate chosen families within the Black experience. On the Dev Hynes collab “It’s Not My Choice,” probably the most unlikely track on the record, Blanco is transported into a Blood Orange dreamworld without relinquishing their role as the main character. At every turn, Blanco asserts themselves, unwavering.
The old Blanco still rears their head, smeared eyeliner and all. “Fuck Your Choices,” a short, scathing breakup banger that packs acerbic ire over a quasi-industrial beat, is the song most reminiscent of Blanco’s earlier work. Smack dab in the middle of the album, it’s less a wake-up call than a screeching alarm. Though only a minute and a half long, it’s meant to remind the listener that Blanco isn’t just a rapper—they’re an artist who purposefully embodies multiple aspects of queer Black culture. Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep is the latest chapter in the chaotic yet deliberate evolution of a no-holds-barred performer who’s only now reaching their apex.
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