I.K.P. Reminds You to LoveYourself.gay
I.K.P. is the artist name of rapper Kenny M. Alvarez (he/him/they/them). As a solo artist and with their hip-hop supergroup The AlliYance, I.K.P. uses their gift of storytelling to spread a message of positivity and perserverence for anyone who is struggling. His latest album, 11:11 | eleven eleven, was born during pandemic quarantine and chronicles his continued journey of healing. Check out the video for the lead single, “Boiler Room.”
We got in touch with I.K.P. for a #DotGayQAndA that goes deep. Read on to discover I.K.P.’s inspiring story of resilience.
Tell us about who you are and what you do!
I am I.K.P. and that stands for "The Infamous King of Positivity". I am a rapper, activist, poet, producer, and podcaster. I am also a military veteran. I served in the United States Marine Corps for 5 years.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, home to the largest naval base in the world—and it indeed is huge.
What is your mission as an artist and activist?
My mission is to tell the stories of untapped communities within the LGBTQ+ population. I want LoveYourself.gay to be an example for those who need inspiration to continue thriving.
I think .gay domains are a great way to affirm a sense of solidarity in a world where a great many live in constant danger of being victimized—just because of how they identify. I want my domain and the story behind it to be a beacon that shines when it seems dark and hopeless. I have been there.
Why is it important to you to be proudly and visibly OUT?
(Content warning: The following sections discuss sexual assault, abuse, and attempted suicide. Find support at PFLAG.org/hotlines.)
Not being out and living in fear almost destroyed me.
I chose to start rapping in secrecy when I was a teen. I wanted a new vehicle for my imagination and an escape from not being able to fit in at school.
I had been honing my craft for years before I ever thought I was good enough to record music. All along, I had done it with little encouragement—mild curiosity from family at best.
In the process of developing my musical talent, I was coming of age as a Black, Gay man, which meant I was navigating a world that was hostile to me at every turn. I was sexually assaulted while I served in the Marines and contracted HIV as a result. I served during the years of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” so when I needed help, I was effectively silenced out of fear that I would lose my chance at a fruitful military career.
Then, I dared to want to rap as an openly gay artist. I did that because during my years of military service, I realized there were others like me, which meant to me that they could benefit from my message if I just remain true to myself.
I felt like I was dealt an impossible hand at many points, especially because I was open about my sexuality and my HIV status, which, I felt, alienated me. I suppressed the pain from my sexual assault out of survival, to the point where I was hospitalized due to heavily suicidal ideations that lead to an attempt. Then, I found myself homeless and in a toxic romantic relationship. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
It's really a miracle for me that I can say I held on with so much working against me. So, I feel like if I can still thrive and have faith in myself through all that, my mission has to be to show anyone who identifies like me that they have that power too. If I'm not visibly out and proud enough to deliver that message, all of it is in vain, and I can't show people light if part of me is in the dark.
Tell us about your latest music releases!
My latest release is my album 11:11 | eleven eleven. It's my 4th full-length album, released on my birthday which was April 1, 2021.
I named the album "eleven eleven" because: there's literally four "1s", sort of a pun on my birthday (4/1); to acknowledge Veterans Day; the numerology of the number 4; and because of the popular tradition to state intentions at 11:11 each day as a way to heal. So, there are a lot of layers to the title!
I experienced a tremendous amount of growth making this album. It's an album that I used to heal in ways I never thought I'd find healing. It couldn't have existed without the pandemic. I had been through heartbreak, homelessness, sexual assault, and personal setbacks that had taken a deep toll on my whole self—physical, emotional, and spiritual—and I spent much of the time reconnecting, soothing, and embracing the different parts of my energy to face hard truths and dismantle old, harmful beliefs I held about myself for a long time.
I healed through all of the writing and looked inward at my trauma to show that putting yourself first is the only way you can be strong enough to help others and spread love. You can't love others if you don't love yourself, and that means trusting your emotions, your gut, your body, and your soul—flaws and all—to guide you.
Rap is about telling the stories of untapped communities. I feel there can always be more opportunities to tell our stories the way we want. This album was the way I approached beginning to tell my story of finding my truth so I can help others like me do the same, and hopefully heal themselves.
The lead single from the album, "Boiler Room," has a music video and is available on my website LoveYourself.gay.
Who are some LGBTQ+ rappers and musicians we should be listening to?
Definitely listen to: The AlliYance (@the_alliyance), Mista B Hood (@mistabhood), EarthTone (@earthtonemuziq), DJ Swanny RIver (@srmg_rwsradio), Shorty Roc (@shortyrockbk), Troy Weekes (@troyweekesmusic), Tim'm West (@braveeducator), Kevin Kaoz (@spacecake612), Bugz Gutta (@bugz_gutta), Tia Carta (@sheistiacarta), Rico Cassadine (@rico_cassadine_), Asiahn (@iamasiahn), Nor Kin4Life (@norkin4life), Butterfly Feels (@butterflyfeels), GodIsMikey (@godismikey), Jackie Tsunami (@jackie.tsunami), and Paperboy Love Prince (@paperboytheprince).
I could go on and on, there's plenty more. On my show The Herbal Tea Podcast, my co-host EarthTone and I focus on the ever-growing list of LGBTQ+ talent thriving in our communities. The latest episodes will always be on my website LoveYourself.gay.