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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cheltenham rapper Keanan named as Gay Times' rising star | Cheltenham rapper Keanan named as Gay Times' rising star |
| (4 months later) | |
| Keanan's song Country Boy reflects his upbringing in rural Gloucestershire | Keanan's song Country Boy reflects his upbringing in rural Gloucestershire |
| A young rapper who challenges stereotypes has been recognised as a rising star by Gay Times magazine. | A young rapper who challenges stereotypes has been recognised as a rising star by Gay Times magazine. |
| Keanan, 24, from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, has found success on TikTok where he raps about his sexuality and rural lifestyle. | Keanan, 24, from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, has found success on TikTok where he raps about his sexuality and rural lifestyle. |
| He said: "It's who I am. I want to be a role model to other people. I want everyone to feel like they can be themselves." | He said: "It's who I am. I want to be a role model to other people. I want everyone to feel like they can be themselves." |
| The rapper will perform live, opening the Gay Times Honours event on Friday. | The rapper will perform live, opening the Gay Times Honours event on Friday. |
| "I literally live in a small town and a big brand like that has invited me to perform. | "I literally live in a small town and a big brand like that has invited me to perform. |
| "I just think it's mind-blowing, I think that's crazy," Keanan said. | "I just think it's mind-blowing, I think that's crazy," Keanan said. |
| Keanan said there remained a taboo surrounding rap and the LGBTQ+ community | Keanan said there remained a taboo surrounding rap and the LGBTQ+ community |
| Keanan's freestyle to Only You Freestyle by Drake and Headie One, where he raps about his sexuality, has been viewed more than 1.2m times on social media. | Keanan's freestyle to Only You Freestyle by Drake and Headie One, where he raps about his sexuality, has been viewed more than 1.2m times on social media. |
| "The way I was discussing my sexuality, I did it in a unique way, it was more a sense of this is who I am, unapologetic. People respected it," he explained. | "The way I was discussing my sexuality, I did it in a unique way, it was more a sense of this is who I am, unapologetic. People respected it," he explained. |
| He added: "LGBTQI is a big thing for me, especially as a gay rapper in the UK, it's new ground that's being covered. | He added: "LGBTQI is a big thing for me, especially as a gay rapper in the UK, it's new ground that's being covered. |
| The rapper said when he first experienced negative reactions to his music, "it highlighted for me how much it was needed and how much people needed a role model". | The rapper said when he first experienced negative reactions to his music, "it highlighted for me how much it was needed and how much people needed a role model". |
| "I'm happy to be that person." | "I'm happy to be that person." |
| Keanan said LGBTQ+ representation was "needed" in the rap scene and black community | Keanan said LGBTQ+ representation was "needed" in the rap scene and black community |
| Gay Times, a magazine for the LGBTQ+ community that claims to have a monthly reach of 28 million readers, added Keanan to the 2022 honours list, after following his journey, including the release of his EP Exhibit Green and a performance at Black Pride. | Gay Times, a magazine for the LGBTQ+ community that claims to have a monthly reach of 28 million readers, added Keanan to the 2022 honours list, after following his journey, including the release of his EP Exhibit Green and a performance at Black Pride. |
| "They way they described it to me was I'm everything they needed right now. | "They way they described it to me was I'm everything they needed right now. |
| "It feels really nice that someone of that level wants to back me so much," he said. | "It feels really nice that someone of that level wants to back me so much," he said. |
| 'Motivation' | 'Motivation' |
| But the artist, who said "there's not much going on" in Cheltenham, said it was not only the gay community he represented. | But the artist, who said "there's not much going on" in Cheltenham, said it was not only the gay community he represented. |
| "People around me, who are small town musicians and feel like they are not achieving anything, it's given them a lot of motivation watching my journey." | "People around me, who are small town musicians and feel like they are not achieving anything, it's given them a lot of motivation watching my journey." |
| The Gay Times Honours, which "recognise individuals and organisations that have a profound impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ people" take place in London on 25 November. | The Gay Times Honours, which "recognise individuals and organisations that have a profound impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ people" take place in London on 25 November. |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| TikTok | TikTok |
| Homophobia | Homophobia |
| LGBT | LGBT |
| Hip-hop | Hip-hop |
| Gloucestershire | |
| Black interest | Black interest |
| Music | Music |
| Cheltenham | Cheltenham |