FLY, DOPE AND FIERCE, ZEBRA KATZ IS AMONG THE FRONTRUNNERS IN NEW YORKS EMERGING QUEER RAP SCENE.

STAND UP STRAIGHT; YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SCHOOLED

Photography Styling by

URY OWEN MYERS VICTORIA HIG GS

Words by

by

ALEX SAINSB

GROOMING BY RANELLE CHAPMAN USING PHYTO FOR HAIR AND NARS FOR SKIN, PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSISTANT LEE WHITTAKER, STYLISTS ASSISTANT FAN HONG

oday, Ojay Morgan is in character. Faced with a long bench to sit on the kind beloved of communal-dining restaurants circa 2002 he doesnt go side-saddle. As Zebra Katz, he mounts the bench with one leg on either side, his crotch forward. You dont need to be a body-language expert to know that it reads Ima Ready. Since Rick Owens soundtracked his Paris A/W show earlier this year with Zebra Katzs minimal, claustrophobic hip-hop release Ima Read, its been one hell of a ride for the rapper. Six months ago, he was serving canaps to the same fashion elite that have now adopted him as one of their own. It was just a beautiful collaboration to nally hear my voice sonically in Paris, and have such an e ect with Rick Owens clothes, Ojay remembers of the brutally staged yet glamorous show. It was very inspiring. I quit my job the day I saw that, because I was so moved. I knew that I was nally getting an opportunity to go further. Post-Rick Owens, Zebra Katz became the hook for trend pieces from The Guardian to Pitchfork about New Yorks queer rap scene, citing the inuence of parties such as Venus Xs GHE20 G0TH1K on the citys musical output. But while Ojay tips his hat to

NYC rappers such as Mykki Blanco and Le1f, he refutes the existence of such a scene, saying, its more like separate acts and a larger story. But scene or no scene, Ima Read is its rst crossover hit. Sometimes it only takes one song to make a star. Ima Read was taken as a reference to New Yorks queer ballroom culture, immortalised in Jennie Livingstons 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, and still thriving today in America. But Ojay is careful to note that its just one of the songs layers. Im not involved in the ballroom scene, he says of the parties, which are currently in vogue again thanks to DJs such as MikeQ and the artist collective House of Ladosha. Ive been to two balls. I didnt dress up and I wasnt trying to snatch any trophies. Ima Read also references black literature and the black experience for me. It references old slang in both hip-hop and drag to school someone, to learn them, to give them an education. He speaks with the self-assurance of someone whos had his creativity nurtured, and when asked if anyone learned him, its no surprise that Ojay namechecks his art-school professors who saw something in me and told me to dig deeper with it. Next up for Zebra Katz are tour dates this autumn with Azealia Banks, an MC who also serves up gender with a twist. Shes doing that kunt shit, which is just awesome, so Im really looking forward to getting to know her better on tour, he smiles. Its funny, because Azealia, Nicki Minaj and I all have theatrical backgrounds I hope to get them all on o -Broadway one day and to do a production!
Zebra Katz is on UK tour with Azealia Banks through September and October Ima Read is out now www.zebrakatz.com; @ZebraKatz

ZEBRA KATZ

IMA READ ALSO REFERENCES BLACK LITERATURE AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE FOR ME. IT REFERENCES OLD SLANG IN BOTH HIP-HOP AND DRAG TO SCHOOL SOMEONE, TO LEARN THEM, TO GIVE THEM AN EDUCATION
(Opposite page) Grey wool coat by LANVIN at HARRODS; black wool trousers by CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION; white jersey roll-neck by PRADA; navy wool beret and feather pin by LOUIS VUITTON; Classic boots by CONVERSE; silver chain necklace by STEPHEN EINHORN; white socks by FALKE (This page, top) Patterned wool coat by PRADA; black wool trousers with leather panels by YVES SAINT LAURENT BY STEFANO PILATI; oral top by VERSACE; Classic boots by CONVERSE; black sunglasses by CUTLER AND GROSS; vintage silver and crystal earring from CAROLE TANENBAUM; black wool hat by BERLUTI (This page, below) Leopard-print collar jersey robe by Y-3; white vest by AMERICAN APPAREL; sunglasses by LINDA FARROW; silver chain necklace by STEPHEN EINHORN; vintage brooch from ATELIER MAYER; white cap Ojays own