Cakes da Killa

Rashard Bradshaw, better known as Cakes da Killa, is an American rap artist who fuses genres of hip hop, house, and electronic dance music. He came to prominence in the "queer explosion" of hip hop music stemming from New York in 2012 and is among the credited performers for the current trend of acceptance of LGBT people in the rap community.[1] Bradshaw is currently based in Atlanta[2] and his latest release Svengali, a full length studio album, was released on October 28, 2022, via Young Art Records.

Cakes da Killa
Bradshaw performing in 2017
Bradshaw performing in 2017
Background information
Birth nameRashard Bradshaw
BornTeaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2011–present
LabelsClassic Music Company, Mishka Records
Websitewww.cakesdakilla.com

Career

2011: Career beginnings and Easy Bake Oven

Rashard Bradshaw started rapping in high school for fun before considering it as a career.[3] He first began writing tracks to instrumentals he found on the internet and posting them to Facebook. In 2011, his homemade demos came to the attention of an executive producer named Stixx, who invited Bradshaw to appear on the mixtape Downtown Mayhem Vol. 1 alongside Rip The Ruler. Bradshaw then went on to release his own debut mixtape Easy Bake Oven, Vol. 1 through Stixx' Downtown Mayhem label.[4]

"I came out in the third grade. This is just me being me. People make it sound like it's controversial and revolutionary, and that's weird to me, because in hip-hop you have people glorifying negativity like killing people and not taking care of your kids -- and that should be scandalous! That should be what we talk about. An openly gay rapper shouldn’t be breaking news."

—Bradshaw on being an openly gay rapper[4]

As an emerging artist in the hip hop genre — along with fellow LGBT artists such as Le1f, Mykki Blanco, and House of Ladosha[5] — Bradshaw gained popularity through media interest in LGBT figures and themes in hip hop and rap, having been written about in a Pitchfork article about said "movement".[6]

Bradshaw cites Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Cam'ron, Nicki Minaj, and Bette Midler as influences.[7][8]

2012-15: The Eulogy, Hunger Pangs, and mainstream success

Released for free on Mishka NYC's website, Bradshaw's second mixtape The Eulogy was released to overwhelming popularity when it was reviewed positively by Pitchfork.[9] Miles Raymer of Pitchfork compared his raunchy style to Lil' Kim and praised the production of the mixtape. According to an interview in Paper Magazine, the mixtape's title originally referred to Bradshaw's plan to end his musical career after its release, but he's since changed his mind.

Prior to making his rap career full-time, Bradshaw was an intern at Paper Magazine and worked in the nightlife industry, promoting parties and working doors in New York City. In May 2013, Bradshaw completed his bachelor's degree in fashion studies at Montclair State University.[4] In September 2013, Bradshaw released an EP for his hit single "I Run This Club", which samples M.I.A.'s song by the same name from her 2010 mixtape Vicki Leekx. He later released a Remixes version of this EP which included features from Fat Tony, Siyoung, and Spank Rock on the title track.

"A lot of people especially in the quote-unquote queer community felt like it was a very awkward interview, but my thing is that I throw a party every Friday and it’s not a gay party. It’s a straight mixed party. These are the kinds of questions I get asked and I’m not one of those queer people who don’t have straight friends, so I’m used to it."

—Bradshaw on answering questions about his sexuality[10]

In June 2014, Bradshaw released a nine-track mixtape titled Hunger Pangs.[11] To promote this mixtape, Bradshaw appeared on the Hot 97 radio show Ebro in the Morning where he freestyled live on air. Throughout the interview, Bradshaw's sexuality kept being a topic of discussion, with Ebro calling him a "gay rapper" and Bradshaw correcting him to call himself "a rapper that happens to be gay".

In 2015, Bradshaw released a 5 track EP titled #IMF (In My Feelings), which chronicled a modern-day tale of star crossed lovers from inception to resolution.[12]

2016-present: Hedonism and MUVALAND

In October 2016, Bradshaw released his highly anticipated debut album Hedonism on Ruffians. Through this body of work, Bradshaw moved past his critic's labels and further solidified his own unique place in hip-hop. In October 2019, Bradshaw appeared on the Netflix reality competition Rhythm + Flow, where he auditioned in front of Cardi B, Jadakiss, and Fat Joe.[13] Following this appearance, Bradshaw has released a handful of singles in 2020, most recently "DON DADA" off his EP MUVALAND, which was released in November 2020.

Discography

Albums
Title Album details Ref.
Hedonism
  • Release: 21 October 2016
  • Label: Ruffians
  • Format: Digital download, CD, LP
Svengali
  • Release: 28 October 2022
  • Label: Young Art

Extended plays
Title Album details Ref.
I Run This Club
  • Release: 16 September 2013
  • Label: Hot Mom USA
  • Format: Digital download
 [14]
I Run This Club (Remixes)
  • Release: 12 May 2014
  • Label: Hot Mom USA
  • Format: Digital download
#IMF
  • Release: 10 February 2015
  • Label: Mishka NYC
  • Format: Digital download
 [12]
MUVALAND (with Proper Villains)
  • Release: 13 November 2020
  • Label: Classic Music Company
  • Format: Digital download
MUVALAND, Vol. 2 (with Proper Villains)
  • Release: July 16, 2021
  • Label: HE.SHE.THEY Records
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes
Title Album details Ref.
Easy Bake Oven, Vol. 1
  • Release: 21 October 2011
  • Label: Downtown Mayhem, LLC/DTM Records
  • Format: Digital download
 [15]
The Eulogy
  • Release: 29 January 2013
  • Label: Mishka NYC
  • Format: Digital download
 [16]
Hunger Pangs
  • Release: 18 June 2014
  • Label: Mishka NYC
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album Ref.
"Streets Talkin" (Bobby Lyte$ featuring Cakes da Killa) 2013 Non-album single [17]
"Give It To Me" (Astrolith featuring Cakes da Killa) 2014 Muscle Memories [18]
"Mirror Mirror" (Moonbase Commander featuring Cakes da Killa) 2015 Southpaw
"Drop Top" (DJ Shiftee featuring Cakes da Killa) Non-album single
"Serve It Up" (with Moonbase Commander)
"Carry On" (Astrolith featuring Cakes da Killa) 2016 [19]
"Up Out My Face" (featuring Peaches) Hedonism
"New Phone (Who Dis)"
"Shots Fired" 2017 Shots Fired X Thirst Trap
"Thirst Trap"
"Catch the Beat" (Honey Dijon featuring Cakes da Killa) The Best Of Both Worlds
"Talkin' Greezy (Remix)" (with Injury Reserve) 2018 Non-album single
"Don't Make Cents" (with Proper Villains)
"Bed Rest" (with LSDXOXO)
"Luv Me Nots" 2019
"You Could Neva" (with Astrolith & Ripparachie)
"Pop Shit" (Rafia featuring Cakes da Killa) 2020
"Free to Be" (with davOmakesbeats)
"DON DADA" MUVALAND [20]
"What's the Word" (with Proper Villains) 2021 MUVALAND, Vol. 2
"Taste Test" (with Proper Villains) [21]

Guest appearances
List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Original artist(s) Album Ref.
"MayDay" 2011 Rip The Ruler Downtown Mayhem Vol. 1 [22]
"Black Madonna" 2012 Big Momma Batteries Not Included [23]
"380" 2013 Mommie Dearest [24]
"Whistle" (remix) DJ Kilbourne The Club Giant Squid [25]
"Menea" P3culiar Role Play [26]
"Truth Tella" L S D X O X O S O F T C O R E
"Saki Bomb" 2014 Saint Muscle Memories [27]
"A Minute with Cakes" Mykki Blanco Gay Dog Food
"Bind That Bitch" L S D X O X O W H O R E C O R E [28]
"Cold Wintour" 2015 sacanagem [29]
"Hot F*ck No Love" 2016 Clipping. Wriggle [30]
"What's Goodie" Injury Reserve Floss [19]
"Look at Me" 2018 Madeaux Burn
"Catch the Beat" (Derrick's Black Catcher Vocal) Honey Dijon Xtra
"Catch the Beat" (Honey Dijon's I'm Carrying Remix)
"GTFU" 2019 Injury Reserve Injury Reserve [31]

Filmography

Television
List of television appearances, showing year released, role, and director
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 Cakes Da Killa: NO HOMO Himself Short film, directed by Ja'Tovia Gary [32]
2019 Rhythm + Flow Episode 2

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Whistle (Beat It Up)" 2012 Alana Peters [33]
"Cuntspiracy" 2013 Sean Anthony [34]
"Goodie Goodies" Ja'Tovia Gary [35]
"I Run This Club" 2014 ZU [36]
"Truth Tella" Minister Akins [37]
"Give It To Me" (Astrolith featuring Cakes da Killa) Mark Lovato & Gella Zefira [38]
"Living Gud, Eating Gud" Jason Ano [39]
"Mixed Messages" 2015 Mark Lovato & Gella Zefira [40]
"Get 2 Werk Remix" (feat. Rye Rye) Unknown [41]
"New Phone, Who Dis?" 2016 Noah Breakfast [42]
"Talkin Greezy" Nico Bovat
"Been Dat Did That (360 VR)" Mark Lovato & Gella Zefira
"Got Blow" (featuring Rye Rye) 2017 Unknown
"Luv Me Nots" 2020 Ohoto NYC [43]
"DON DADA" dayday

See also

References
  1. Veronica Holyfield (February 5, 2020). "SOUND UP! CAKES DA KILLA". Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  2. "Rhythm + Flow's Cakes Da Killa Is Putting on a Queer Artist Showcase". Out. 2020-04-14. Archived from the original on 2019-10-12.
  3. Olivier, Bobby (October 18, 2019). "A gay N.J. rapper competed on Netflix's new reality show. Meet Cakes Da Killa". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  4. Dmitri Ehrlich (April 9, 2013). "Cakes Da Killa: Party of One". OUT. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  5. Clare Considine (June 8, 2012). "Zebra Katz, Mykki Blanco and the rise of queer rap". The Guardian. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. Carrie Battan (March 21, 2012). "We Invented Swag: NYC's Queer Rap". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  7. Gerry Visco (April 2013). "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE AND INTERVIEW: 'GOODIE GOODIES,' CAKES DA KILLA". Interview Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  8. "Interview with Cakes da Killa". November 2, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  9. Miles Raymer (February 7, 2013). "Cakes da Killa - The Eulogy". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  10. Sandra Song. "CAKE & COCKTAILS WITH CAKES DA KILLA". Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  11. Tom Breihan (June 25, 2014). "Mixtape Of The Week: Cakes Da Killa Hunger Pangs". Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  12. "MISHKA RECORDS PRESENTS: #IMF BY CAKES DA KILLA (@CAKESDAKILLA)". 10 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  13. MIKELLE STREET (October 12, 2019). "Rhythm + Flow's Cakes Da Killa Is Putting on a Queer Artist Showcase". Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  14. "Cakes da Killa - I Run This Club". iTunes. September 16, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  15. "ITS FINALLY HERE!! DOWNLOAD @CAKESDAKILLA'S "EASY BAKE OVEN" EP (w/ lyrics) ONLINE FREE NOW!!!". Tumblr. October 21, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  16. "The Eulogy - MishkaNYC". Bandcamp. January 29, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  17. "Streets Talkin ft. Cakes da Killa". SoundCloud. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  18. Brent Tactic (June 24, 2014). "Saint ft. Cakes Da Killa – "Saki Bomb"". Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  19. "IJ". injury-reserve.bandcamp.com.
  20. "CAKES DA KILLA RELEASES NEW SINGLE 'DON DADA' AND ANNOUNCES A NEW EP". June 7, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  21. Matthew Strauss (June 25, 2021). "Cakes da Killa Announces Muvaland Vol. 2 EP, Shares Songs: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  22. "MayDay ft. Rip The Ruler". soundcloud. December 21, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  23. "Big Momma ft. CAKES DA KILLA - Black Madonna". soundcould. June 27, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  24. Carrie Battan (December 3, 2012). "Big Momma "380" [ft. Cakes da Killa]". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  25. "The Club Giant Squid". Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  26. "P3culiar - Role Play". iTunes. 7 April 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  27. "Saint - Muscle Memories". iTunes. June 23, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  28. "Bind That Bitch ft. Cakes Da Killa". Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  29. "Minimal house, R&B and sad emojis: hear LSDXOXO's mixtape". 2015-03-26. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  30. "Wriggle, by clipping".
  31. "Injury Reserve". music.apple.com/us/album/injury-reserve/1459193279.
  32. "Cakes Da Killa: NO HOMO". Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  33. "Cakes Da Killa - Whistle (Beat It Up)". July 1, 2012 – via YouTube.
  34. "Cakes Da Killa - CUNTSPIRACY". YouTube. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  35. "Cakes Da Killa - Goodie Goodies official video". Vimeo. April 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  36. "Cakes Da Killa - I Run This Club [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". Vimeo. 2014-04-17. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  37. "Cakes da Killa - Truth Tella (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  38. "Astrolith Ft. Cakes Da Killa - Give It To Me [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  39. "Mass Appeal". Archived from the original on 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  40. "VIDEO PREMIERE: CAKES DA KILLA – 'MIXED MESSAGES'". March 18, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-03-22. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  41. "Cakes Da Killa - Get 2 Werk (Remix ft. Rye Rye) [Prod. LSDXOXO]". Facebook. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  42. "Cakes Da Killa - New Phone (Who Dis)". YouTube. October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  43. "Fall into the nightlife with Cakes Da Killa's "Luv Me Nots" video". January 17, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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