Rapper Yeboyah is showcasing Finland’s queer side
The Ghanaian-Finnish rapper talks perfect dates, flourishing in Helsinki's ballroom scene and the importance of watching music videos on MTV.
Music
Words: Tiffany Lai
It’s only 3:30pm in Finland, but hip-hop artist Yeboyah is already hyping up the crowd at Flow Festival’s sprawling Silver Arena with some seriously boisterous energy. Dressed in a white lace corset and mini-skirt with black boots and bleached brows, the Helsinki native bounces around on stage, flocked by a team of dancers from ballroom crew House of Lanvin, vogueing and twerking to the beat of her songs. Young fans with intricate eyeliner wave their acrylics in the air, singing along to hit tracks MyType and Daddy.
Yeboyah is one of many talented artists flying the flag for Finland at Flow this year, alongside the likes of indie-pop singer Goldielocks and Latina-Nordic artist Joalin, and an international line-up of Raye, Vince Staples and James Blake.
Historically, Yeboyah says that Finland’s rap scene has been “dominated by white men.” As a result, the mixed-race rapper often turned to American artists and music videos for inspiration growing up. “MTV was my first time seeing my people doing cool stuff and being rich,” they say.
Their own music videos are often elaborate affairs, too. In the video for bad gal anthem Kredi, the artist gets their hair permed in fifty euro note rollers; for the cutesy, Pink Pantheress-esque tune Daddy, a couple in a hotel smoke and make out on a velvet couch while Yeboyah swaps out a Modigliani book for a history of African art on the magazine rack beside them.
Daddy, they say, is an homage to Finland’s ballroom scene – one they’ve become increasingly entwined with in the last two years. “Our community has become very important to me and it’s taught me more about confidence and how you sell the fantasy,” they say. “The song is a celebration of everything that we are, the people who came before us and for those who are still to come.”
10%
Which designer would you most like to be dressed by?
Latimmier, which is a Finnish brand, or Mowalola.
20%
What’s a stereotype that’s true about Finns?
They’re shy… until they get alcohol inside of their system.
30%
What do you cook for someone when you want to impress them?
Kontomire stew. It’s a Ghanaian stew made with kontomire leaves, but we don’t have that in Finland so I use spinach. Alternatively, I would make fufu, but that would have to be for a very important person because it’s a lot of muscle work!
40%
What can artists do to help save the world?
Use their platform, take care of themselves and be true to who they are.
50%
What would you most like to be reincarnated as?
A koala because they just eat leaves, get high and chill.
60%
What’s your most treasured possession?
My friends and family.
70%
What’s the secret to having good stage presence?
Breathing and staying present.
80%
Festival must-have?
I was about to say friends but that’s not actually true. You could enjoy it by yourself, so water.
90%
If you were to walk in a ball, which category would you be walking in?
My goal is to walk Sex Siren. I walked my first ball this summer accidentally. I wasn’t supposed to be on but I just ended up walking European Runway with no practice and winning! Some power just came over me.
100%
Describe a perfect date…
I actually thought about this recently. I’d love to go to a beach where there are palm trees and [we can] swim in warm water, followed by a picnic in the sunset. But then I realised it’s actually more about the company. So my dream date would be with a person I could let my guard down with and [who] would give me a stomach ache from laughing so much.
