Some artists wait for permission to tell their stories. Others, like Paloé, carve out space and tell their stories anyway.
A singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer based in South Jersey, Paloé makes music that refuses to be boxed in. Their work lives at the intersection of vulnerability and genre fluidity, offering something raw, emotionally honest, and deeply resonant, especially for those who often feel unseen.
“Vulnerable, Genre-Fluid, Impactful”
Paloé’s artistry spans hip-hop, R&B, and lo-fi, with lyrics rooted in lived experience. When asked to define their sound, Paloé doesn’t flinch: “I like to describe my music as vulnerable, genre-fluid, and impactful, ranging mostly in rap and hip-hop.”
“The worst periods of my life created this EP, & I want it to comfort others during theirs.”
That impact is clear on their latest EP, Two Honest, a project born out of personal darkness and turned into a light for others.
Paloé’s Two Honest: Making Space for Mental Health Conversations
Two Honest draws influence from emotionally raw tracks like “Suicidal Thoughts” by The Notorious B.I.G. and “Midnight Thoughts” by SadboyProlific. These references aren’t just aesthetic; they speak to a broader mission.
“I want people who have never had a song accurately talk about self-harm and suicidal ideation to feel seen by mine. I thought it would be too triggering to release, but hiding it would only perpetuate stigma.”
“Talking about it makes people feel less alone, regardless of how cliché or ‘cringey’ it may sound. I don’t care. I know this has helped people.”
What Paloé ultimately offers is solidarity. It is not a perfect solution, but a hand to hold when things feel too heavy.
Paloé and Creating Space in the Scene
As a Black trans artist, Paloé’s journey through the local music scene hasn’t been smooth. In spaces often dominated by cis, straight, and masculine energy, finding belonging wasn’t easy or immediate.
“Most of the hip-hop scene and fanbase can be transphobic or steeped in toxic masculinity. I had to create some of my own opportunities.”
Still, they persisted and paved a lane for themselves and others coming up behind them. As Paloé’s platform grew, so did their community.
“Other trans artists started following me and reaching out. I realized I wasn’t alone anymore.”
Representation and Finding Mirrors
But that’s changing now. Names like Ms. Boogie come up not just for the music but also for their presence, their unapologetic truth-telling, and their space-taking.
“Seeing another Black trans girl spit her truth onstage? Of course, that impacted me.”
There’s also love for the local community, fellow Black trans women with smaller platforms but significant presence in Paloé’s life.
Highlighting “Forthright Peak”
Out of Paloé’s catalog, one track stands out as a crystal-clear introduction to who they are, both as artists and as humans: “Forthright Peak.”
“It’s the most honest I’ve ever been on a track. It captures the weight of everything I’ve survived, especially as a Black trans woman navigating mental health, identity, and grief.”
With heavy, raw production and unflinching lyrics, Forthright Peak isn’t made to impress but to connect with listeners.
“It’s a timestamp of when I chose to keep going. If someone wanted to understand me, I’d send them straight to that track.”
Follow them on social media, check out their links for more truth, art, and moments of connection. Because some stories don’t just deserve to be heard—they demand it.
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