BAD INFLUENCE MAGAZINE

FME is an annual festival in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, focusing on emerging artists from Canada and around the world.

When people ask what kind of music I like, I never say rap or hip-hop.

It’s not because I dislike it; I just don’t listen to it often, and I don’t usually stray far from whatever’s popular with the kids on TikTok when I do.

However, modern, female, and queer pop rappers hold a particular spot in my heart. Staples like Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B. and Doja Cat are artists I never tire of – they’re fun, empowering, and perfect to throw on when you need something everyone will like.

Myst Milano was the first of two stand-out hip-hop acts at FME that I was lucky to catch. The Edmonton-born, Toronto-based queer and non-binary rapper, makes fun, upbeat, and highly danceable tunes. Milano rapped and danced in front of a glitchy video projection, and a pre-recorded infomercial voiceover punctuated the set: “It dances! It raps! Get your Myst Milano today!” The vibe was like a slumber party; Milano was dressed in sweats and a crop top, introducing themself as the audience’s new best friend.

Even when Milano played songs for when they “feel like a sad bitch instead of a bad bitch,” the music was still up-tempo and exciting. My first thought was that overall, their music sounds like if Childish Gambino’s Because the Internet was made by Gen Z. Their song “Pressure” features vocal stylings with an evident punk influence a la Rico Nasty, which subverts the expectation of what hip-hop should be. Milano’s performance was many of my favourite things in one.

The second set I saw was the Montreal-based artist Fraud Perry, who packed the cocktail bar venue with an audience overflowing on the sidewalk.

The most notable element of their performance was the flow of their perfectly rhythmic and impressively clever lyrics. While Fraud Perry’s stage set-up was not as elaborate as Myst Milano’s (Perry’s performance was earlier in the day at a smaller venue), they knew how to turn a crowd into a party—running off stage during the encore to join the dancing.

Perry’s music has elements that remind me of Rico Nasty and Doja Cat, but there is an attitude to each track that is undeniably unique. Fraud Perry is a bad bitch who takes no shit, and if you don’t vibe with that, their music is not for you. They’re not afraid to get loud, cross boundaries, and experiment.

So, add some Fraud Perry and Myst Milano to the queue next time you’re making a playlist, on aux, or getting lit. Their songs are for bad bitches, just like you.