Moi Renee
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Moi Renee | |
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| Born | 1966 Jamaica |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 1997 (aged 30–31) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | House |
| Occupation(s) | Drag performer |
| Years active | 1980s–1997 |
| Labels | Project X |
Moi Renee (1966–1997) was an American drag performer, singer, and house music artist best known for the 1992 ballroom anthem "Miss Honey", which was later sampled by Beyoncé in her 2022 song "Pure/Honey". Emerging from New York City's drag and ballroom scene, Renee became known for flamboyant performances and contributions to queer nightlife and club culture.
Early life
Renee was born in Jamaica[1] and moved to Philadelphia as a child. In the early 1980s, he relocated to New York City, where he became active in the local drag and ballroom community.[2] In the early 1990s, Renee attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1]
"Miss Honey"
"Miss Honey", a 12-inch single produced by Franklin Fuentes, was released in the United States on Project X Records in 1992 and in the United Kingdom in 1993 on Slip 'n' Slide Records.[1][3] Featuring spoken-word vocals layered over house beats, the track became an early example of a "bitch track", a subgenre rooted in ballroom culture.[1] "Miss Honey" became a staple in gay clubs and underground dance venues, ultimately gaining cult status.
Renee performed the song on The Sybil Bruncheon Show, part of the public access Gay Cable Network.[1] He wore white lipstick, a towering green wig, and a flamboyant jumpsuit, delivering the track's lines with theatrical flair as two expressionless backup dancers moved stiffly behind him.[4] A recording of this performance surfaced online years later and gained modest viral attention.[4]
A review in Billboard described the single as "less interesting, but worth a spin or two".[5]
Death
Renee died in New York City in 1997. Reports indicate the death was ruled a suicide.[1]
Legacy
Though Renee released only one widely known track, "Miss Honey" has been frequently sampled and celebrated. Eats Everything included it in a release in 2020,[6] and in 2022, Beyoncé sampled the track in "Pure/Honey" on her album Renaissance, also crediting Renee as a songwriter.[2] The Fader said the sample "[ties] it all together at the end".[7]
Renee also inspired contemporary queer artists such as Myst Milano,[8] and was memorialized by Ride Committee and Roxy in the 2003 track "Curtains for You".[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Stewart, Josh (June 18, 2020). "Who Was '90s Drag Legend Moi Renee?". Vice. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hudson, David (July 30, 2022). "Who Was Moi Renee, the Late Drag Queen Sampled on Beyoncé's New Album?". Queerty. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Moi Renee – Miss Honey (UK release)". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Taylor, Tyson (February 10, 2016). "Remixers: The Blurring of Gender and the Feminization of Electronic Music". Lambda Literary Review. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Flip Your Wig". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 6. February 6, 1993. p. 26.
- ↑ "Eats Everything Samples Drag Royalty Moi Renee in Newest Release 'Honey'". Dancing Astronaut. June 18, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ Darville, Jordan (August 1, 2022). "Song You Need: Beyoncé brings us to her ballroom on 'PURE/HONEY'". The Fader. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ Moran, Justin (February 24, 2022). "Myst Milano's No Shade Is a Queer Rap Classic in the Making". Paper Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ "The Ride Committee Featuring Roxy – Curtains for You (A Tribute to Moi Renée)". Discogs. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
External links
This article "Moi Renee" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.