Localized: Icky Rogers

Are you dressed to the nines, craving a fusion of hot styles and even hotter sounds? Look no further than SLUG Localized. Watch as Kilby Court transforms to a fashion week catwalk, strutting out fierce looks from some of Utah’s best local fashion designers. Once you’re damning those heels, sit back and relax to a heavenly blend of jazz and hip hop with local legends Flamingo and Icky Rogers. Set your calendar for Thursday, September 24 and get ready to hit the runway! Purchase your tickets today!

If you’re missing the sweet sound of a laid-back beat with masterclass lyricism reminiscent of rap, turn on Icky Rogers, and you won’t be disappointed. Blending elements of modern and traditional hip-hop with his perspective as a queer artist, Rogers’ style brings a uniqueness that soothes the ear. The longtime rapper of Salt Lake City was gracious enough to sit down for a cup of coffee with me and discuss details of his career and what the future has in store.

“Both of my parents were super into music. That was kind of the binding language of our family.”

From early on, Rogers’ life has been full of music. Growing up in a musical family, he realized his love for music at a young age. “Both of my parents were super into music. That was kind of the binding language of our family,” Rogers says. “So when I was about 10, 11, 12ish, I kind of taught myself how to sing just by imitating my dad, because he would sing around the house all the time.”

He began freestyle rapping with his homies and found he was naturally good at it. Listening to a lot of rap and hip-hop with his parents, he had a solid foundation. Realizing his skill, he went into a spiral of the genre and was “a total junkie for it.” Then through a connection, he hired a manager and was getting gigs — as a teenager! This was now a path, not just a hobby.

It wasn’t until college that he began releasing tracks. He went into it with a mission: he wanted to make albums. Like Nas’ Illmatic or Joey Bada$$’ 1999, he wanted to “create this master work, this undeniable, timeless piece of art.” He’s been publishing music since 2017, with two full albums completed, Midnight Maverick and Chasing Saturday. He plans to drop an EP this fall and an album next spring. In the meantime, he’s been working with other artists and releasing singles here and there.

Rogers is able to express himself fully through his music and uses lyricism as a way to articulate his emotions. In a world where we give so much of ourselves away online, he loves how he can open up through his art. “We live in such a content-driven society, especially in music, but for me, I can put my frustrations, my passions and more of my private thoughts into my music. It’s easier for me to do that rather than jump online,” he says.

“I’ve been embraced more since I came out, because people could tell that I was holding back before, and now I don’t really have any reason to.”

As a queer artist in the hip-hop scene, he was a bit uneasy about coming out because he thought perspectives might shift, but he’s felt more love than anything. “I’ve been embraced more since I came out, because people could tell that I was holding back before, and now I don’t really have any reason to,” Rogers says.

Rogers feels as if he has the potential to be a staple in the Salt Lake City music community. His music connects with hip-hop culture while also reaching the queer and drag scenes. “I’m in this great position where I get to be this champion, almost for both those scenes, where not only do I feel like I represent some of the best musicians or rappers in the city, but it’s also like, look at this unique motherfucker right here, this backpack rapper but is also this fierce, fabulous queer artist,” he says.

“I would tell them to come out sooner. You got this, you got yourself.”

As Rogers prepares to release new music this year, he is entering what he describes as a new chapter. He plans to eventually make a push for a regional tour while continuing to work with local artists, including those in the queer scene. But if Rogers could go back and speak to the younger version of himself just starting out in music, there is one thing he would tell him. “I would tell them to come out sooner. You got this, you got yourself.”

Read more Localized interviews:
Localized: Lab Animals
Localized: Star Carmen

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