At its core, Dandelions: Gods Don’t Cry is about resilience, transformation, and self-acceptance. The dandelion, often dismissed as a weed, symbolizes Blackness, queerness, and survival—thriving in places where it wasn’t meant to, adapting, and still standing tall.

Through the 13-track journey, the album explores:

• Personal and collective Black histories, linking past and present struggles to the beauty of endurance.

• Queer identity and self-reclamation, navigating the world as both marginalized and divinely powerful.

• Family, grief, and healing, with storytelling that honors legacy while challenging systemic erasure.

Musically, the album is immersive and cinematic, weaving together hip-hop, soul, and spoken word. It is meant to be experienced as a living, breathing piece of literature, aligned with Roy’s mission to elevate rap as a literary art form.

Tickets go on sale April 30th

Pay $35 and receive a signed Dandelions: Gods Don’t Cry vinyl album. while supplies last!

About the Performance Resident + Artist Roy Kinsey

Born and raised in Chicago, Roy Kinsey defies tradition as a black, queer-identified rapper and librarian. Unapologetically non-conformist, his albums, including "Blackie: A Story by Roy Kinsey" and "Kinsey: A Memoir," explore his life with potent musical performances. His upcoming release, "A Westside Story: The Legacy Project" (September 2024), promises more autobiographical depth. Shaped by witnessing threats to Black and queer bodies in Chicago and beyond, Kinsey's works meditate on his experiences coming of age. Featured on major publications like Chicago Reader and Billboard, his storytelling prowess solidifies his place in black music and literature. As a librarian for 11 years, his profession fuels self-examination, reflected in his impactful rhymes. He believes his heartfelt creations will resonate widely.