Draft:Moi Renee
| Submission declined on 2 June 2025 by Kovcszaln6 (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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Comment: Possibly notable. We need more reliable sources with significant coverage. Please note that Discogs and Dancing Astronaut are not reliable. Also, the sentence at reference 10 seems to be original research. Kovcszaln6 (talk) 14:49, 2 June 2025 (UTC)
Moi Renee | |
|---|---|
 Moi Renee performing "Miss Honey" | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1966 Jamaica |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 1997 (aged 30–31) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | House |
| Occupation | 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
[edit]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"
[edit]"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
[edit]Renee died in New York City in 1997. Reports indicate the death was ruled a suicide.[1]
Legacy
[edit]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]
Poet G. Winston James honored Renee in the poem "At the Club (for Ronald Lemay, Daniel Revlon, Grace, Moi Renee and All the Legends of Old)" in his 2006 collection The Damaged Good: Poems Around Love.[10]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ James, G. Winston (2006). The Damaged Good: Poems Around Love. New York, NY: Vintage Entity Press. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-0-9752987-2-5.