Written by Eric L. Irby
After a brief delay due to technical difficulties (and a sprinkle of retrograde), we’re finally bringing you our sit-down with Alonda the Blonde—rapper, writer, and all-around creative powerhouse based in Atlanta. Known for blurring the lines between pop satire, Black queer rage, and theatrical worldbuilding, Alonda just dropped The Alonda Network Vol. 1 on Friday, June 13th—an intentional nod to the exact shade of his signature blonde.
We caught up to talk alter egos, the trap-theater sound he’s building, and what’s next for The Alonda Network. Spoiler: it includes everything from short films to fake commercials turned real.
PB: Your name is bold and unforgettable. Where did “Alonda the Blonde” come from, and how does it tie into your artistic identity?
ATB: Alonda is actually my birth name. However, Alonda The Blonde started as a nickname that turned into a whole statement. The ‘blonde’ represents performance — the way society bleaches, packages, and rewrites people like me into something more palatable. But instead of running from that, I flipped it. I wear the blonde proudly, like armor and satire at the same time. It’s a disguise, a warning label, and a crown — all in one. The duality between who you are and who society wants you to be.
PB: You’ve got some standout tracks in your discography. Can you take us behind the scenes of a fan favorite or one that means the most to you?
ATB: Welcome to the Stage is that song for me. It’s not just a song, it’s a moment of me finally stepping into myself. I wrote it as a letter to the version of me that was scared, tired, overlooked — and the version of me that knew I was always meant to shine. There’s a duality in that track: the human and the star, both fighting for the mic. It’s soft and bold at the same time — and it’s one of those songs I’ll keep performing, no matter how far I go, because it reminds me why I started.
PB: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before? Has it evolved?
ATB: My sound is trap theatre—a first aid kit for the main characters, the ones carrying the weight and still showing up larger than life. Whether it’s a breakup, an ego death, or a mirror moment — I’m soundtracking your comeback.
It’s still evolving because I’m building an entire universe — The Alonda Network. Some songs are cartoonish, some are haunted sermons, some feel like leaked diary pages. But the thread is always the same: bold, Black, nostalgic, and not asking permission.
PB: What’s your studio process like? Freestyle? Structured?
ATB: I’m a little bit of a studio menace — but a fabulous one. I’ve been rapping since 5th grade, so I don’t play about the process. I’m hands-on with the engineer, rearranging vocals mid-take, planning the ad-libs before the verse is even done. I arrange like it’s a stage play, not just a song.
I’m a student of the craft, but also… just a widdle bit of a diva. I know how I want it to hit — emotionally, sonically, spiritually. I don’t do throwaways. I treat every session like I’m building a world people are gonna live in.
PB: Your new mixtape dropped on June 13th — tell us about The Alonda Network Vol. 1.
ATB: Yes! The Alonda Network Vol. 1 dropped on 6/13 — and yes, even the date is intentional. 6/13 is the exact shade of my signature blonde. It’s all Alonda, all the time.
This isn’t just a mixtape — it’s a full broadcast. Each track is its own program, its own glitch, its own gag. You’ll hear comedy, chaos, confession, and commentary — all wrapped in camp. I wanted to build a world where my voice isn’t just heard — it’s hosted.
PB: What’s been the most challenging part of being a queer Black creative in this space?
ATB: HANDS DOWN—the hardest part has been social media. Not because I can’t show up — but because the algorithm isn’t built for nuance or fat Black Butch Queens doing high-concept art. It favors fast, flat, and familiar. And that pressure can f*%k with your head, even when your work is strong.
What keeps me grounded is knowing what I’m building and who I’m building it for. The Alonda Network isn’t made to go viral — it’s made to last. I stay confident because I know my voice can’t be replicated. The girls might be louder, but they’re not deeper. 😉
PB: How has community—especially queer and underground spaces—shaped your artistry?
ATB: Being part of queer and underground creative communities taught me how to take up space without apology. That’s where I learned to be layered, political, hilarious, and theatrical all at once — and it shows up in everything I do.
I constantly pay homage to the queer icons that made me — in my punchlines, my visuals, my walk, even my rollout. But I also feel like I’m carving a lane that barely exists — there’s no rapper sitting this deep in being Black and gay, this boldly, this intentionally.
PB: What’s on your radar for 2025?
ATB: In 2025, my focus is scale. I’ve built the world — now I want to broadcast it wider. I want The Alonda Network to live beyond social media: live shows, short films, fake products turned real, and of course, Vol. 2.
Creatively, I’m taking bigger risks — more genre-bending, more storytelling, more blur between reality and performance. Dream collaborators? Tierra Whack, Doechii, Durand, Tyler the Creator if we’re dreaming big — and we are.
My biggest goal though? To walk into every room fully myself. Just Alonda, uncensored and undeniable and creating a space where my audience feels the same.
Check out some of Alonda The Blonde’s music here:
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