Honey Dijon’s rise to global acclaim as a DJ and producer is a testament to the power of House music and Black Girl Magic. Honey Dijon’s journey as a Black trans woman in the music industry is a continuation of the lineage of House music, the significance of Black and Latine LGBTQ club culture and resistance – especially trans resistance.
Born and raised in Chicago, just as House music was burgeoning, Honey Dijon grew up surrounded by the sounds and mixes by legendary Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy, two pioneers who helped shaped the genre’s sound and culture. Inspired as young person by the refuge and freedom of expression House music provided, Honey Dijon dived into her passion for DJing.
By the late 1990s, Honey Dijon became a fixture in both the Chicago and New York club scene. She then began to craft and produce her own music which led to a string of notable releases including “The Best of Both Worlds” (2017) and “Black Girl Magic” (2022).
Honey Dijon further cemented her iconic status when she co-produced both “Cozy” and “Alien Superstar” on Beyoncé’s 2022 album, “Renaissance,” which garnered Honey a Grammy Award when the album won Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Honey Dijon has performed and DJed all over the world while sharing the history of a genre that was born out of the struggles and triumphs of marginalized communities. Honey Dijon carries that legacy forward, using her platform to resist erasure and oppression. By performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, she forces mainstream culture to reckon with the unapologetic presence and contributions of Black trans and queer people.
As attacks on transgender rights increase, particularly in the United States, Honey Dijon continues to represent the radical joy and freedom that House music was built on. Her DJ sets are not just performances—they are a call to action, an offering to community, and that Black Girl Magic creates space for the marginalized to be celebrated on and off the dance floor!
LEARNING MORE:
Listen to Honey Dijon’s “Black Girl Magic” on music streaming platforms
Watching “Pump Up The Volume: History of House Music”
Read “Do You Remember House: Chicago’s Queer of Color Underground” by Micah Salkind