Trans rapper Damag3, who plays St. Pete this weekend, knows a bitch when she sees one

Ares Mascaro (better known as Damag3, stylized in all-caps) is from Louisiana, but her music is what happens when a Southern emcee immerses themselves in the best rap that the East Coast and Midwest has to offer.

Part Tech9, part Eminem, Mascaro emerged in 2021 rapping about being trans (“I’ve been on estrogen for two years, know a bitch when I see one”) and everything from “Luigi’s Mansion” to Luigini Mangioni.

They arrive in St. Pete a year after putting out her 3at Th3 Rich EP and fresh off of a feature with The Neighborhood Kids.

If she’s the antidote to Slim Shady’s (and rap in general) toxic masculinity, it’s fitting Damag3 had Elon Musk’s home-grown antidote, Vivian Wilson, in their “IGOD iMAG3” video over the summer—with no offense taken to them previously rapping about assassinating Wilson’s dad and members of Congress.

The Bayboro Brewing show is opened by rappers Figgy Baby, $leazy Ez and Shno Xavier, along with EDM producer K-Presto.

Tickets to see Damag3 play Bayboro Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Aug. 30 are still available for $19.99.

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2025.