Solange Knowles was once best known for simply being Beyoncé's little sister,
but she's since made a name for herself in the music industry. And even though
she typically flies way below the radar, she's gone lowkey public with her relationship with
American-Puerto Rican rapper, Gio Escobar . About a year before Solange and Gio started
dating, their paths crossed professionally. In 2018, rapper and producer, Earl Sweatshirt,
welcomed Solange as his final guest on his Red Bull Radio show, Stay Inside. As it happened,
Gio was a co-host on the show from 2017 to 2018, according to Hollywood Life. While
it's unclear whether Gio and Solange interacted during the taping of that particular episode,
they worked together soon after when Escobar appeared on Solange's 2019 album, When I Get Home.
"It's been a learning experience. Having to really be the voice, be the vessel,
but also be the human."
Solange's fourth studio offering featured a slew of celebrity guests, including Tyler the Creator,
Gucci Mane , and Pharrell Williams. Also on the list, of course, was Gio— as well as his group,
Standing on the Corner. As Pitchfork reported, both Gio and his band
clinched writing and producing credits on a number of tracks, including the interlude,
"Not Screwed," which features a special guest appearance from Standing on the Corner.
But while things might have initially been all business, in October 2019,
Solange sparked cheating rumors when a fan-shot video showed the songstress getting cozy with a
mystery man whom we now know was Gio. Knowles was still legally married to director Alan
Ferguson at the time, but the clip told a much different story. The Quick Silva
Show host Leah Henry was the first to get the footage and post it to Instagram, revealing,
"I know what Solange looks like, I [saw] her in that elevator, and let me just tell you,
this video is her. […] Is Solange divorced? Is she married? Is she cheatin'? Child,
we're gonna find out because I'm sure once this video gets online, she's gonna have to respond."
"Don't come over here with all of that, you know, like, stay away from me with that s---."
Just one day after the video surfaced online,
Solange announced on November 1st 2019 that she and then husband Alan Ferguson had,
in fact, officially split after five years of marriage. Taking to Instagram,
Solange shut down the cheating rumors, revealing in a since-deleted post,
"[The] past 2 years have brought me more physical and spiritual transition and
evolution than ever before. My body left me with no choice but to listen and be
still. […] Within that stillness I begin my journey in confronting my worst enemy, fear."
Noting that she has spent her life trying to exist within her own truth,
no matter how scary it may be, Solange got candid about her marriage with
Ferguson, whom she also worked with professionally. She added in her post,
"[Eleven] years ago I met a phenomenal man who changed every existence of my life.
Early this year we separated and parted ways, [and tho it [isn't anybody's] business]
I find it necessary to protect the sacredness of my personal truth and to live in it fully
just as I have before and will continue to do."
"It happened in a very organic way for me." Almost exactly a year after she confirmed
her split from her ex, the usually very private Solange took to Instagram Stories in November 2020
to share a sweet snap of herself and Gio. The two certainly have plenty in common, especially music.
Gio, who hails from Brooklyn, studied journalism and jazz at New York City's New School and,
as Pitchfork reported, he is the founder and main songwriter of his band, Standing on the Corner.
While they may not be going crazy showing off their budding romance on social media, according
to Page Six, Solange and Gio are indeed, quote, "happily boo'd up." While quarantine has likely
had an impact, the couple's bond seems to only have gotten stronger. One insider told the outlet,
"People know. It's not a new thing, but it's new for the
public. [They're] super happy and they're a happy couple. They're very cute together."
Another source for Entertainment Tonight shared a similar sentiment, telling the outlet,
"[They] have been dating for a while and are very happy together.
They make for a very sweet couple."
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