Inside Solange Knowles' Relationship With Gio Escobar

Solange Knowles was once best known for being Beyoncé's little sister and a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, but she's since found musical success in her own right. Since stepping out of Beyoncé's shadow, Solange Knowles has, at the time of this writing, released four albums, amassed an impressive $9 million net worth (via Celebrity Net Worth), and attended all of the hottest galas and events (often making headlines with some of the most over-the-top red carpet looks ever). Her first record to break into the Top 10 was 2008's Sol-Angel & The Hadley St. Dreams, but it was 2016's A Seat At The Table that solidified her as a true artist. The album hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and won her the Grammy for Best R&B Performance for "Cranes In The Sky."

But as much as we know about the devoted mom of one, there are still a lot of untold secrets to be discovered about the notoriously private songstress. Her love life, for one, is a topic she prefers to keep under wraps, but it seems there's a new beau in her life: fellow musician Gio Escobar. Let's take a look inside Solange Knowles' relationship with Gio Escobar.

About a year before Solange Knowles and Gio Escobar began dating, their paths crossed professionally. In September 2018, for example, Earl Sweatshirt welcomed Solange as his final guest on the last-ever episode of his Red Bull Radio show, Stay Inside. Escobar was a co-host on the show from 2017 to 2018, according to Hollywood Life, and while Earl interviewed Solange about everything from her hairdresser to her love of Tierra Whack, Escobar offered up a tribute to John Coltrane, as per HighSnobiety. While it's unclear whether the pair interacted during the taping of that particular episode, they went on to work together directly soon after when Escobar appeared on Knowles' 2019 album, When I Get Home.

The record was Knowles' fourth studio album and featured a whole slew of celebrity guests, including Tyler, the Creator, Gucci Mane, and Pharrell Williams. Also on the list was Gio Escobar and his group, Standing on the Corner. As Pitchfork reported, both Escobar (listed under his real name, Giovanni Cortez) and his band have writing and producing credits on a number of tracks, namely, "S McGregor (interlude)," "Down With the Clique," "Nothing Without Intention (interlude)," "Exit Scott (interlude)," and "Not Screwed! (interlude)," which even features a special guest appearance from Standing on the Corner.

In October 2019, Solange Knowles sparked cheating rumors when a fan-shot video began making the rounds online, showing the songstress getting cozy with a mystery man whom we now know was Gio Escobar. Knowles was still officially married to music video director Alan Ferguson at the time, but the clip told a different story.

The Quick Silva Show radio host Leah Henry was the first to obtain the exclusive footage and share it on Instagram. Talking about it on her show during a segment of Leah's Lemonade, she told listeners that while the speculation was "alleged," it was hard to deny that the video showed Knowles "getting touchy with a man that's NOT her husband," caressing his thigh while he kissed her shoulder. "I know what Solange looks like, I seen her in that elevator, and let me just tell you, this video is her," Henry said, adding that it was reportedly shot in August 2019 and raised a whole slew of questions, like "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," the on-air personality added. Guess what? She was right.

Just one day after the video of her getting touchy with Gio Escobar surfaced online, Solange Knowles announced on Nov. 1 2019 that she and husband Alan Ferguson had, in fact, split after five years of marriage. Taking to Instagram, Knowles shut down cheating rumors as she revealed in a since-deleted post (via People) that 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," she told fans, adding that "within that stillness I begin my journey in confronting my worst enemy, fear."

Noting that she's "always tried to live in my truth no matter how ugly or full of love it is," Knowles got candid about her time with Ferguson, writing, "11 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 ain't nan no body 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."

Almost exactly a year after she confirmed her split from Alan Ferguson, the normally private Solange Knowles took to Instagram Stories in November 2020 to share a sweet snap (via Page Six) of herself and her rumored beau, Gio Escobar, enjoying the sunshine as they lounge under a tree. In the snap, the "Don't Touch My Hair" singer can be seen smiling from ear to ear as she leans into Escobar for the cute selfie. Although they didn't confirm they're dating outright, the photo appears to imply just that, especially since they've been linked since 2019.

Knowles and Escobar (who is about 10 years her junior) appear to be a great match as they have plenty in common, including music. Escobar, who hails from Brooklyn, studied journalism and jazz at NYC's New School and, as Pitchfork reported, he's the founder and "primary vocalist and songwriter" of Standing on the Corner. The alt musical project blends "jazz, indie rock, soul, funk, and hip-hop" with "poetry, mock radio broadcasts, a lot of samples, and plenty of distortion."

They may not like showing off their budding romance on social media, but according to Page Six, Solange Knowles and Gio Escobar are indeed "happily booed up." While quarantine has impacted celebrity couples in different ways, Knowles and Escobar's bond seems only to have gotten stronger. As one insider told the outlet, Escobar is indeed "her boo" and has been for quite some time. "People know," the source said, clarifying, "It's not a new thing, but it's new for the public." The unnamed insider went on to add that "it's a big deal that she shared the [selfie on Instagram] because she's so private" and concluded that Knowles is "super happy and they're a happy couple. They're very cute together."

ET also quoted its own insider sharing a similar sentiment as they told the outlet that Knowles and her new beau "have been dating for a while and are very happy together. They make for a very sweet couple," they gushed.