Rap music has long been associated with homophobia. Gay acceptance among many of its artists is rarer than other elements of society.
VH1 recently spoke with a few gay rappers about their experiences with homophobia in Hip Hop and different answers emerged.
“I have been in a studio session and heard people talking about me through the wall,” Fly Young Red said when asked about homophobia in Hip Hop. “‘Yeah, that’s that f— that made that song’ and I have also been in situations where I was buying a beat and when I told the guy who I was he didn’t want to sell it to me anymore. They think it’s like, ‘Man I can’t have my name on no gay shit.’ It is what it is and if you fuck with me, you fuck with me. These guys knew who I was, and I couldn’t tell you who any of them were to save my life, so apparently I’m doing something right.”
Siya says she hasn’t experienced as much homophobia but opportunities have been more limited to her because she refuses to change who she is.
“I haven’t dealt with obstacles because I was gay, I’ve dealt with obstacles because I wouldn’t change my image,” she said. “I would do record label meetings and they would say ‘You’re so dope! You’re so different!’ but then they would ask, ‘Can we put you in a dress? Can we femme it up a little?’ And I’m not willing to change who I am for anyone, not what I look like, not what I dress like. That always brought me to a roadblock but I’ve never been one to fall victim to this industry.”
Along with Fly Young Red and Siya, Cakes Da Killa and Y-Love were also asked about Empire’s portrayal of Jamal, who is a gay character in the show.
“I think it has moments of brilliance and then moments that let me down but I think it’s good that we have a show that has a full black cast because that doesn’t really happen a lot on television,” Cakes Da Killa said. “They are taking a lot of chances having an openly gay character that doesn’t really fit the general stereotype.”
Read the full collection of interviews here.
I wonder what You Thug has to say about this.
*Young
He said fuck what they say ITS MY LIFESTYLE!!!
Damn you had me with this one haha
Please people, don’t buy into to this gay propaganda. We don’t need the white man’s gay agenda shoved down our throats and we don’t need it infiltrating Hip-Hop. Young Money is a gay establishment and it’s falling downhill. Just shows that gay culture doesn’t belong in Hip-Hop. We are the last majority masculine culture and genre left. Let’s keep it that way!
“the last majority masculine culture and genre left.”… where the fuck you been the last 5 years? fucking country music is more masculine than hip-hop in 2015..
There is no propaganda my is Gary l burgen I am a fuck boo who preaches bit like dick Hahaha.you can be a Real Man and like cock.
Peep my new jam “Eulogy (True Emcees)” on soundcloud! None of that soft shit.
hate to break it to you buddy but black men been gay and doing gay shit since the start of civilization. africans started homosexuality. they didn’t call it the Down-lo bc white men were secretly gay..
the doors swinging open with fury for black ppl.
Whites were they first people to accept homosexuality. It was shunned in early civilizations. The Greek were the gayest civilization. Whites practiced homosexuality and embraced that sick sh-t. Not Africans.
“the white man’s gay agenda”.. you sir, are an idiot.
All of you are *DICKHEADS* pun is intended for the slow minded among you .
These f-ggots care more about homosexual rights, a right to a certain behavior, than black rights, rights to be treated as HUMANS! The revolution and fight for human rights is growing! Don’t let the f-ggot agenda overshadow the real problem!
They are race traitors!
I’M gay and I am offended by that. I love bending over. I am Judah your bottom boo. I Locke cock
“race traitors”. people like you are the problem.
Any excuse to turn it into a race baiting article …. Good work you old creepy white guy ….We know who you are weirdo .LOL
^ It’s the same troll replying to his own comments .Most probably is Drake Runs Rap (AKA) Brotha Dee …(AKA) Rozay O Donnell ..Etc Etc..zzzz
Empire is a great show. I hope they make Hakeem gay like his brother.
Damn I would like to suck all of their cock’s I am Judah who wants to play with my booty. I am from new York and would love to suck off some Mexicans and thug boys. I eat azz. Check for me baby.
I think it’s really sad that gay rappers have to go through what they go through. They are hip-hop artists just like anyone else. Please stop the bigotry.
gayme, gay-z, gayne west and lil gayne, where you at ?? don’t hide, your voice counts since your longayvity in this gayme
gayme, gay-z, gayne west and lil gayne, where you at ?? don’t hide, your voice counts since your longayvity in this gayme
gayme, gay-z, gayne west and lil gayne, where you at ?? don’t hide, your voice counts since your longayvity in this gayme
Hip hop was always homophobic what else is new?”
Just because it’s not “new” doesn’t make it right.
lol at this failed propaganda/agenda the old rap chick Boss had no problem selling records, neither did lady of rage and they were manly as hell. see, y’all trying to use gay as a selling point because the music is wack and the talent level is on E. stop it and either practice or get a job.
GO KILL YOSELF
We have Racism going on, More homeless every day being discriminated, we bomb the hell out of countries but we want to “liberate” and “fight to make things equal” for gays because we care… or something like that. Fuck outta here
Why is discrimination towards gays any less important than racism or any other issue? News flash, most people can care about more than one issue at a time. It’s called having empathy, moron. Just because it doesn’t affect you doesn’t make it any less valid. With your logic, white people should give 0 fucks about any racism going on. Moron.
I came here for a Rick Ross interview. Disappointing.
I wonder what Kanye had to say. he has fooled so many people now ask yourself if you had money and fame like Kanye why would you wife Kim Kardashian now if you want to fake it to make it look like you straight she’s perfect it’s perfect she’s about that dollar .just my thoughts.
Rappers claim to be so homophobic, but how many songs can you recall that make references to rappers having their d*cks sucked by other brothers? Take awhile and think about it. DMX to name one and the list is huge.
no drake?
exactly why HIPHOP is the most ignorant Genre out there.
music inspired by oppressed minority, NOW throwing the same injustice around onto others that they so recently were under (and still are!).
be proud to be ignorant, as long as you have a club banger and gold chain.
drake is very gay, very successful, whats the problem ?
Fly young res is kinda cute