homosexuality and hip-hop
i was on cnn.com yesterday and came across an interesting interview with an openly gay hip-hop artist, Deadlee.
the video can be found here.
his promotional tour, ‘homorevolution’, is attempting to confront head-on the hurtful slurs used against homosexuals. the musical art form that has always represented empowerment and defiance is now entering a new arena. inevitably juxtaposed to that representation is hip-hop’s roots in the black community. even closer to these two ideas is the black community’s ever-present homophobia.
homosexuality in the black community has created rifts through a variety of unique circumstances, including:
- terri mcmillan’s very public struggle to deal with her husband’s homosexuality. in particular, the term ‘brothers on the dl’ emerged.
- the constant association of HIV and AIDS to the gay community. naively, many believe that it is more prevalent among homosexuals.
- the men interested in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (miAKA) outrage that has circulated throughout facebook and the black greek forums.
now, the topic has switched to hip-hop which admittedly is probably one of the more unique talking points. first, it has always been a platform of free speech and opinion unlike other previous venues. second, it has universal appeal allowing for a possibly broader exposure. you have hip-hop’s bastard cousin, misogynistic rap, that tends to be at the forefront of any discussion in mainstream white corporate america. you also have the constant use of the word ‘nigga’ by many prominent artists seemingly undermining the history of hate the word encapsulates.
all of that now sets the stage for the controversial topic of homosexuality.
i’ve always tried to be conscious of who i listen to with my music. after all, its supposed to be about me and within me. hip-hop has always been conveyed as an expression of personal pride spewing from the mouths of eloquent linguists. because of this, i try to listen to artists that i feel personally connected with.
common is from chicago. i listen to common.
lupe talks about growing up in chicago. i listen to lupe.
nas, most days, proposes the vexing topics of life. i listen to nas.
academy award-winning three six mafia, despite being southern rappers, spit about not giving a shit and doing you. i listen to three six mafia.
all of that is now redefined, personally, in the atmosphere of a homosexual hip-hop artist. the question i pose to myself is why? why does a person’s sexual orientation have anything to do with their beats, their message, or their character? why does someone’s personal life cause me to pause at the notion of whether i would bump their tracks in my car? it is a vexing question indeed.
i’ve come to a few conclusions. i probably am insecure when it comes to the topic of homosexuality. yes, i’ll play the ‘politically correct’ card and say i have homosexual friends. i’m not tim hardaway and have no reservations with being on the same team or being in the locker room. but when it comes to things i take personally, like my love for music, there exists a very strong stereotype about gay men: homosexual men are weak.
this is wrong…and i know it.
still, i can only be real with you.
the music i listen to inspires me. it helps me escape. it eases away the pains of the day. it gets my hype for a party. it reminds me of how blessed i am. i guess at this juncture, however, my own struggles with accepting and being 100% comfortable with homosexuality do not blend together with my love for hip-hop. all i can do is be real, put it out there, and learn from other points of view.
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Comment by Ashley on 23 February 2007:
I went back and re-read the post, and agree with you 100%. I have a strong love affair with music…all types and genres, and it is my personal belief that music is the most universally shared experience in the world. So, to find artists who can eloquently express personal struggles, social issues, or just a good vibe really is a rarity (in my humble opinon).
However, with this guy coming out in hip hop at that the very turbulent time that he is, he’ll have to come with something real and not make his sexuality a schtik. Because you’re right, his sexuality has nothing to do with anything except that it defines his lifestyle choices.
If he is creative he won’t harp on being gay, otherwise he’ll find himself in a box. If he’s got skills it won’t matter.
Hip Hop is at such a shaky point, but it’s also exciting because if artists could get their act together Hip Hop could flourish, rap could take a backseat (do we have to snap our fingers every other song??) and true artistry could shine.
Comment by Kimberly on 23 February 2007:
I agree- I need my music to say something that speaks to me, makes me happy, makes me want to sing/rap along. I haven’t heard this person’s music in particular, but any type of ‘pride chant’ is nothing more than that- a chant. He won’t go far if he’s not going to talk about anything besides his homosexuality. The stereotypes about homosexuals are horrible, so I can understand his desire to speak for his orientation- but I don’t need to hear about it everytime I turn on my music. I also don’t want to hear about race in every other lyric. Just want to hear good music, love songs, songs that talk about real life ish. You can’t use the chip on your shoulder created by stereotypes to be the only thing people see when they look at you.
Comment by JC on 24 February 2007:
Dope beats. Dope rhymes. What more do y’all want? Yes, my man lives a lifestyle that will inevitably be discussed on his tracks. Should be fine… I mean, don’t most artists express themselves using their own lives as fuel for the creative fire? If he’s a good MC, he won’t harp on sexual conquests and promiscuity in every verse. I think that is all we could ask of any aspiring MC, regardless of who’s between their sheets. Might as well hold him to the same standards. I mean, if cats are ok with “hey b*tch, wait til you see my d*ck, I’ma beat that pu**y up,” how much worse can a few homo-erotic verses or punchlines be????
Comment by Garry I. Bevel on 25 February 2007:
Homorevolution 2007 immediately brings two things to mind for me: Woodstock and Lilith Fair. These were issue-focused, people-minded celebrations of music the art-form as a catalyst and inspiration for change.
I understand the concern about hearing redundant references to sex or sexuality from any artist. And although I can’t speak for what a CD or concert from one of these artists will be like, I think anyone who intends to give this music a thoughtful listen should be prepared for this: it is virtually impossible for someone who is gay to dissociate that from his or her art.
Topical CDs and musicians exist. Take any gospel album, although there tend to be occasional songs about a loving, committed relationship or just being plain-ole happy, every song is about God: God at work. God in relationships. God in times of war. No one is asking gospel artists to stop talking about God.
So is the concern that the CD will be full of gripes, bitterness, and pro-gay agenda? Is it that it will perpetuate the stinging (to me personally) and wrongful stereotype of god-less sex and promiscuity? If those are the concerns, there is room and validity for them. However, if the concern is that a gay artist will color his musings on love, relationships and his existential existence on this earth through the lens of his experiences as a man, a black man and a gay man, then what I fear is that some aren’t ready for homosexual anything: music, television, art, whatever. Because he shouldn’t have to water down his experiences to make them palatable to prejudiced, myopic listeners. Some would just have to accept that they are not ready to share the truth and validity of their experiences with “others” they are not prepared to tolerate as equally sentient, reflective, deserving beings.
I saw the movie “Something New” last night, and I won’t turn this into a review, but I really appreciated the scene in the grocery store where Kenya breaks down because she felt like she was being expected to turn her back on the fact that everyday she is reminded she is a black woman, in spite of how successful and worthy she has proven herself to be. Interestingly, her white boyfriend was just asking her not to have to talk about it that night; he had had a rough day himself. She couldn’t abide by that. She couldn’t abide sacrificing her identity and her truth for even a night. (Now, perhaps she could have saved the conversation until they were at home and not in public, or at least in the car, but that’s a different story). I say all that to say I think we should be careful not to ask that these artists not be who they are. They are gay and that is important to them because it has undoubtedly shaped their lives and their livelihoods. The fact that this tour is even getting this kind of press is evidence of that. All music isn’t about listeners being able to place themselves comfortably and directly in the artist’s shoes or for the music to mimic the listeners’ realities. Sometimes music and art, is about changing perceptions, opening up doors and challenging long-held thoughts and ideas.
Comment by Anonymous on 25 February 2007:
i am definitely not okay with “hey b*tch, wait til you see my d*ck, I’ma beat that pu**y up”…
Comment by Ashley on 25 February 2007:
Garry, I agree with most of what you say. No one is asking him to water down, or disassociate his lifestyle choice from his music. I, for one, am hoping that he does not pimp it to make a buck. The impression that I am getting is that this artist (I haven’t heard his music so I don’t know for sure), but this artist is looking to stake his claim as the first openly gay rapper as a marketing tool. Now I could be very wrong (and I hope I am), but if we having an honest discussion, that is the impression that I get.
As unfair as you say neutering his music for the public is, I think it would be equally unfair for him to ignore that yes, there are many who are not comfortable with dealing with homosexuality in any facet of the African-American experience, especially in hip hop. It would be unfair for him to ignore the precarious situation that will be created as a result. It could be great because for once people would have to take a hard look at their personal ideologies and what those beliefs are doing to our community, but it would not come without resistence.
African-Americans and the hip hop generation are in denial about so much (we see this with stuggles and issues in our churches, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, images presented on television), if he is going to be socially responsible with his message and what he has to say then I am all for it, but if he is using being gay as a way to make a buck then he can take seat with all of the rest of the BET tricks.
I guess we will all have to wait and see exactly what approach he takes. Hopefully, it will be one of positivity, education and self-love.
But again, my point is, great artists have never divorced themselves from their music. They figured out a way to tell a story of truth even if it wasn’t autobiographical. Tupac, for one, as troubled as he was. As misogynistic as he came across, wrote some hip hop’s most poignant songs that had nothing to do with him directly, but still told the story of the Black community (”Brenda’s got a Baby”, “Keep your head up”). If homeboy has any amount of skill….he’ll be able to do the same, but his approach to the subject matter is what is most important. Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me” could have gone a completely different direction, but he was able to assauge the listeners fears and then begin his story telling. He didn’t just come out and say “Bam, it’s time for a revolution.” Sometimes people need to FEEL that they can relate in order to open their eyes and make some change. Just something for Deadlee (sp??) to think about.
Comment by Fredric on 27 February 2007:
If you watch that video, and strictly speaking from a face-value standpoint, Deadlee is NOT the cat who will be spitting poignant shite. My man can’t seem to talk without his hands and the overused ‘yaknowwhatimsayin’.
Comment by Asha on 28 February 2007:
I just previewed his CD on iTunes and there is no way I would buy it regardless of what he was talking about or where he was coming from. It’s just not good music (horrible beats, bad flow, everything.) I have no idea how he got a deal…
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Comment by Michael on 24 April 2007:
I don’t understand, why we as blacks would even need to question the integrity of someone based on their sexual orientation. We know as much as the next group what it’s like to be singled out for something out of our control.
Comment by Jay on 23 August 2007:
It’s important that we realize that issues with homosexuality aren’t unique to the black community. They can’t be.
The issue you’re seeing in hip hop is a money issue. The powers that be (whites) don’t think that the main consumers of hip hop (whites) are interested in listening to gay tales.