Hip Hop and Homosexuality
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Thursday, August 18 2005, 5:06PM
From the moment he first burst onto the scene, I immediately knew I liked Kanye West. Now I have another reason to like him. In an interview on MTV tonight, the hip hop artist says gay bashing needs to be stopped in the music business.
While talking about the new song "Hey Mama" on his upcoming album, "Late Registration" (Roc-a-Fella, Aug. 30), the 27-year-old rapper explained that he was called a "mama's boy" when he was young and the experience made him homophobic.
West says he changed once he learned that one of his cousins was gay. "It was kind of like a turning point when I was like, `Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I've been discriminating against gays.'" West believes that "everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people," and he urged his fellow rappers to "stop it."
The interview, "All Eyes on Kanye West," airs tonight at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
In contrast to West, some of the comedians at New York's Laugh Factory last night were knee deep in homophobic humor. Wendy Williams made her obligatory appearance at the beginning of the show, The Wendy Williams Comedy Experience, and then turned the stage over to the show's host, Capone, who told one too many gay-bashing joke for my tastes. Fortunately, all but one of the comedians he introduced avoided the homophobic laughs. But there's a serious problem in our community when black gay people are such easy targets.
Comments conceal
Maraboudoktorn
August 18 2005, 5:35PM
Wow. That's really major thing for Kayne to do. I applaud him for that. Now that I know this, I'm not going to bow upon the altar of West and buy all his records, but it's good he's taking a stand.
Bernie Mac did something similiar a few years ago. In an interview, he talked about how he would talk about his "effeminate," "sissy" young nephew in his comedy acts. He later found out through family members that the child was getting bullied in school and discriminated against by his peers. Bernie later made a change and no longer tells derrogatory jokes about his nephew or gays in general.
Change is happening.
michaeliv
August 18 2005, 5:36PM
I read about this earlier to day. I too was impressed.
I am sure(if it hasn't already) there will now be a rumor making it's way around hip hop circles and the black community that he himself gay.
This is one of the reasons that I have little respect for rappers turned actors. I mean the only parts they will take are safe ones, save for Will Smith who done a terrific job in Six Degrees...
Just my opinion.
cmoney
August 18 2005, 8:37PM
Good for him! Perhaps he realizes that the rappers who stay around the longest and make the most money year after year are NOT the hatemongers and wannabe thugs, but the Nellys, Will Smiths and, belatedly Snoop Dogg.
Mel Smith
August 18 2005, 11:15PM
Thank God for those straight brothers and sisters(my brother, father, mother, uncle, Kanye West, Michael Eric Dyson, Kola Boof and others) who are not afraid to speak out in support of homosexual people. Goodness overcomes evil. Thank God for good people.
DB
August 18 2005, 11:30PM
Man that took balls for him to say that. I'm proud!!!
John Ahrens
August 19 2005, 1:40AM
I was already a Kanye fan (Jesus Walks in particular). This statement he has made only adds to my respect for him as a rapper who wants to make a difference in the hip hop community.
Bravo, Kanye, Bravo!
a BrOtHa NaMeD sHaRiF
August 19 2005, 4:51AM
WOW! Maybe all the anti-gay hate talking acting black pastors, bishops and churches can learn something from Kanye West.
Keith Boykin
August 19 2005, 7:29AM
Kanye West has also endorsed the Millions More Movement. Maybe he can exert some influence on Rev. Willie Wilson to stop the homophobia.
http://www.millionsmoremovement.com/news/kanye07-25-2005.htm
Patrick
August 19 2005, 1:59PM
Call me a cynic, but isn't it a smart career move for het. musicians to pick up the pink flag and wave their hands "stop-it!"? We have always been a loyal fan-base demographic in music purchases. Then again, he has a gay cousin, and this is at least a conversation.
Troy
August 19 2005, 2:35PM
uh, Mr. West Sony Records just called and wants to see you immediately in their offices.
I mean we all know boy ass is tighter than strippers anyday, besides the closet and the DLs are wayyy too many and too over rated or is the word, over cooked?
Mel Smith
August 19 2005, 2:40PM
Guys, please stop! Some heterosxual brothers support us and we try to make things negative. This is a positive thing and lets stop being so negative all the time. Some of us act like we only like negative attention.
john
August 19 2005, 9:33PM
We should support when Black Male Hip Hop artist will publicly perform at any of many black gay pride events, female hip hop stars make appearance. That is when I will support and TURN MY SIRIUS OFF. Until do not support HIP HOP got to house it is our MUSIC.
BuddahDesmond
August 20 2005, 12:43PM
So nice to see when people go against the grain. Especially in creative forums. Kanye West has certainly done that as a producer and as a performer. His views against homophobia continue in this vein. I hope and pray his peers (and the masses that follow) see the light. Much love, much props and much respect to Kanye.
Clos24
August 20 2005, 9:49PM
Kanye is very revolutionary and the model black man. I am so proud and respect him to the highest level.
Togba
August 23 2005, 8:08PM
Can I get an AMEN? Change is definately happening. You'all, Kanye has nothing but mad respect from me. The man is "class" personified. For him, first of all, to admit that at one time he USE to be homophobic takes guts, sensitivity, and humility. As we all know, it is hard for guys to admit when they are wrong, gay or not. Secondly, for him to take such a decided, public, and potentially career altering stand against much of the mentaliy that much of our black male community see's as justified behavior, is just down right courageous of him. Hopefully more brotha's, black or not, will be men enough to follow in his lead...if only to stay "en vogue" with this new found sensibility surrounding the Hip Hop community.
P.s. If you'all get a chance...keep a lookout for a new documentary film about to drop at the Toronto Film Festival this year. It's called "Pick up the Mic." Basically follows the lives, careers, struggles, and progresses of the gay Hip Hop community. My friend Tori Fixx is one of the artists featured. I have known this brotha since we both came out at District 202 ( A gay youth center run for and by gay youth) in Minneapolis. We've worked side by side, I'm out here in LA pursuing acting and hoping to make my mark as one of the few completely out of the closet, black, leading men in the film industry. If Chad Allen can do it for the white gay community, I can do it for the Black. Tori has gone from making mix tapes for his friends to becoming Prince's personal DJ, and eventually becoming a major player in the gay and mainstream Hip Hop scene in the San Francisco Bay area. He just moved bases back to Minneapolis and has taken over "The Saloon" dance club we both use to go dancing at practically every weekend, as the premier DJ. We still keep in touch years later. He's talented, fierce, charasmatic, and unapologetic about being black and gay. You'all keep an eye on him. He's about to blow up. If you'all get the chance...check out http://pickupthemic.com
It's intense. It's off da chain. It's about time.
AS
August 25 2005, 3:51PM
Instead of speaking out for gays, Kanye should have been defending the Black sistahs.
He is part of an industry that has literally made billions off of the exploitation (even more so than derogatory gay comments) of BLACK WOMEN!
HIS MOTHER IS BLACK and he is part of an industry that pimps the image and sexuality of Black women.
spainks
September 2 2005, 8:47PM
I just want to say I know plenty of young men who were raised by their mothers who never ever ever acted feminine when angry. I believe he is "his cousin" that he referred to. I also think he became homophobic - because he was confused.
I like Kanye's music. It is totally different than what is normally on the radio. However, he is very cocky and arrogant. He makes it seem like he is doing us a favor by purchasing his music. There are artist twice as good as Kanye that do not get the same type of air play or publicity - and are humble. He needs to be more humble. Here is a young man who almost lost his life in a motorcycle accident - and he has yet to humble himself. Not by being cocky, but by shutting up and ride the wave.
He also needs to stop making songs about women in a negative way. Not all women are gold diggers, not all women need the "Kanye's Workout Plan",...their are some queens in the world. Why not acknowledge the women who are holding it down without the help of a man? Why not acknowledge the women who are the head of household? If he wants to be so vocal - write a song about all the deadbeat dads, abusive husbands, the child abusers and the rapist. Send a message that is really powerful like "Diamonds" and "Jesus Walks"...in a song about that.
Earl
September 9 2005, 12:55PM
Gayness is something u can't help no matter how hard you try to fight it. In my opinion men who have emotional problems, instead of trying to work them out, just cheat on their women or treat their women badly could be gay. That's what I learned about myself. I just didn't know it at the time
Daniel
September 16 2005, 4:49PM
Your site is realy very interesting!
jojo
September 18 2005, 5:59PM
wow! yall are so funny. Yeah, maybe after Kanye West has influenced the pastors, bishops, and reverands to stop hating homosexuality, he could influence God and then God could revive all the people of sodom and Gomorah and we could have a gay pride parade too and maybe after that G-unit can influence God to stop hating murderers and we could just let all the people out of jail and we could just kick it with all the criminals,and be happy. We could even hang out with that guy who kills, rapes and eats black boys. what's his name again? Jeffrey Domer, oh yeah, he died, maybe God will have pity on him and revive him too. Yall r just too funny, sorry about all this, but I couldn't help myself.