Rappers starting to decide homophobia isn't cool

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/20/why-rappers-are-suddenly-speaking-out-in-support-of-gay-pride.html

Has hip-hop finally had it with homophobia?

Since the genre's explosion into the public consciousness in the early '80s, rap music has stood apart as one of popular culture's most unregulated forums for anti-gay hate speech. From Ice Cube's paean to male anal rape, "No Vaseline," to Big Daddy Kane proclaiming himself "anti-f----t" and Eminem's scorching repudiation of homosexuality on 2000's "Criminal"—"Whether you're a fag or lez / Or the homosex, hermaph or trans-a-vest / Pants or dress / Hate fags? The answer's yes"—MCs have unleashed homophobic rants and hurled slurs in songs without fear of censorship or reprisal for nearly three decades.

But in the last few months, seemingly unprompted by anything more than some new wellspring of compassion, major hip-hop artists have been speaking out in vehement condemnation of old homophobic tropes, calling for greater tolerance toward gay people, urging closeted gays to come out, and expressing admiration for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in ways that would have been unimaginable a generation ago.

I wonder how much of this article is hype and law of fives though. Seems fairly legit.

This really came out of left field, am I right?

[Freeky]

I don't listen to rap, so all of this, including what seems to be a decades old problem, is news to me..

[Juana]

Some of them, I'm sure, mean it. But most are probably doing it because it's frowned upon to be openly homophobic and the money.

[Placid Dingo]

Eminem also had that performance at the Grammies where he gave Elton John a hug, to show it was all just entertainment.

To be honest, the depiction of women is more of a worry. And I'm mad on hip hop.

[Freeky]

Eminem also had that performance at the Grammies where he gave Elton John a hug, to show it was all just entertainment.

To be honest, the depiction of women is more of a worry. And I'm mad on hip hop.

Yea, they do seem to lay it on a bit thick with "bitches and hos, bitches and hos."

[Placid Dingo]

This is a good overview on the matter

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny_in_hip_hop_culture

Anyway: please continue, I'm derailing.

[Cain]

Some of them, I'm sure, mean it. But most are probably doing it because it's frowned upon to be openly homophobic and the money.

I suspect this plays a very large role in it.

As the leading rappers in the industry are now incredibly rich by any real standard, they're likely adopting a more cosmopolitan worldview in line with the American upper classes - which are not notably homophobic (despite their use of homophobia for political gain).

Not that, for instance, I can recall Jay-Z being notably homophobic in the first place, but the dude's a legit businessman now, philanthropist and political activist.  If he came out with a song which had homphobic lyrics tomorrow, it'd be a huge uproar.  His business ventures might be boycotted and it could impact on his political activities.

And, if nothing else, most of the jet-set rap scene seems to be set in New York nowadays anyway.  If you're rich and socialising in New York, especially as an artist, you're going to run into gay people eventually.  It could be that exposure, as much as anything, is changing the norms amongst the industry leaders, and so may have an effect on how up and coming rappers also view homosexuality and make it less taboo.

[EK WAFFLR]

Surprisingly relevant music video from Jenna Marbles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwLMM_QBkMc

[P3nT4gR4m]

Just one of a handful of reasons that makes me laugh at rap. Most of the shit I've heard is so retarded it has to be a joke. The fact they mostly seem deadly serious simply makes it funnier, with more than a dash of facepalm.

[Faust]

A lot of hip hop was homophobic because it sells records. Eminem specifically is one of the most obvious hypocrites for that.

[BabylonHoruv]

Here's a lil bit of gay rap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsM4bI63iaQ

Complete with some references to niggas, bitches and ho's.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/20/why-rappers-are-suddenly-speaking-out-in-support-of-gay-pride.html

Has hip-hop finally had it with homophobia?

Since the genre's explosion into the public consciousness in the early '80s, rap music has stood apart as one of popular culture's most unregulated forums for anti-gay hate speech. From Ice Cube's paean to male anal rape, "No Vaseline," to Big Daddy Kane proclaiming himself "anti-f----t" and Eminem's scorching repudiation of homosexuality on 2000's "Criminal"—"Whether you're a fag or lez / Or the homosex, hermaph or trans-a-vest / Pants or dress / Hate fags? The answer's yes"—MCs have unleashed homophobic rants and hurled slurs in songs without fear of censorship or reprisal for nearly three decades.

But in the last few months, seemingly unprompted by anything more than some new wellspring of compassion, major hip-hop artists have been speaking out in vehement condemnation of old homophobic tropes, calling for greater tolerance toward gay people, urging closeted gays to come out, and expressing admiration for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in ways that would have been unimaginable a generation ago.

I wonder how much of this article is hype and law of fives though. Seems fairly legit.

This really came out of left field, am I right?

It's people growing up and realizing that things they thought were edgy or funny actually hurt people. It's a recognition of consequence.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Here's a lil bit of gay rap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsM4bI63iaQ

Complete with some references to niggas, bitches and ho's.

Didn't you have a suicide to get to today?

[Luna]

Here's a lil bit of gay rap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsM4bI63iaQ

Complete with some references to niggas, bitches and ho's.

You KNOW that any time you respond to Roger or Nigel you are going to get shat on.  When all you seem to do is respond to one or the other of them for most of the day, it makes one wonder if the abuse you invite is all the attention you get.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

You KNOW that any time you respond to Roger or Nigel you are going to get shat on.  When all you seem to do is respond to one or the other of them for most of the day, it makes one wonder if the abuse you invite is all the attention you get.

Of course it is.  He gets off on it, same as he gets off by "cyber-banging" ( ) smelly fucking Pagans.

He's a useless fucking wanker, and I wish he would leave for good.