""If I was gay, I would think Hip-Hop HATES me...""
"...Have you read the youtube comments lately? "Man that's gay" gets dropped on the daily We become so numb to what we're saying A culture founded from oppression Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em? Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it And gay is synonymous with the lesser..."
1. "unfortunately there is alot of hip hop with homophobic content" In response to Reply # 0
it is saddening and frustrating to hear the demeaning references to gays and lesbians in todays climate (and even when listening to music created in the 80's and 90's, which wasn't borne in a time when discrimination against gays was discouraged.)
but to be honest, years of listening to hip hop lyrics informed me that looking at hip hop lyricists to serve as spokespeople for a more enlightened culture and society is foolish on the audience's part.
i know my post sounds devoid of placing responsibility on the artists for having control over what comes out of their mouth in their music. but thinking that having an artistic skill, no matter how great that talent, would equal a superhuman sensitivity and eloquence on the human condition isn't realistic and is rarely the case.
i'm not really a lyrics student, but the only MC's in the top 50 that I can think of who haven't used homophobic content in their lyrics are Black Thought and Rakim.
on one level it seems that people who come from parts of the larger society that are subject to oppression would be more sensitive to how impactful words can be.
on the other hand, human experience tells us that if someone is hurt, that pain gets expressed somehow. some people are able to channel that pain through the form of spirituality, but most either turn on people that threaten the fragile peace they feel or they turn on themselves. it simply is the way the world is unfortunately.
granted i'm now older than alot of mc's currently rapping, so it would be foolish for me to really look to them for emotional guidance. but in general, young people are better served looking up to people like teachers or genuine spiritual leaders who are more formally trained to pass on sound emotional values.
2. "Without trying to come off hateful" In response to Reply # 0
For many heterosexual people the idea of 2 males engaging in physically intimate activities is repulsive. Again let me state I'm not saying this to be hateful, but for some people it's a very unpleasant thing to contemplate. And with rappers in many cases they are very open and outspoken in regards to their opinions. On the other hand dealing purely with statistics there are likely more than a few gay rappers currently in the closet.
3. "Well they need to get over that shit" In response to Reply # 2
People thought it was repulsive for Blacks and whites to kiss at one point. Or for women to show their ankles. We are conditioned to see things as disgusting.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
>People thought it was repulsive for Blacks and whites to kiss >at one point. Or for women to show their ankles. We are >conditioned to see things as disgusting.
33. "all depends on your viewpoint and belief system" In response to Reply # 3
>People thought it was repulsive for Blacks and whites to kiss >at one point. Or for women to show their ankles. We are >conditioned to see things as disgusting.
for people who go by the bible they may base their feelings on that. of course there are other people (bible or not) will hate on gay people just because it makes them uncomfortable. however I don't think black and white couples are the same as same sex couples.
38. "Cow shit;." In response to Reply # 33 Thu Oct-11-12 11:42 AM by b.Touch
naw, they need to get over it if they're not also harrassing ppl of other religions, atheists, etc.
Plus they're hypocrites anyways and can't lean on religion as an excuse for their shit: ain't a religion on earth that advocates fornication, and I've never heard of a virgin rapper over the age of 16 - or one who, by indication of his music, "waited" for marriage.
7. "Bullshit" In response to Reply # 2 Wed Oct-10-12 03:06 AM by G_The_SP
"For many heterosexual people the idea of 2 males engaging in physically intimate activities is repulsive."
For many people with common sense, the idea of people actually directing hatred towards something as trivial and harmless as a sexual orientation is fucking repulsive. Fuck their barbaric ass opinions.
"Again let me state I'm not saying this to be hateful, but for some people it's a very unpleasant thing to contemplate."
It's unpleasant for people to have to experience this kind of ridicule and condemnation daily over something innate. It's not about what makes others feel comfortable to cradle their bigotry. It's about respecting human beings as human beings and judging them on the content of their character and actions alone. Really, queer people are getting sick of hearing about straight people being 'uncomfortable' with their presence, as if that statement has any kind of reasonable validity. I'm sure many people are also uncomfortable with your blackness, aren't they? Why do mentionings of homosexuality automatically go to sex? Gay people don't think about straight people fucking every time they are mentioned to them. Why are 'straight' men so obsessed with what other niggas are doing in the bedroom....
36. "it's not always about hate" In response to Reply # 7
>For many people with common sense, the idea of people actually >directing hatred towards something as trivial and harmless as >a sexual orientation is fucking repulsive. Fuck their barbaric >ass opinions.
just because you don't agree with something does'nt mean you hate it.
>It's unpleasant for people to have to experience this kind of >ridicule and condemnation daily over something innate. It's >not about what makes others feel comfortable to cradle their >bigotry. It's about respecting human beings as human beings >and judging them on the content of their character and actions >alone.
so what you're saying is that people can't disagree with someone else's choices in life and treat them respectfully?
>Why do mentionings of homosexuality automatically >go to sex? Gay people don't think about straight people >fucking every time they are mentioned to them. Why are >'straight' men so obsessed with what other niggas are doing in >the bedroom....
Well it is the sex that makes difference right? Otherwise it would be just 2 people hanging out. As far as the straight men being obsessed, I can't comment on that. I honestly don't know which straight men you've been talking to.
11. "I'm more repulsed by niggas shooting & killing each other. n/m" In response to Reply # 2
>For many heterosexual people the idea of 2 males engaging in >physically intimate activities is repulsive. Again let me >state I'm not saying this to be hateful, but for some people >it's a very unpleasant thing to contemplate. And with rappers >in many cases they are very open and outspoken in regards to >their opinions. On the other hand dealing purely with >statistics there are likely more than a few gay rappers >currently in the closet. > > >
24. "Very insightful. You are a higher level thinker. " In response to Reply # 2
>For many heterosexual people the idea of 2 males engaging in >physically intimate activities is repulsive. Again let me >state I'm not saying this to be hateful, but for some people >it's a very unpleasant thing to contemplate. And with rappers >in many cases they are very open and outspoken in regards to >their opinions. On the other hand dealing purely with >statistics there are likely more than a few gay rappers >currently in the closet.
4. "I don't read youtube comments, but hip-hop is what it is" In response to Reply # 0
I think you have to know where hip-hop comes from and the mentality it mostly appeals to. In my mind, emcees/rappers are not the most "enlightened" people so you know that is part of the game.
There was an interesting article from Brother Ali a few weeks ago that sort of raised some of the issues you spoke on.
Dj Joey Joe Member since Sep 01st 2007 13770 posts
Wed Oct-10-12 12:55 PM
14. "Rap Music Puts Up A Front Like They Hate Gays..." In response to Reply # 0
...but they don't at all, they love all their listeners but rap artists have to keep a certain image or lose those who respect how hard or manly a rapper is.
--------- "We in here talking about later career Prince records & your fool ass is cruising around in a time machine trying to collect props for a couple of sociopathic degenerates" - s.blak
19. "anyone who reads internet comments deserves what they get" In response to Reply # 0 Wed Oct-10-12 02:26 PM by Selah
"hiphop" isn't a tangible thing that holds a singular viewpoint or ideology
do some folks "hate" gay people? sure
does everyone? no
does everyone who likes or performs hiphop? no
thinking those who reply in ANY internet message board does anything other than represent their view (even if it's blatant trolling to get a rise) is foolhardy
the commentary is drama-filled, "pity party", posturing
also: what is this mess about "as a culture founded from oppression" (what??!) we have to accept everything carte blance?
21. "Hip-hop hates it's audience in general" In response to Reply # 0
It's weird that we are devoted to a music that is constantly telling us that we ain't shit because we have less money and not as glamorous a lifestyle as the person we are listening to.
********** "naive as the dry leaves on the ground looking past the trees to the blue sky asking 'why me?'" -Blu
i generally dislike message driven rap, but this was well done for what it is. the quote you picked may be my least favorite part though, im not a fan of "anti-hate spech" rhetoric personally.. the word faggot has a long and storied history far beyond our current times, and homosexuality in general.
But he's really turned into his own rapper. I really love this song, and I just checked out a few more songs from his new album and they're all sounding good.
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