"Poll question: Openly Gay Rapper Vs. Gospel Rapper"
Which one will be the first to receive undisputed love from hardcore hip hop heads?
I was going to ask who was going to be the first to blow up, although that's kinda unfair since the Gay rapper would pretty much be a shoe in.
Let's make it interesting, who will be the first to make an impact with the "real" hip hop set?
I'm going to put my money on a Christian/Gospel rapper. Malice of The Clipse has been dope for SO long that whenever he actually releases some new stuff it has to be at least PRETTY good.
2. "I wonder what would happen if Lecrae had a budget?" In response to Reply # 0
Lacrae is dope, but imagine if he had some Theoloius Martin or Harry Fraud or Alchemist beats. I bet heads would listen to him.
Gay Rapper has no chance, because from what I've seen is a lot of people think if you listen to someone gay, then you gay (i.e. homophobic)....Frank kinda gets a pass, but not with everyone.
-DJ R-Tistic- Member since Nov 06th 2008 51986 posts
Sun Feb-16-14 05:28 PM
7. "When I first heard Lecrae, I thought it was regular Trap music, then" In response to Reply # 5
I heard a lyric that was like a strong Biblical reference, and was like wait huh? Then listened 8 more bars n was like wait...this is a Christian song. Then the next song came on and was similar...then I heard Drama or whoever shout him out, and I realized who it was.
25. "RE: I wonder what would happen if Lecrae had a budget?" In response to Reply # 2
>Frank kinda gets a pass, but not with >everyone.
I think Frank gets that pass because he hasn't done anything so outwardly gay. The letter caught people off guard, but it's not like he's out here kissing dudes on Rodeo Dr., or dressing like a strong black mother who can do bad all by herself like Magic's son.
3. "I'd say there are gospel rappers who already do get love from that set." In response to Reply # 0
They just don't get bumped religiously (no pun intended).
I mean, Killah Priest had a song called "Bible" and Goodie Mob were openly God-fearing Christians... as were some other artists. Christianity been accepted in Hip Hop in a way that homosexuality hasn't.
10. "Definitely the gay one then. You can't say "Jesus" on the radio..." In response to Reply # 9
Plus the time of the Christian superstar is done. The Winans were pretty much the last of that breed... on "urban" radio, at least. Creed otherwise. Consider the fact that we live in a time where "amorality" is sorta the lifeblood of popular entertainment and homosexuality is experiencing its entrance into and acceptance in pop culture. That openly gay rapper is right around the corner.
4. "we already have both " In response to Reply # 0
And I think you mean "blow up" as in going platinum and being on the cover of Rollingstone, but we already have both and people really don't care that much lol. if either does blow up it will be off some gimmicky shit though.
11. "While I'm certainly no expert, I remember..." In response to Reply # 0
Trip Lee had one of the top albums that week he released his last one. He and Lecrae seem to have the skills and appeal to crossover as much as they want to.
Hip-hop gospel recording artist Trip Lee released his fourth studio album, The Good Life on Tuesday, April 10. After being online and in stores for a day, The Good Life reached #2 on the iTunes Album Charts and #2 on the Hip-Hop Albums charts beating out chart toppers like Nicki Minaj and Drake.
On The Good Life, the lyrical content and unique style challenges listeners' ideologies in an effort to address the culture's mindset. The second single, “I’m Good” featuring Lecrae debuted #18 on iTunes hip-hop charts and #98 on the iTunes mainstream chart.
“I’m really excited with this album as I feel like this is my best work this far,” says Trip Lee. “My fans have really showed me lots of support and I look forward to getting a chance to see every last one of them when I start my tour.”
Lee debuted in 2006 with If They Only Knew. He garnered music success with his sophomore release 20/20 in 2008, which broke into the Billboard Top 200. In 2010, his third release Between Two Worlds hit #5 on iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap chart and #9 on iTunes Top Albums Chart, as well as debuting at #10 on the Billboard Hip Hop/Rap chart.
13. "Definitely The Gospel Rapper" In response to Reply # 0
As others have already pointed out we have had several rappers who with strong religious ties regardless of denomination. PRT, Brand Nubian, etc all were very successful with overtly religious material. Run DMC were the biggest rappers on the planet and most people knew that Run was a PK and DMC was a Catholic kid who went to St. Johns. KRS-1 had sales success as well as top of the food chain credibility within Hip Hop with records like "Why Is That?", "The Blackman's In Effect" & "Higher Level". Kanye had a huge hit record with "Jesus Walks". Blu started off as a kind of Christian "like" artist and Stalley is a Muslim. If he dropped a hit single nobody would reject him because he's a Muslim. I actually think now would be a great time in terms of marketability for a Gospel rapper to blow up. He or She would be smart not to call themselves a "Gospel", "Christian" or "Muslim" rapper but just present themselves as an artist with positive, uplifting messages for the masses. With there being so little mainstream Hip Hop that people feel promotes positive messages if there was someone with the talent, personality and team behind them to blow up it could be huge because the reality is there are still far more people in the US and worldwide who would support a talented artist who took some type of perceived moral stance over an openly gay (especially male) artist in Hip Hop. I don't know that we will ever see a huge gay Hip Hop artist who is respected within Hip Hop to be honest anymore than I think we'll see a big Reggae or Country artist who is gay.
15. "I can see the Gospel rapper more so than the Gay Rapper" In response to Reply # 0 Tue Feb-18-14 06:10 PM by Alphabet
because homosexuality is still a bit more taboo than religion in hip-hop. Of course a Gay rapper would not be as shocking as 15, 10 or even 5 years ago, but it's still not widely accepted either..In hip-hop, Insinuating a man is gay is still used as a choice insult from one man to another man to disrespect his manhood.
As already stated by Luke Cage and some others, religion in hip-hop is not a new thing at all, we are used to having artist in hip-hop express their religious beliefs. Yeah most of it (just about ALL of it) has been under the teaching of the 5% muslim doctrine but, that particular religion isn't as prevalent today as it was in the 80's and 90's. Since the 00's the door has been open more for Christianity ideals sprinkled in here and there.
It may not be an influx of full blown Gospel Rappers to the extent of, "Hey look at me Im a Gospel Rapper, I read the bible all day..ect" type, but if you notice artist like Kendrick Lamar, J Cole & Drake touch on Christianity ideals and concepts lightly throughout songs. Obviously I would never say they are "Gospel Rappers", but when they do glaze through religious topics it's usually from the Christianity viewpoint.
If said Gay rapper is spitting shit like that then i can rock wit it, but if he rapping about street shit then talking about kissing his man, checking a dude out, the way a straight rapper would/does, it would throw it off and not appeal to me.
21. "Lecrae just had the #1 album in the country" In response to Reply # 0
I'm sure a gospel rapper will get the respect of more heads, even atheist heads, than an openly gay rapper will. Think of it in a battle rap context: one rapper calls the other a bunch of gay slurs, that rapper retorts with a bunch of accusations that the first rapper reads the Bible and goes to church. Who wins the battle in front of the average hip-hop audience? And there you have your answer.
24. "RE: Openly Gay Rapper Vs. Gospel Rapper" In response to Reply # 0
If the raps are dope... and neither are over preachy.. the "heads" will accept it..
Now the mainstream...
Lecrae got that good #1 slot (albeit really low numbers in the context of US sales).. There is no "open" rapper to really compare him with
and whether young thug is gay or not the "heads" nor "mainstream" will ever fuck with him..
Double 0 DJ/Producer/Artist Producer in Kidz In The Hall ------------------------------------------- twitter: @godouble0 IG: @godouble0 www.thinklikearapper.com
33. "RE: who does, then?" In response to Reply # 29 Thu Sep-25-14 01:35 AM by double 0
err "mainstream"-ish young black people? college white bros that "turn up to trap"
cats who listen to rich homie quan NOT in the club?
Double 0 DJ/Producer/Artist Producer in Kidz In The Hall ------------------------------------------- twitter: @godouble0 IG: @godouble0 www.thinklikearapper.com
30. "if the beats and cuts are really dope, and the MC can rhyme well..." In response to Reply # 0
....the actual content of the rhymes isn't going to deter me ...that said, i dont want to hear jesus loves me blah blah blah or I'm so gay every other line either
34. "I think that's what separates them though" In response to Reply # 30
Being a "gospel" rapper implies that all of your music has Christian themes right? A rapper being gay doesn't automatically mean he's just going to rap about homosexuality all the time.
That being said, as far as mainstream acceptance, a gospel rapper would definitely win unfortunately. Not that there's anything wrong with gospel, but Christianity is still infinitely more accepted than homosexuality especially in hip hop.
35. "take Al Greens's "jesus is waiting".... " In response to Reply # 34
...to me the song is as amazing as any of the other classic joints on that album, but it isn't the lyrics that move me ...its the grooves the vocals
...then take a look at all the love songs done over the years by singers you might not have realized were gay, the songs apply to anyone who experiences love not just a gay person
i guess think both could work.. but it comes down to the music #1..
If you come out being labeled as a "gospel rapper" or "gay rapper" you're setting yourself to have some people disregard your music before even hearing it. But if the music is dope, its dope.
sweeneykovar Member since Oct 26th 2004 10122 posts
Wed Sep-24-14 11:55 AM
31. "this is an idiotic comparison" In response to Reply # 0 Wed Sep-24-14 11:55 AM by sweeneykovar
because a gospel rapper has very specific subject matter delivered through a very specific perspective. a gay rapper is a rapper who happens to be gay. what kind of music would he make? i dont know because 'gay rapper' doesn't tell me anything but something that's none of my concern to begin with and has little to no bearing musically.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
The Lesson
(11 votes)
(8 votes)
(3 votes)
(2 votes)
