For Hip-Hop and Gay Rights, a Transformative Moment, By Scott Gold

Journal Article

For Hip-Hop and Gay Rights, a Transformative Moment, By Scott Gold

           

Scott Gold writes, “The notoriously homophobic music scene is having a change of heart. I song or interviews headliners are showing support for the gay community” (2012). Adair Lion is an up and coming hip-hop artist and has been claiming his way to fame. Recently Adair has recorded his first pro-gay song track called “Ben”, which has lead to a transformative movement in the hip-hop culture. The ultimate no-no for a rapper to say that gay is okay and that’s just his attempting stating, “ The Bible was wrong this time…” (Gold, 2012).  Adair has broken some very heavy cultural norms in the hip-hop philosophy. Many thought that the release of “Ben” would be a career nightmare, but it was the total opposite. The song “Ben” has put him on the map, since then the rookie hip-hop rapper has been turning heads and local radio stations have been buzzing over the groundbreaking song. 

            “Rap was one of the most reliably homophobic arenas in American pop culture” (Gold, 2012). Hip-hop artist have been notably known for bashing gays, speaking of violent acts against gays, and making cutting remarks that has referred to them as “weak,”  “gross,” and “dirty.” As we can see hip-hop has not been a very welcoming environment for gays to be apart of. But the hip-hop culture has had a change of heart.

            As president Obama proclaimed his support for same-sex marriages and the support for the state’s to repeal the ban on same-sex marriages, and whose support did he have African American and Latino communities, the sole of American hip-hop. Also standing by him was rap mogul Jay-Z and Lady Gaga. In later years a hip-hop personality Mister Cee was caught in a parked car receiving oral sex from another man, and his friend rapper 50 Cent stood by him. Just when 50 Cent suggested rapper should kill themselves, he had a change of heart and publicly supported Mister Cee through his trial. Frank Ocean recently came out in a letter he wrote where he described his first love to be a man.

Adair says he’s very proud of his song and describes his work as the “finest tradition of rap” (Gold, 2012). The gay community had ask the rapper to appear at the gay pride festival in his hometown El Paso and Memphis. He gone back to work on his next song “Another Part of Me” which features him being transformed into several music icon including Lady Gaga. Adair Lion has been praised for starting the engine on the train, “Now the heavyweights are driving the train. Now everybody’s riding the train. They might not stay on board, but they’re sure going to ride it to the next city" said DJ Sedrick “Spade” Knowlton (Gold, 2012).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

This article is very important in the movement of hip-hop. If rappers want o be accepted they have to move along with movements in hip-hop, even if it means supporting that gay is okay. Coming out or being “gay” or “lesbian,” seems to be a catching trend and cooler than ever. I think more and more people in the hip-hop culture will begin to support gay artist and all previous cultural norms about rappers will soon be a transformative movement in hip-hop.