Rappers talk homosexuality in hip-hop
- 12 years ago
Rap legends spoke out about the controversy surrounding the admission of love for another man by up-and-coming singer Frank Ocean.
Ice-T and other rappers were in London on Thursday (July 19) for the premiere of his directorial documentary debut "Something for Nothing: The Art of Rap".
Ocean, part of the rap collective Odd Future, recently revealed online that his first love was a man.
In a posting on his Tumblr page earlier this month, the U.S. artist wrote: "4 summers ago. I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too."
Later on he wrote: "It was my first love."
The admission of same-sex attraction is seen as groundbreaking for the world of hip hop.
At the premiere, reaction was mixed.
Ice-T, Melle Mel, and Wu -Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah spoke out.
SOUNDBITE: Rapper, Documentary Filmmaker And Actor Ice-T, saying (English):
"My thing is right now, when you're dealing with pop music, it doesn't really matter. I mean, it's not like Ice Cube came out and said he was gay. I hope people buy his music because it's good, not because they want to support a gay artist. I don't think it's what he wants either."
SOUNDBITE: Rapper Melle Mel, saying (English):
"To me, a person's sexuality is neither here nor there, I don't believe in a gay athlete, I believe in an athlete that just so happens to be gay."
SOUNDBITE: Rapper Raekwon Of Wu-Tang Clan, saying (English):
"It's irrelevant how we judge people when it comes to judging but at the same token, as long as that person is happy within themselves, that's what it's all about."
SOUNDBITE: Rapper Ghostface Killah Of Wu-Tang Clan, saying (English):
"Listen, Frank Ocean is Frank Ocean, I don't even know that dude but if he's coming out of the closest, then come out man, I don't have anything to do with that. God is the judger of all judges, you feel me?"
Whether Ocean's actions is a revelation for rap isn't certain but it's created a buzz in the music industry and online.
Ice-T's film "Something for Nothing: The Art of Rap" opens in British and Irish cinemas on Friday (July 20).
Cindy Martin, Reuters
Ice-T and other rappers were in London on Thursday (July 19) for the premiere of his directorial documentary debut "Something for Nothing: The Art of Rap".
Ocean, part of the rap collective Odd Future, recently revealed online that his first love was a man.
In a posting on his Tumblr page earlier this month, the U.S. artist wrote: "4 summers ago. I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too."
Later on he wrote: "It was my first love."
The admission of same-sex attraction is seen as groundbreaking for the world of hip hop.
At the premiere, reaction was mixed.
Ice-T, Melle Mel, and Wu -Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah spoke out.
SOUNDBITE: Rapper, Documentary Filmmaker And Actor Ice-T, saying (English):
"My thing is right now, when you're dealing with pop music, it doesn't really matter. I mean, it's not like Ice Cube came out and said he was gay. I hope people buy his music because it's good, not because they want to support a gay artist. I don't think it's what he wants either."
SOUNDBITE: Rapper Melle Mel, saying (English):
"To me, a person's sexuality is neither here nor there, I don't believe in a gay athlete, I believe in an athlete that just so happens to be gay."
SOUNDBITE: Rapper Raekwon Of Wu-Tang Clan, saying (English):
"It's irrelevant how we judge people when it comes to judging but at the same token, as long as that person is happy within themselves, that's what it's all about."
SOUNDBITE: Rapper Ghostface Killah Of Wu-Tang Clan, saying (English):
"Listen, Frank Ocean is Frank Ocean, I don't even know that dude but if he's coming out of the closest, then come out man, I don't have anything to do with that. God is the judger of all judges, you feel me?"
Whether Ocean's actions is a revelation for rap isn't certain but it's created a buzz in the music industry and online.
Ice-T's film "Something for Nothing: The Art of Rap" opens in British and Irish cinemas on Friday (July 20).
Cindy Martin, Reuters