LGBT representation in hip hop music

LGBT hip hop
Stylistic originsWest Coast hip hop, queer theory, third wave feminism, pop-rap, bounce music
Cultural origins1990s in the United States
Other topics
Progressive rap

LGBT representation in hip hop music have existed since the birth of the genre even while enduring blatant discrimination. Due to its adjacency to disco, the earliest days of hip hop had a close relation to LGBT subcultures,[1] and multiple LGBT DJs have played a role in popularizing hip hop.[2] Despite this early involvement, hip hop has long been portrayed as one of the least LGBT-friendly genres of music, with a significant body of the genre containing homophobic views and anti-gay lyrics, with mainstream artists such as Eminem and Tyler, the Creator having used casual homophobia in their lyrics, including usages of the word faggot.[3][4][5] Attitudes towards homosexuality in hip hop culture have historically been negative, with slang that uses homosexuality as a punchline such as "sus", "no homo", and "pause" being heard in hip hop lyrics from some of the industry's biggest artists.[6] Since the early 2000s there has been a flourishing community of LGBTQ+ hip hop artists, activists, and performers breaking barriers in the mainstream music industry.[7]

Labels such as homo hop or queer hip hop group all artists identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community into a subgenre of hip hop based solely on their sexuality. These subgenre labels are not marked by any specific production style, as artists within it may simultaneously be associated with virtually any other subgenre of hip hop, or may also make music that falls outside the subgenre entirely.[8] Rather, the terms are defined by a direct engagement with LGBT culture in elements such as the lyrical themes or the artist's visual identity and presentation.[9][10]

Artists who have been labelled as part of the genre have, however, varied in their acceptance of the terminology. Some have supported the identification of a distinct phenomenon of "LGBTQ+ hip hop" as an important tool for promoting LGBTQ+ visibility in popular music, while others have criticized it for trivializing their music as a "niche" interest that circumscribed their appeal to mainstream music fans.

Many artists have contributed to the increased visibility and social acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community's presence in hip hop music, most notably Frank Ocean, who penned an open letter addressing his sexuality in 2012.[7] There has also been an increased presence of LGBTQ+ supporters in the mainstream hip hop community, such as Eminem,[11][12][13] Jay-Z,[14] Murs, Kanye West,[15] XXXTentacion,[16] Jack Harlow,[17] Kendrick Lamar,[18] Macklemore, and Ryan Lewis.[19]

  1. ^ Kehrer, Lauron J. (2022). Queer Voices in Hip Hop: Cultures, Communities, and Contemporary Performance. University of Michigan Press. p. 34. doi:10.3998/mpub.11306619. ISBN 978-0-472-90301-6.
  2. ^ Davey, D. (July 14, 2002). "Gays & Hip Hop Refute the Stereotypes".
  3. ^ MacPherson, Alex (May 10, 2011). "Is hip-hop homophobia at a tipping point?". Guardian. London. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  4. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (May 13, 2011). "Odd Future Plays Secret L.A. Show". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  5. ^ Garcia, Marcelo (January 28, 2018). "From Eminem to Offset, an analysis of hip-hop's history of homophobia". Highlander. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference LATout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Julious, Britt (June 24, 2016). "A gay man is making the most anticipated album of the year". Esquire. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  8. ^ Jones, Shanna (August 7, 2014). "Is British Rap Finally Going to Have a Gay Hip Hop Scene?". Noisey. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "Homo Hop". Studio 360, June 26, 2009.
  10. ^ Ornberg, Emily (September 10, 2012). "Underground fruit gangstas: uncovering the hidden subculture of homo-hop music". The Columbia Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Michaels, Sean (June 18, 2010). "Eminem speaks out in favour of gay marriage". The Guardian.
  12. ^ https://www.today.com/today/amp/wbna37759634 [bare URL]
  13. ^ "A History of Rappers Standing up for Gay Rights". Complex Networks.
  14. ^ "Thank You, Frank Ocean". Life+Times. July 4, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  15. ^ Alexis, Nadeska (August 20, 2015). "Watch Kanye West Get Upset About Homophobia in Hip-Hop, 10 Years Ago". MTV. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  16. ^ "XXXTentacion Starts 'F*ck the KKK!' Chant at Revenge Tour Show". Complex Networks.
  17. ^ Cummings-CAdy, Mackenzie (April 4, 2022). "Jack Harlow Defends Lil Nas X Against His Haters: 'Fuck's Wrong With You?'". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  18. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Gets Praise For His Support Of The Trans Community On 'Auntie Diaries'". May 13, 2022.
  19. ^ Grow, Kory (November 26, 2013). "UN Names Macklemore "Equality Champion"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.