[HOST] Lil Nas X’s July 2021 single, “Industry Baby” contains
a bar that historically wouldn’t typically be included in a chart topping rap hit.
LNX: Like, these are, these lines are my life. Like,
this is actually me. And there’s somebody growing up,
like, hearing that. And they’re like, “Damn, when I rap, I’m gonna say shit like this, too”.
[HOST] Hip-hop’s homophobia has been widely covered and Lil Nas X’s mere existence makes
a huge impact. He’s not the first openly queer rap artist - notably Mykki Blanco, Zebra Katz,
Cakes da Killa and many others, but X’s reach may be unlike any that has come before him.
While he is widely celebrated,
his presence still incurs backlash - even when it has nothing to do with him.
For instance, after DaBaby’s late July homophobic rant at Rolling Loud Miami,
Atlanta rapper T.I appeared to equate Lil Nas X’s expression with DaBaby’s comments.
T.I - you have a Lil Nas X video, and him living his truth, you gone damn sure have
people like DaBaby who are going to speak they truth. There ain’t nothing wrong with none of
that. It ain’t got to be no hate, it’s all honesty.”
TIRHAKAH - when an artist like Lil Nas X comes out and it's just every single
song after he comes out is about being a queer person in America as a Black person here. We get
pushback on every single video that we see HOST: That’s Tirhakah Love, Entertainment
writer for The Daily Beast. He’s written about Queer artists in hip-hop and how false ideas
of masculinity play into who can and can’t be accepted as a rapper - or even an R&B singer.
This specific point flared up after Migos’ Quavo questioned queer Atlanta artist
ILoveMakonnen’s street credibility in 2017. TIRHAKAH: So there's this juxtaposition
that those things just can't mesh. Right? But no one's checking whether
you're straight or queer if you're trying to sell drugs. They just said,
"Are you a good salesman? Get to it." HOST: Or when Chris Brown and Frank Ocean
fought in 2013 - something Ocean rapped later that year.
And these are only two out of countless examples of homophobia throughout rap’s history.
So with Lil Nas X’s expression in music videos for “Industry Baby,” “Montero” and others,
his unabashed truth is basically saying,
what’s everyone so afraid of? SAINTBLU: We’re so not used to
it it’s like "Oh my God, it's in my face, and that's all he talks about." I'm like,
"Bro." ...Because female rappers, male rappers, who are hetero, are doing the exact same things.
There's no difference, ya know? HOST: That’s Canadian musician SaintBlu.
He and a few other up-and-coming queer Black male identifying artists spoke with Genius
about navigating an industry from the ground level that hasn’t always been very welcoming to them.
Blu, who has been out since middle school, is unapologetic about his expression..
SAINTBLU: I feel like everything I write, though, is just so gay.
SAINTBLU: With the video as well, though, I think that was my first time doing a
video where I was full-on making out with a guy, and people you know really enjoyed it
HOST: But Alabama singer Kendal Rhone says he keeps things close to the vest - even
going as far keeping pronouns neutral. KENDAL: I haven't tapped into what I really
want to say right now because of homophobia in the industry...Who am I talking about? I don't
think anyone would know. But my delivery, I feel like my delivery says it all.
KENDAL: I'm not saying it, but I'm talking about someone, I'm speaking on a love interest,
but I'm not to that part yet HOST: Brooklyn rapper Controverse
spoke about certain male identifying straight artists not wanting to be on a song with him.
CONTROVERSE: I'm always in sessions with a bunch of rappers,
a bunch of rappers. I can name them. My verse never makes it out, but it's okay, you know?
HOST: Controverse commends Jack Harlow for joining “Industry Baby” based on
this fact alone - this was something Harlow explained on Twitter after the video dropped.
CONTROVERSE: When he was brave enough to say, hey, I don't care what this man is talking about on the
song. It's hot. I'm going to bring my flavor and my spice to it. And we're going to make a hit.
HOST: Everyone we spoke to said that they didn’t want their queerness to define them
sort’ve like BROCKHAMPTON’s Kevin Abstract. KEVIN: O, I don’t want to be labeled as like
a queer rapper. I just want to be a rapper but I want to be me and express that and just like,
break new ground on the way.
HOST: And while Lil Nas X is paving
his own path, the artists we spoke to told us that there were other black queer icons
they looked up to before Montero. CONTROVERSE: Mykki Blanco. I love Mykki Blanco.
HOST: The ground is fertile for another queer artist in hip-hop and music generally. Following
in the footsteps of artists like Big Freedia, Khalif and Frank Ocean, Lil Nas X isn’t the first,
and surely will not be the last. Lil Nas X: For many people in the LGBT
community you're constantly told where you’re going and what you represent so it’s like okay.
I’m going to own that. If you’re going to say that then I’m going to own that, so don’t get upset
when it’s time to say okay, this is me now. HOST: I’m Jacques Morel with Genius News,
bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music. Peace!