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Is the "no homo" hip-hop term hurtful or helpful to gays and lesbians?Homophobia in hip-hop is nothing new. For years, the subject has been discussed among journalists, artists themselves and activists. Where a mainstream pop performer would likely be chastised for saying something like “You can't be f---in’ people in the ass and say you're gangsta," as Method Man did in 2003, the hip-hop world generally responds to these tirades by shrugging its proverbial shoulders.
While the gay community clearly has a long way to go in terms of social acceptance on a mainstream level, Slate writer Jonah Weiner thinks the times may be changing — in the hip-hop world that is. Weiner’s recent article discusses the rise of the phrase “no homo” in contemporary hip-hop, and points out that while some may find it much of the same — homophobic rappers horrified of being emasculated — he thinks it may be a good thing. He writes: No homo, to those unfamiliar with the term, is a phrase added to statements in order to rid them of possible homosexual double-entendre. "You've got beautiful balls," you tell your friend at the bocce game — "no homo." Simply, Weiner explains, “no homo” is a “That’s what she said” for homophobes. So why is it a good thing? When these rappers say "no homo," it can seem a bit like a gentleman's agreement, nodding to the status quo while smuggling in a fuller, less hamstrung notion of masculinity. This is still a concession to homophobia, but one that enables a less rigid definition of the hip-hop self than we've seen before. It's far from a coup, but, in a way, it's progress.” Personally, I think the “no homo” thing is excessive, and shows how horrified these rappers are of being mistaken for gay. “Got money out the a--/ No homo but I'm rich," Lil’ Wayne raps in his song "Georgia Bush." Really? Because when you said “money out the a--” I just assumed you were gay. Come on, now.
In 2007, lesbian poet Staceyann Chin discussed the issue of homophobia in hip-hop as part of an NPR panel discussion. “If the lyrics offend me, I don't listen to it,” Chin said. “I might find myself in moments nodding to a song because music is infectious. It's kind of like laughter — you hear it and you start moving. But as long as I hear something that really offends me, I try my very best not to listen to it.”
Lesbians in hip-hop, such as Yo Majesty, Bunny Rabbit and KIN4LIFE have seen success by staying small and catering to queer audiences, but when it comes to gay and lesbian faces in mainstream hip-hop, there is a serious lack of visibility.
It’s difficult to discuss the issue without talking about race. Weiner’s article discusses a link between “no homo” and the “down low” culture of black men living secretly gay lives — Chin mentioned how socioeconomics may play a role in continued hatred of gays, particularly among minorities: I think that when people have little of themselves and they don't have enough of what they need to live comfortably and to live happy in their own spaces, they find other people to attack. And we need to figure out how it is that we can give people what they need to live so that we can actually sit down and have a conversation that isn't trying to be judgmental about the group of people that we don't know who they are or where they come from or the nature of the life they lead every day. While I enjoy singing along to Lil’ Wayne’s "Mrs. Officer" as much as the next lesbian, I wonder if my continued support of rappers like Lil’ Wayne is just encouraging the problem. Is it OK to dance along to music that is spewing hatred? Why do positive role models in hip-hop see less success than those pushing a violent or homophobic point of view? These are big questions that no one has really figured the answers to. Homophobia still tops the charts and gets everyone on the dance floor when played in a club. Is “no homo” progress or just another detour? Submitted by on August 10, 2009 - 10:00am. |
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no homo
There's a lot of homophobia in hip-hop talk in the documentary Pick up the Mic, which I found interesting, as it's from the queer performer's perspective, but I think what really needs to be taken to task is the mainstream hip-hop community, such as this piece from Slate.
I remember a few years ago when Kanye addressed the fact that he'd been referred to as a fag or gay and he said "Hey, I'm not, but it's kinda messed up that we're being homophobic like that." It seems like he might have backtracked a little bit on that after-the-fact, but it only clues us in more to the idea that he felt pressure from "the game" to keep up this very macho, straight-guy swagger to get respect from his peers and fans.
The part that's very interesting to me is the use of lesbian references in many male rapper's songs. Kanye, for example, "I would do anything for a blonde dyke." Or in the new Lil' Wayne, Drake song, "Every Girl": "How many of you are into girls like I am, lez be honest." It's very much a macho claim that they are not into men, but at the same time, almost celebrating women who will have sex with each other.
I think it is a larger discussion of the downlow, race issue as the piece explored, but I'd be really interested if anyone interviewing these men ever asked them about their conflicting views and why they feel they can praise lesbians and then knock gay men in the same songs.
But they're not.
yup...
Actually find it weird
I actually find it weird that Drake would have any problem with gay men or women. From his statements from and work in Degrassi. Was it little Wayne's line? Sorry havent heard the song.
Little Wayne has become overrated and it was all cool in high school but now hes played out. Usually at that time they usually say something offesive to gay people. Lets say for instance Bow Wow. Now thats a prime example of being washed up and have nothing better to say.
It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for what your not.
Drizzy
It's a line from Drake's verse on the Young Money crew's single "Every Girl."
I admit to finding that particular line to fairly clever, as far as wordplay goes, and not that offensive, but I do worry about the path that Drake's on. I had a lot of optimism about Drake's career when he first started getting some buzz (because of his Degrassi days, his work on Comeback Season and the fact that we have the same favorite rapper) but lately, especially after that WACK video for "Best I Ever Had," I worry...
---
Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong. - Theodore Roosevelt
A Layman's Guide to "No Homo"
This video from Ill Doctrine explains all:
A Layman's Guide to "No Homo"_____________
Tweet: @GrrrlRomeo
Great link! Thanks!
I love Jay Smooth.
I know next to nothing about rap and rap culture, but his vlogs always make me want to learn, and he always has good stuff to say about sexism and homophobia.
As for "No Homo"? I'm inclined to agree with this:
"As a general rule, if you're not the original target of an insult, you can't be the one to reclaim it."
Yup.
Ill Droctrine vlog is great.
I've been subscribing to his YouTube channel for awhile now. It's funny how he's right out there yet whenever the media needs to get a prospective from the hip hop community, he's never the one they call. I guess it's because he's too articulate to fit mainstream America's concept of what hip hop culture is all about (i.e. Taylor Swifts unflattering parody).
One of my favorite videos of his is "How To Tell People They Sound Racist".
www.swandiver.wordpress.com
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
i rather enjoyed that link
i rather enjoyed that link grrrlromeo...but i think what i enjoyed more was your changing of the title from "an old person's guide" to "a layman's guide" lol
---------------------------------------------
~I am bisexual. You are confused.~
I thought
it was always like that, for lesbians to have it easier in the main stream light than gay men. because its almost every guys fantasy to have a three some with some hot, lipstick lesbians, or not even lipstick, or to turn a lesbian straight or bi, or to just have girls.
when i used to work at this one resturant, i became friends with this black bi guy; ill call him J. well me and J talked about who had it harder lesbians or gay men when it came to expressing sexuality openingly. i said gay men and he agreed; and i asked him why he thought it was like that, his theory was "men are seen as the stronger and more dominate sex and when one man becomes submissive to another man willingingly then it could be seen as a threat to manhood." i thought that was a good theory. Eminiem-or however you spell his name usually says the word "faggot" in his material.
back in HS me and my friends would say "no homo" than "thats gay" or if we said that's gay we meant "thats ghey".
personally, i dont take anything too serious when it comes to rappers. they pretty much rap about anything to stay on top now and days. i pretty much think hip-hop has lots its roots. so in other words, i dont take them seriously. all those quotes you pointed out "i do anything for a blonde dyke." i didnt even see it as a homo comment. music can be interpreted in many different ways that appeals to the person listening to it.
i suggest not taking lyrics too literally. rappers often say that especially when cops look at that when it comes to criminal activity.
My sexuality is not someone else's kink
I'm not going to play the "who has it worst" game, but...no.
it was always like that, for lesbians to have it easier in the main stream light than gay men. because its almost every guys fantasy to have a three some with some hot, lipstick lesbians, or not even lipstick, or to turn a lesbian straight or bi, or to just have girls.
Lesbians do not have it easier. That kind of mindset cheapens lesbianism by turning it into a performance art done for men's enjoyment. In a sense, gay men have it simpler (not necessarily easier), because when two men are together, no woman is going up to them asking if she can join in, or get popcorn, and gets offended when the gay people in question say no. The same cannot be said of straight men when it comes to lesbians
Gay men do not generally get portrayed as "frigid" or "just haven't found the right woman yet" or any of the sexist stereotypes that come when women try to claim their own sexuality.
I would rather be an invisible minority, than be visible for having my sexuality be a straight man's wet dream.
Can I just say...
I love this line:
"I would rather be an invisible minority, than be visible for having my sexuality be a straight man's wet dream."
The price of visibilty
I agree with most of your comments, and to me biological men are a bunch of annoying bums... hehe... There are some informed and intelligent men. But not since 1980 when feminism shook them a little.
But, but... I am so tired of invisibility and I'd like to scream sometimes. And people seem rather offended or indifferent and sometimes snickering. So I shut up. I just make a statement by the way I groom.
Fortunately, we are headed to a multi-sexual world, so there's hope. The price of visibility? Maybe... Assimilation?
i agree with alot of this Jay
i for one, no longer say im gay if a guy hit on me because lets be honest, that never puts them off. quite the opposite infact. this is one of the reasons i dislike katy perry so much, its such a pandering to straight men.
i think, for me gay men and lesbians have it equally bad. or queer men and queer women should i say. in lots of music videos and tv shows women are portrayed as sexual play things and conquest for men. and queer men are portayed as queeny or bitchy, particuarly as straight womens commedy foils. we hardly ever see masculine represntation of gay men because, i believe, thats more "threatening" for straight people to see
my 2 cents
I feel that the term "no homo" is used as an excuse, for example if someone say "yo, no homo but how long are you?" i feel that they say it because they are insecure and that they feel that they need to justify or express their heterosexualness in order to feel like they are men.so there for i don't think it is progress,and i think that rappers are using it because they don't whant to use harsher terms so they don 't loose their homosexual fans.
I feel that while men might accept lesbians they don't accept all of us, i think thhat when they think "lesbian" they see two femmes together, and think of lesbian porn and don't realy think about the true feelings shared by two woman that love eachother, which leads me to believe that they realy don't accept lesbians.
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
ITA with everything you said
kkthx
Why do they need to say anything at all? If a politician said anything like rappers do they'd likely not be elected a second term and receive a large amount of backlash. Guess it's okay for rappers though. They even get some street cred and backup from the gay community. Sweet.
Sad to see users here justifying homophobic lyrics.
So... Men don't really accept lesbians. Thanks for the insightful, albeit, unnecessary paragraph.
hahaha ** bitter laugh**
first off you twisted my words read my shit fully before you say crap about it,
second,i think that men accepts lesbian "sex" and ignors lesbianism, if all they can think about is sex when they think of lesbians to me that is not acceptance. that paragraph expresses how i feel you might have your own opinion but you will not see me bashing you opinions because i think people should be able to say what they feel, and for you to say that what i said was unnecessary shows how ignorant you are.
so SHUT UP
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
Street Cred
Oh, believe me, I had to read your 'shit' more then a few times to follow it. Shitty grammar has that effect. Might want to work on that. Nice to see you can still justify using 'no homo' in rap lyrics though. Priorities.
Ignoring all my points...Oh wait, that was what you did.
You'll likely continue to feign ignorance since you omitted addressing anything else in my original post. So, you win. You're awesome, smarter and all that stuff.
Here's a ribbon.wow how verry smart of you
but that's the thing, i did not justify the term "no homo" did you not see that i said it is not progress which means i do not agree whith it, i do not like the term, and i think that it's a step backwards, and i think you are twisting my words and you are not trying to see my point because you've already made up your mind, but that's ok, what else do expect from someone one who lives in a box, someone who is not willing to take other people's opinions into consideration.
shitty grammar?????????? who the fuck died and made you language arts teacher?
and thanks for the ribbon, i must say i deserve it for taking the time to read the shit you write.
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
Facetious
Look it up.
My box is nice. Thank you. In it is equipped with a spellcheck. It helps to make me to not look so stupid when I post.
Whoops, did you look up 'facetious' yet?
lol
I know im probably interrupting a very insightful argument, I just wana say your avatar made my day.
I still cant stop laughing at every swish!!
yes, I get easily amused like that. :P
Ladies!
Come on before the post gets shut down for going off topic and complete vulgarity!
Lets end it right here!
Matt's world you just live in it!
ok
fine but i still think she needs to be more open minded. because i just write i do not take the time to double check everything, and for her make me feel like crap about it.shows that she is stupid and inconsiderate.
this is the last thing i will say about her, because i like this topic
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
Guess you didn't look up facetious, huh?
I'm stupid and inconsiderate?
Stupid?
Wanna go? You'll lose.
Inconsiderate?
Sure, you can call me that. Really I'd rather you look up the term 'Facetious' though.
Your best interests denote you leave it at that.
excuses excuses
fa⋅ce⋅tious
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
Yep
just ignore
Hell Girl, there was nothing wrong with your original post. It's obvious 'Facetious' is just baiting you. He/she's using the screenname to justify being a rude asshole. Sometimes people lead such sad, shitty lives they have to take it out on strangers on the internet.
Pity this person, but don't take the bait.
Nothing New
no homo = insecurity
oh so true
i agree, i believe that if you are who you are than there is no need in trying sooo hard to make people see who you are
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
Don't care for it.
I just don't see a reason for the term. To me, it's a sign of insecurity about your sexuality. Why do hip hoppers have to say "No homo" in their songs? I kinda figured by other lyrics and music videos where scantily clad women are abundant that they weren't.
I also don't like the double standard. I agree with hell girl's sister; I think when lesbians are mentioned in those songs they're thinking about the women you see in lesbian porn (made by straight men), and not about two women who are actually in love with one another.
Music is the universal language of
Am I the only one who thinks all this hypermasculinity is gay?
The constant shirtlessness to show off buff bodies, the baggy pants, the gratuitous flaunting of women with no emotional connection, the constant need to man up, the almost religious need to stay true to your homies. The standard hip hip swagger has become little more than a homoerotic fetish with rigid behavioral norms. This could explain why there are so many rumors in the hip hop community about down low rappers.
Maybe "No Homo" is a way for them to step out of character and actually interact with each other with a modicum of depth.
www.swandiver.wordpress.com
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
hmm...
Maybe I'm just jaded, but I've never found the phrase offensive. The implication seems to simply be "I'm not gay, but...(fill in the blanks.)" There's no implied judgment against homosexuality, just an assertion that the speaker himself is not gay.
I think one of the trade-offs to straight male privilege is constantly having to be on the alert to defend it and protect its borders. One way to do this is to constantly proclaim how Not! Gay! they are, even as they do/say things that could be read as gay. I've seen plenty of lesbians assert their identity just as vigorously, in even blunter terms on this very site.
I was really shocked at the number of people, gay and straight, who rushed to defend Eminem when he called people "faggots" and threatened to kill gays. He won Grammys for his hate speech. Given that, I'm surprised a term like "no homo" would cause even a ripple of controversy.
It may not be as offensive
It may not be as offensive as some other things, but it's still problematic because it's reinforcing the idea that it's really terrible for people to think you're gay. The fact is that quite a lot of gay people probably go throughout their day and are presumed to be straight by everyone who sees them, but do they go around prefacing everything with "I'm not straight, but..."? I'd guess that most of them don't.
The "no homo" also reinforces the idea that there are certain things that gay people do that straight people don't or shouldn't do - and if they do then they have to explain themselves and almost apologize for it so that no one will think they're gay (again, because they've got it in their heads that it's terrible to be mistaken for gay.) These stereotypes hurt gay people by putting us in this little box of "what mainstream society thinks gay people are like", and they hurt everyone by limiting people's range of acceptable behavior. If a guy's got some non-masculine interests/habits, or if a woman has some non-feminine interests/habits, they shouldn't have to feel like they've got to explain to everyone that they're not gay, because those things probably have nothing to do with their sexuality.
yup
Your point is well taken. Like I said, I'm a little jaded and in a world where people vote yes on Prop 8 and win Grammys for violent hate speech, I'm not personally getting worked up over something as silly as "no homo" - even with the implications you mentioned behind it. It seems more like an expression of sexual insecurity and immaturity than hatefulness, though I guess it depends on who's saying it.
By the way, Lil Wayne is a hardcore rapper who calls another grown man who is no relation to him "Daddy" and kisses him on the mouth in public. He seems pretty secure in his sexuality, so I'm guessing if he says "no homo" it's just a joke. You know, like Eminem was joking when he talked about raping and killing women and stabbing gays in the head, and tons of people on this site defended him.
Great Display picture
At first I was like.. What? Wait.. Is that??
Then I giggled for about a minute, so thanks!
Thanks, just Google "lesbian
Thanks, just Google "lesbian kiss" and it's one of the first images that pops up!
Not that I, err, Googled that or anything...
Beyond Beats and Rhymes Documentary
This reminds me of the documentary that was featured at my university. It's produced by a man who follows the lives of hip hop performers and fans for several years. He tries to understand why the message of hip hop has become so much about violence, hate, homophobia, sexism, etc, etc. It's really interesting, and has made me look at hip hop in a totally different light. Since watching the documentary, I've stopped listening to hip hop that's hateful, or derogatory to women, and so on. And as you mentioned, Jen, the "good stuff", i.e., hip hop that actually has something to say, is a little more underground, hard-to-find, and often a little bit older. It's worth the search if it means not supporting artists who are bringing down the lgbtq cause. :)
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/
Yep, totally nothing new.
Back in 2002, Pet Shop Boys released a song called "The Night I Fell In Love" (about a guy who ends up in bed with his favorite male rapper) primarily as a satirical response to the rampant homophobia exhibited publicly by hip-hop stars like Eminem. It's a deep shame that even now, nothing has changed.
As for "no homo", it strikes me as a backhanded comment. Yes, it's fine to assert your "straightness" or whatever, but it also implies an uneasiness with a real or imagined assumption of being gay. Hmm. :(
Ignore the rap community
ok
i know that you probably wrote this the wrong way but i must say you sound verry ignorant, and i fail to see how what you said relates from ignoring hip hop music(not all hip hop are bad find som good ones don't put them all in one box)anyway from ignoring rap, to the "N" word, to yong black kids not having a future and not having an education. WTF are you trying to say? explain please, and if i seem like im bashing you im sorry cause that is not my intention.
True feelings can never be put into words.
therfore when you can't explain how you feel about someone that's when you know..
As a young black woman, who
You know...
You know, the two ladies above me responded to you in a classy, mature and thoughtful fashion. I commend them for it.
Unfortunately I'm not nearly so charitable. So here goes: You are really, REALLY racist. The fact you heard something you didn't like on a basketball court, extrapolated it to "urban black youth" as a group (like you've met them all) and then extended this to the assumption they "have no future" and "don't value education" is proof positive. I don't care what you saw on "Cops" or how many black friends you have. Your reductive and insulting thought process is racist, period.
So take the white hood off, go to some diversity training and let the damn healing begin already.
Aw thanks! I definitely said
The ignorance in this
The ignorance in this statement...I can't even figure out what made you think that this comment was worth typing out. I'm usually a very nice person, but I'm quite tired of all the incorrect generalizations I've come across on the internet today.
Who do you think you are to take your small experience and apply it to all young black individuals? And who are you to assume that we're all ~scared~ about our future? I doubt you know all young black people, so it would be smart of you NOT to assume we're all throwing around the "N" word or don't know the history of it. Whatever ignorant show, movie or whatever you saw, coupled with that event in your life doesn't apply to all us black folk. As you can tell, this black girl can put together a decent sentence, so that must be indicative of education, yeah? Is your theory now destroyed? I see that you tried to show sympathy with your marginalised statement, but honey we don't need your sympathy, and nor did it help with your following sentences.
I want you to both yourself and me a favor. Keep your ill-informed observations to yourself.
Stereotyping is terrible!
That is like me saying all this country hillbilly hog wash is nothing but hate music for rednecks.
Someone needs a book. This is why I can't support this buffoonery now and days. These morons are feeding into why Galaxyglue thinks the way she does.
This is what she sees
This is what I see
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Huh?
I've tried to write a comment (that makes sense) to your post about ten times now. But I can't seem to get everything out the way I want it to sound. But I really want you to have my opinion anyway...
That is the most racist, ignorant and downright stupid thing I've heard in a long time!
(You have me commenting! I never comment!)
"No Straight"
So, does this mean when I have a converstion with a straight man I should say: "No straight..would you like to hang out sometime?"
I mean, I am willing to try if that means I can have a normal conversation with a male stranger w/o him thinking I want to go home with him.