Saying rap trio Migos has a problem with homophobia is like saying the Fast and the Furious franchise has a problem with knowing-when-to-stop. And true to form, one of its members, Offset, is being widely criticized for a lyric he sings on a new track released by YFN Lucci called “Boss Life.”
But to back things up a bit, here’s how Migos responded when fellow rapper iLoveMakonnen came out:
In regards to Makonnen’s decision to come out to his fans, the response was an incredulous “They supported him?” from Quavo. Crew member Offset added: “That’s because the world is fucked up.” The third member of Migos, Takeoff, said, “This world is not right.”
The group, including Offset, were quick to backpedal, saying they don’t have a problem with gay people.
Which brings us to the just-released song “Boss Life,” in which Offset says: “I cannot vibe with queers.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But here’s the real kicker–
In response to the criticism, Offset posted this “explanation” of his use of “queer” to Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeGG7tHnjmD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_ufi
His caption reads:
I didn’t write the line about gay people. I have said before since these issues before that I got love for all people. My passion for fashion has lead me to a lot of gay people around me who I have mad respect for and we are very cool so I’m not in a place where I’m hating like that. When I wrote that I was thinking of words that could rhyme with the others (here, lear, solitaire, bear) and I saw this definition about her having a queer feeling she was being watched and it fit what I was thinking about a stalker creepy paparazzi situation. To me that “queer” I don’t mean someone who’s gay. I mean lame people who film you, post it and stalk you. Lingo that means strange or odd.
Ohh, OK. He didn’t mean “queer” as in “gay people,” but the other commonly used definition of “queer”–as in, “that creepy paparazzi stalker situation.” Makes perfect sense.
Needless to say, critics were not appeased:
https://twitter.com/capnbriella/status/954027776478081024
https://twitter.com/MNEK/status/953899821554954240
https://twitter.com/chuuzus/status/953735704412082182
https://twitter.com/sporker_/status/953738823619481608
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ChrisK
A new homophobic rapper!! Shocking I tells you. Any other yawn worthy news?
Teddy Ready
To the Rapper Artist Migos. I dig probably most all genres of Music. Although i have not delved into your Music Archives, I have been hearing very good things spoken and written about your Music, Apparently, you are a current top artist gracing our Billboard’s top 40. For that, I highly commend you for your musical achievements. It looks like you have a huge career ahead of you. As a 50 year old gay man, I do not really understand the negative gay reference(s) in that song you are getting criticism on. But so it also goes with quite a few other music Artisis who have expressed similar disses on gays. I sincerely suggest that you create art in your lyrics that is uplifting, respectful, respectable, and craft a positive reference to every, single. human being. Male, Female, White, Hispanic, Black, Indian, and anyone who bleeds red blood. It is not wise to disenfranchise any sector of People who listens and may decide to buy your recordings. You cannot rely on attitudes either. People always change in the long run.
Teddy Ready
I wrote a reply earlier. Again, I must write that as a 50 year old gay man from an entirely different world or community that you were probably raised in, I cannot really fully comprehend just what you may be attempting to express in your musical lyrics to express or convey in the contexts of your songs unless the regional content of your background or the optional use of the vernacular language is honestly presented by the creativity of the Artist(s). I am an advocate of Free Speech and Free Expression protected by our great Constitution here in America. If you will Migos, maybe consider a foot note that can educate, inspire or explain selective lyrics in the content of your songs that may deem controversial to some of your audience, I think it would be quite progressive and beneficial to everyone. I recall the dislike I had toward some of the Artist Eminem’s lyrical content of his first Album in 2000 although I enjoyed his music thoroughly. Be Who You Are but be Peaceful and Cool and your appeal will only broaden with an attitude of connection and understanding. I believe that you do not actually hate gay people but you can work on your tactics to clarify what has been misunderstood.
Jaxton
Black music culture has turned out to be a huge disappointment in the last 30 years. Liberals keep pushing this garbage onto us.
RESCHI
Interestingly, I’m not so sure it’s (just) liberals. Murdoch’s son, now CEO of the family business, is a co-founder of a New York-based label that pushes a lot of questionable product. If you know anything about the Murdochs, some have alleged they are viscerally tied to the private prison industry. Soooo, let us not rush to oversimplified, one-dimensional and uninformed judgment.
demetreus
By black music culture, are you referring to Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, soul, gospel, funk, electro, boogie and many other styles?
Please tell me you aren’t ignorant enough to make a statement about black music culture disappointment and your only example is rap!
dwes09
Uh, why exactly do you claim “Liberals keep pushing this garbage onto us”? Liberals may perhaps like some rap, and some rap is actually good and well produced.
Hard to take a person seriously when they lack all capacity for critical thought or proper communication.
Liberals are as likely or more likely to object to homophobia in rap music than regressives, and they are more well equipped to deal with it contextually (as evidenced by your seeming ignorance of other hip hop, r&b, blues, jazz, gospel, and all the other genres of music that spring from black culture and have been a part of it for the past 30 years).
Kieran
I’m sure fake news CNN and MSNBC will demand the Congressional Black Caucus renounce and condemn rapper hate speech directed at the gay community. Any day now. Any day….just watch.
Kangol
Yes, because the Congressional Black Caucus is responsible for what any random Black person has to say. You are yet another vile racist. Get help!
Kieran
@Kangol Yes, the Congressional Black Caucus IS responsible for speaking out and condemning black homophobia and making it clear that it is unreservedly opposed to this kind of vile bigotry. If you think it’s no concern of theirs than shut up with your moping about President Trump not sufficiently renouncing the protestors in Charlottesville.
Xzamilloh
The hell is “black homophobia”? You know it’s possible to hold two entities to task instead of trying to create a whataboutism to obfuscate from the ills of another. The CBC not condemning every rapper with homophobic lyrics doesn’t make Trump reluctance to call out neonazis in Charlottesville any less worrisome. Oh, and don’t forget the emails and Uranium One. Yeah, you can try to make the left look like hypocrites, but all it demonstrates is that you lack any and all self-awareness to your defense of someone doing what you claim you’re against.
dwes09
Well put Xzamilloh. It is hard to articulate stuff when an ass like Kieran spouts off and gets one angry.
Kangol
Great job, Queerty, you brought the usual racist homophobes out, as usual. I hope you get lots of clicks and feel great about it! Meanwhile, Offset, with his “love” for all people and casual homophobia, can do like all the WHITE homophobes out there that Kieran, Jaxton, Ummmm Yeah etc love, and go f*ck himself.
RESCHI
And there are a lot of racist homophobes … they troll this site to spew their garbage. I always find it interesting, though, how often there are few to no checks on the garbage from (presumably) white gays. Just saying …
Xzamilloh
I get on Queerty for some of the things they report, but that’s not really a fair criticism, Kangol. Queerty often highlights the racist things Trump, his voters and other gay color-excluding white people say, and them highlighting Migos’s history of homophobia should be no exception. Racists are gonna racist so let those mouth breathing buffoons do what they do best… whatever that is.
the_ashpan
ha ha ha such a ridiculous excuse.
Erik
So what is the title of this blog? Oh yeah, Queerty. And Huffpost’s GLBTQ section is now what? Oh yeah, Queer voices.
Sorry, but you cannot legitimately scold this guy for using the word queer, when you and Huffpost and millennial pseudo-intellectuals have been legitimizing the word.
But there is a bright spot I suppose – you can now legitimately call him a n*gger – fair is fair.
Xzamilloh
Gonna have to agree…. I have long contended that no group “reclaims” any word because the minute it is uttered by another, it becomes hostile, meaning it remains hostile. “Queer” is a word I have never regarded as reclaiming and don’t see it as a positive, and I see Queerty’s name as a play on QWERTY (the keyboard keys) and as a playful use of the word “queer”. The N word as a black person, I have never liked and make the point that either everyone say it or no one say it, because one cannot argue that a word is spoken with endearment suddenly loses that endearment when another not in the group says it with the same non-toxic meaning.
Leave these dumb ass words alone, people… and let’s not pretend to be shocked at homophobic rappers. That’s like being shocked that there are racist country music fans.
ChrisK
It is not appropriate for you to use the N word. Try it. See how far it gets you with the next black guy. If you decide to become a white rapper then they may give me the honor of using the word.
With Queerty we all know comes from Queer. Not a keyboard. Lol
On a side note. What is it about porn performers always using the N word. Suck my co*k Ni**ga. Yeah, you like that Ni**ga co*k don’t you. Over and over. I was watching one recently and I started laughing. It’s kind of like if Jeff Stryker was black or something.
dre23222
Im taking up the group bc they may be homophobic and they are not attractive at all. Not one member of group. But not too many black people especially rapper say the word queer. But who knows they may have meant it negative so disregard me.
SiamSam
So rappers bragging about murdering people, degrading women and dealing crack is totally cool but NOW they’ve crossed a line by using “queer”? Talk about a broken moral compass.
Brody
Proving yet again that liberals are so enraptured by being victimized that they’re incapable of being logical.
demetreus
Yep, the racist trolls of Queerty are going to come out for this one…
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Clay83
And the black community will be the first to denounce anything racial that is said. When a minority is hateful it makes no sense, you know what persecution feels like but yet you do it to someone else.
Ummmm Yeah
Yep. Just what I thought. You point out violent black homophobia and how common it is the the comment gets deleted. However, Queerty will run at least one anti-white article today about how someone black didn’t get every trick they wanted on Grindr and what a victim that makes them.
Kieran
One thing no liberal will ever turn down is the opportunity to get a standing ovation for accusing someone else of racism.
Brody
Indeed.
tnguy222
Migos –“Crimestoppers” is hands down the best rap song of the last decade.
Hats off to you, Offset. Most of these petty, angry queens are racist themselves.
mslisowski
Guess his sphincter is as big as his mouth
GayEGO
Too funny! :>)
GayEGO
It seems like Migos needs to have his rectal senses satisfied!
Bob LaBlah
Well, I guess the saying that if your lyrics aren’t exactly bowling them over then resort to anti-gay lyrics and watch the money pour in. I see a queen in that pic,