Rapper iLoveMakonnen came out as gay Friday morning in a series of Tweets, while also implying he wasn’t exactly in the closet before today.
He joins a small but steadily growing group in the historically homophobic hip-hop world who are changing the face of their art form for the better. Just yesterday, hip-hop artist and Chance the Rapper’s brother Taylor Bennett came out as bi.
iLoveMakonnon wrote, “As a fashion icon, I can’t tell u [sic] about everybody else’s closet, I can only tell u [sic] about mine, and it’s time I’ve come out. And since y’all love breaking news, here’s some old news to break, I’m gay. And now I’ve told u [sic] about my life, maybe u [sic] can go life [sic] yours.”
Here’s how it looked on Twitter:
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As a fashion icon, I can’t tell u about everybody else’s closet, I can only tell u about mine, and it’s time I’ve come out.
— Oceanic Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) January 20, 2017
And since y’all love breaking news, here’s some old news to break, I’m gay. And now I’ve told u about my life, maybe u can go life yours?
— Oceanic Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) January 20, 2017
Makonnen’s first single “Tuesday”, featuring Drake, was a smash success in 2014. The rapper is signed with Warner Brothers.
Xzamilloh
Damn… I guess that girl in the cut wasn’t choosey… she was stupid as hell.
As it is, though, it won’t make a mark on the rap industry. Not unless LGBT rappers gain more prominence, or prominent rappers like Drake, 2Chainz, or even Bow Wow (HA!!) come out. As it was, Nicki Minaj played the bi card, and then walked it back. Frank Ocean is probably the most mainstream bi artist in the R&B/Hip Hop world.
EdWoody
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Kangol
He was outed a while ago on another notorious website, but good for him for affirming that he’s gay. More power to you, Makonnen, and wishing you the very best, especially happiness, self-love and strength, for the rest of your life!