APPARENTLY … The use of “no homo” by rappers to shrug off any notion their lyrics or behavior might be G-A-Y is actually doing more to free hip-hop from homophobia than it’s encouraging it.
Though not necessarily a premise we agree with, Jonah Weiner’s rather reasonable discussion is worth reading.
Beyond this, there’s a sense in which no homo, rather than limiting self-expression in hip-hop, actually helps to expand it. We see this play out in the rhymes and personas of the term’s most famous practitioners. Cam’ron and the Diplomats are, ironically, among the most homoerotic MCs in rap. They wear pink and purple furs and brag regularly about how good they look. In the video for “Pop Champagne,” Jim Jones and Juelz Santana giddily douse each other with frothy white geysers of bubbly. On Cam’ron’s “Hey Ma,” he describes having sex with a female paramour with seven vague words—”She was up in the Range, man”—but when the girl leaves, he immediately calls Santana to narrate the act in detail and, in a sense, to enjoy and consummate it fully. Similarly, Lil Wayne has been photographed kissing his mentor, the rapper Baby, on the lips and cultivates a shirtless, slithering, rock-star-worthy air of libertine sexuality. Kanye West attends runway shows, keeps an entourage of designer-clad dandies, and blogs regularly about design. 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.
sal(the original)
huh?…ummm,i guess
Kiwibird
Just like when black guys sleep around with their male friends, and after saying “No Homo” to each other both go home and have sex with their wives.
It’s not gay because they are only sleeping with guys, not actually having relationships. Totally productive to the black and gay community respectively. /Sarcasm
c0rpusdelicti
@Kiwibird:
That has so little to do with the man’s argument. You must be terribly embarrassed.
hmmm
Saying “no homo” still spreads the message that the last thing a man would want is to be considered gay. So any time you do anything that strays even slightly from the norm of masculinity, you have to follow it with a reminder that you aren’t gay? I still find it insulting, and I hate the new Rihanna song because of it (even though she isn’t the one who says it).
Kasio Q
This is what is so hilarious about rappers and male hip-hop stars, the contradiction. They are openly homophobic, and yet they engage in bitchy behaviour (put-downs through their lyrics) while being fond of wearing jewelry. While Eminem was being accused of being anti-gay, he was engaging in drag in his videos.
Joe
I can’t really blame black folks for this.
Especially since I ALWAYS say ‘no n i g g e r’ after eating watermelon OR fried chicken.
It just makes sense.
Whup-ass Master
@c0rpusdelicti: kiwibird’s right. Saying “no homo” and then flouncing about and engaging in homoerotic behavior/lyrics sounds less like a “gentlemen’s agreement” (as the author asserts) that flat-out, clumsy denial. It’s like saying “I don’t drink” while sipping one’s third martini. It’s retarded.
alicia banks
chocolate covered feces = feces
not feces light
hatred masked as a slogan is still hatred
homo hatred light = homo hatred
shame!!!
russell simmons said long ago that at least half of the hip hop community consists of macho homo thugs/dl/bi boyz anyway…
so
no homo = no fooling anyone…really
Sigh
@Hmmm
It always has to be the most contemptible conclusion doesn’t it? Yeah, you just knew he was never gonna hear the end of it for that one, as did Kanye himself. Personally, I hate-d the new Jay-Z song because of Rihanna. Love her voice but it really did suit vibe of the track at al. Granted the track is a grower, but at the end of the day, it was a business manuver than anything else.
jason
“No homo” is actually quite homophobic.
As for wearing furs, since when is this gay? Camp, yes. Gay, no.
The simple fact is that black music is riddled with homophobia, especially towards the male-male interaction. Black music is a patriarchal institution.
Chip
“No homo” is actually quite non-homophobic.
The simple fact is that white music is riddled with homophobia, almost exclusively towards the male-male interaction. White music is a patriarchal institution.
See, its just that easy.
Rowen
@Joe: I agree with Joe. I’m sure that these are reasonable people who’ve totally thought this through. Therefore, when I engage in stereotypically ethnic (doesn’t matter which ethnicity) activities, then I can totally emphasize my whiteness by claiming “No nigger” or “no spic” or “no wetback” (among many others) and they’ll completely understand and agree with my phraseology.
jason
Chip,
Exactly right. I commend you for your perception. Homophobia – especially towards the male-male interaction – is rife throughout ALL of the music industry regardless of color.
However, since this topic is on rappers, I reserve the right to specifically refer to the black music community.
Yuki
I really have to say, I think “no homo” is one of the STUPIDEST phrases I’ve ever heard.
Chip
@Jason
I’d be compelled to agree with you if I perceived hip hop as black music, which I sure as hell don’t. [Partially ignoring the inherent iffyness of the general idea of “black music”] While at one point Hip hop was was a potent voice and representation for the black and latino communities, (the “black CNN” they called it) the genre lost that trait decades ago.
Its funny how I keep being told how black hip hop is (usually by white people, cause who knows what it means to be black better then them? :\) but then I look at the facts:
1) The two most successfull rappers for the past decades were white artists; one I believe to be the one of the most talented rappers of all time, the other……
2) At its most critical stage, nearly all major hip hop labels were and even now continue to be orchestrated by white executives
3) And now for the clincher: the fact that over 70% of hip hop music sales are accredited to white suburbian consumers. I like to call it the G-Unit effect.
Frankly, the only thing black about the music is the majority of its performers, who while quite prominent only make one aspect of the entire fabric. So that’s what, 3 to 1?
I dunno know, I’ve just grown to become peeved at the “mainstream rapper=black people” formula that I so frequently see in the media, blogosphere and at times my own life, perhaps especially because its ostentatiously bunkus.
J
I’m black, gay and 18. “No homo” is offensive, I don’t care how you try to spin it. It’s simply offensive.
And it hurts me so bad to see the comments in here, specifically yours Joe. How can you as a gay man, who faces discrimination do such a mean, discriminatory thing? Any gay man who is racist or displays discrimination really needs to look at themselves. How can you be the very thing you’re trying to fight?
Yes, I know first hand how the black community is, how hurtful and disgusted they can make you feel, but you simply can’t judge the community as a whole based on those stupid peoples actions/ignorant judgments. You can’t. It’s not fair to those of who are in the same position as you, who want the same things as you.
Rowen
@J: J, I can’t speak for Joe, but for myself, my comment was supposed to be dripping with sarcasm. I don’t say those things and I don’t ever intend to say those things. It was to point out that should the tables be reversed, these rappers would be crying foul, though they feel it is ok to use discriminatory language against others.
Steven
Not to put a dent in your rhetoric or anything but wouldn’t the equivalent to no homo but no black? Its no homo, not no faggot. Or is it derogatory to say even homo again? Kinda confusing when you have gay-friendly websites and blogs with names like “Fagola Fad” and whatnot. But their not rappers and/or black so I suppose its alright.
J
@Rowen: Oh yes, I realized that your comment was sarcastic, and I do agree, if the tables were turned they would cry foul even though they have no problem saying something that’s hurtful. I appreciate your response, thanks!
Bill
To J @ NO. 16:
Really, bro? Realllllllllly? If you are too stupid to realize what I was saying there, than you deserve to be offended, ya idiot.
J
@Bill: Way to be mature, and what exactly were you saying? I don’t see your name anywhere in the comments. And you shouldn’t assume that I didn’t realize what you were saying, especially when the only post I “called out” was Joes. Try and be mature, no need to be an ass.