NEW YORK - Kanye West says "gay" has become an antonym to hip-hop — and that it needs to be stopped.


During an interview for an MTV special, the 27-year-old rapper launched into a discussion about hip-hop and homosexuality while talking about "Hey Mama," a song on his upcoming album, "Late Registration."

West says that when he was young, people would call him a "mama's boy."

"And what happened was, it made me kind of homophobic, 'cause it's like I would go back and question myself," West says on the show, "All Eyes on Kanye West," set to air Thursday night (10:30 p.m. ET).

West says he changed his ways, though, when he learned one of his cousins was gay.

"It was kind of like a turning point when I was like, `Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I've been discriminating against gays.'"

West says hip-hop was always about "speaking your mind and about breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people." He adds that in slang, gay is "the opposite, the exact opposite word of hip-hop."

Kanye's message: "Not just hip-hop, but America just discriminates. And I wanna just, to come on TV and just tell my rappers, just tell my friends, `Yo, stop it.'"

West, whose debut disc "The College Dropout" won a Grammy for best rap album, will see his second record in stores on Aug. 30.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...kanye_west

Glad to see that Peeps are coming to there senses..

Respect to KANYE

Kanye is the master of Publicity. I wonder if he will comment on Stem Cell research next.



but then again seen his chart record? speaks for itself with every artist he produces and they issue a single. business is business. Prince might have stood a chance if he had Kanye on Musicology single. It couldn't have been any worse.

Trickology said:

How is it a publicity stunt? A popular hip hop artist denouncing gay-bashing in a genre that bashes gay people - he's taking a chance there. Most rappers would do that cause they would fear losing 'street' credibility.

Prospect said:

exactly.. this is not something the mainstream hiphop audience will embrace..

Trickology said:

Hip hop artists need to speak more about social issues. Im glad that there are a few more doing this these days. How long can we keep talking abnout the same 'ol $hit?

I'm not a big fan of Kanye (I think he's an egomaniac) or Hip-Hop in general, but I have to give the man props for standing up like this . Hip_hop is one of the most homophobic subcultures out there, and one that in many cases celebrates ignorance, so he's taking a chance saying this. But more power to him. (And how soon will some ignorant Hip-Hop buffoon say about Mr West "That muthafucka must be GAY hisself !"??)

People..people...

you arent thinking clearly.

It is a publicity stunt in part. He needs to fuel his record to sell giving them something controversial to talk about.He is taking a page from 50. It never hurt 50 to say controversial things, in fact it propelled him to being a mogul in Hip Hop industry in 2 years. Why didn't Kanye say that early summer? He may feel strongly about this issue but it coincides with his Late Registration release.

And remember in Hip Hop the name of the game is to keep you talking and have you as an artist/celebrity on their mind.

Kanye is brilliant at this sort of thing. It's similar to his statements about backpackers or gangstas

Kanye plays a amazing game of chess. And he thinks 5 moves ahead. I don't care for his music but damn look how he is making Hip Hop take his lead.
This dude got the highest charting record for Common.

Im interested in seeing Kanye's launch for Sa Ra and how he brings them to the public eye on his label.

Notice something else:

Kanye always has something to say every month or every 2 weeks. Kanye knows he wants the public to talk about him.

Im telling you they have meetings over this sort of shit.
50 cent has taken Hip Hop to a new level by playing this angle and now people are following the 50 cent blueprint. Just get people talkin about you and don't apologize.

Kanye is sincere in his message but it has a purpose why he said it now.

Funny how after getting to know a person who is Gay usually a relative changes one's perceptions.

"Hey this person's not a freak!, he or she is just as normal as you & me!"

PhilG said:

yeah....it shouldn't take his cousin being gay to come to this conclusion.

Trickology said:

But even if it is mainly to get publicity, I still will give him some credit for taking a very unpopular stance in his world. I mean, if he just wanted publicity, he could have said something like "It's good to slap a bitch upside her head every now and then" or "Keep selling crack. It's money that matters".
(Actually, I think many in the Hip-Hop would have applauded those statements !)
[Edited 8/18/05 14:34pm]

Trickology said:

I dont think you get it. What Kanye is doing could possibly fuck his record sells up. But as for as him rappin about something controversial, he did that with the "Diamonds" song and video - that shit got diamond industry heated.

And what Kanye does is completely different than what 50 does - 50 makes controversy by beefing with and dissing other rappers. Beefing and battling are a necessity and a factor in hiphop - battling is one of the founding roots of hiphop - but hip hop is not a genre that doesnt embrace homosexuality. Most of the hiphop listeners could likely turn away and not by his shit cause of this - thats just how it is. There's nothing sell-generating about what Kanye is doing. Its like playin Russian-Roulette with your career if you're a hiphop artist. How many male hiphop artists do you know are acutally gay supporters or perform at gay clubs? Very few to none. How many of them acutally accuse other rappers of being "faggots" - all of them.
[Edited 8/18/05 14:36pm]

jjhunsecker said:

Of course Kanye isnt gay.

he's just lobbying for a Nobel Peace prize. take that, Bono!

Trickology said:

Correct. Kanye is the Madonna of today's rap game. He's building an image to a) show himself as a leader among the alternative, "conscious" counter-movement against mainstream hip-hop (of which he himself is a member), b) convey a learned, "mature" image designed to make him last beyond the current era of hip-pop travesties, and c) jock himself.

check, check and check again.

jjhunsecker said:

preach on...i bet 50 cent is in the studio as we speak getting ready to throw an insult about how gay Kanye must be to speak out about this....

missfee said:

I seldomly defend 50, but I really doubt thats what 50's doing. It really aint that serious.

Prospect said:

yeah just like all the bullshit between him the game wasn't that serious neither...

missfee said:

50 & Game's situation is something COMPLETELY different. What does that have to do with Kanye? What are you gettin at?

Ooh! I hope he samples "Back It Up Boys" by Peaches for his next song!

if you ever go to allhiphop.com you see shit like this



Thanks Cam Even though this might be a jab at cam

The homophobia in hiphop gets worse and worse...reasons for the Dl...etc...

lilgish said:

No, wack rappers and commercialism is the reason hiphop gets worse.

lilgish said:

utterly charming.

Prospect said:

I was thinking the exact same thing....u hit the nail on the head...

Prospect said:

because 50 cent is just like a little kid. he goes back and forth talking about people in his songs that he doesn't like, like we are suppose to care or something. I'm just saying, Kanye is right, the hip hop industry doesn't embrace homosexuality, and because he is saying that, it wouldn't surprise me if 50 cent came out with a song and calls Kanye "gay" just because of what Kanye said...its just what I expect him to do looking at his actions of how he talks about people just because they associate themselves with Ja Rule or any of other so called "ememies" or people who are against him. It's how 50 operates...like a little ass kid. But i don't think he wants to start a battle with Kanye...he might sample a little too much, but he does have a way with words.

dreamfactory313 said:

He's hot...but my hamster in Holand is better!

missfee said:

QUOTE!

CinisterCee said:

missfee said:

I don't think he will but I wouldn't be surprised if he did. I can't help but recall the Playboy interview where he said:

"I ain't into faggots," said 50. "I don't like gay people around me, because I'm not comfortable with what their thoughts are. I'm not prejudiced. I just don't go with gay people and kick it - we don't have that much in common. I'd rather hang out with a straight dude. But women who like women, that's cool.

"It's OK to write that I'm prejudiced," he continued un-apologetically. "This is as honest as I could possibly be with you. When people become celebrities they change the way they speak. But my conversation with you is exactly the way I would have a conversation on the street. We refer to gay people as f****ts, as h**os. It could be disrespectful, but that's the facts."
[Edited 8/19/05 16:41pm]

Trickology said:

Man I gotta go eat dinner, but this thread is gonna heat up, cuz you're saying some pretty frustrating things right there. It's in every way a risk for a top-selling hip hop artist to come out and say something like that right now. To accuse him of opportunism just kind of sours the moment for me, a gay hip hop fan.
[Edited 8/19/05 16:37pm]

MendesCity said:

co-sign.