Homophobia in hip hop?

(Before any haters start getting their panties in a bunch about this question, I only want to hear from people who know and understand hip hop. If you use this thread as an excuse for bashing, you'll only be ignored.)

I've defended hip hop, and will continure to defend it over so many different bullsh!t allegations, but when people accuse it of being homophobic, I find it a lot harder to come up with an argument against that.

Do you think hip hop is homophobic, and if so, why?

Also, can you give me any examples of songs/artists who have spoken out against it?

Homophobia in hip hop?graphics for myspace

Perhaps people thought this was dead but it ain't.

On the surface, hip-hop is extremely homophobic, beneath the surface, there’s a lot of interesting things going on.

It’s sad because there be should respect for all people in the music.

If you look at hip-hop in it's truest form emcees battling one another searching for the most degrading verse to defeat an opponent. One of the least original forms of dissing another rapper is to challenge his manhood by calling him names, non of which we will mention here.

Hip Hop is such a masculine culture, gay terminology is used to denote any kind of negative. It’s not necessarily being explicitly anti-gay.

I think if you try and sum up if an artist calls another artist a name in a song then moves on then that’s just beef with that person. If the artist is mentioning words as a whole and is discussing or promoting violence of any kind then that’s different and people can be offended.

An artist will come through eventually and put a dent in the sitgma.

One Rapper trying this is Tori Fixx a Minneapolis gay rapper on his third album

Homophobia in hip hop?myspace tweaks myspace.com

Eminem prattled homophobic lyrics, but did duet with old rug wearer Elton queen tantrum John..
I don't think any body's spoken against it...and homophobia in hip hop is just a reflection of society. Society does not accept homosexuals and neither will hip hop. actually pop has accepted them but not hip hop....kind of says a lot of hip hop...i mean where did hip hop come from? do the people who represent hip hop accept homosexuals. I don't know.
Rap stars tend to use the "other F-word" loosely, but i think it's usually meant as calling someone an a$$hole,rather than a derogatory term for a homosexual,though. I think it's more a communication gap than homophobia.
No I do not think Hip Hop is homophobic. Grant it Kanye has said it before, but he didn’t mean it in that manner of hating on gays. The true, “Man that $hit is gay” is meant as a slang to I suppose another slang (wack). So instead of saying, “Man that $hit is wack”…some say gay. There are plenty of gay rappers out there also…of course nothing mainstream….as of yet!
Lil Wayne and his classic player anthem "I'm gay and I like to bang men in the booty hole."

I think that is how it goes.

Actually, I am joking/being sarcastic. I don't think that hip hop is blatantly homophobic. Sure there are a few artists who may use the word "fag" or "gay," but they are not using those terms to bash anyone's sexual preferences, they are simply calling them out for being stupid, fake, a punk, etc. Remember, one of the great things about hip hop is freedom of expression/freedom of speech, if someone doesn't like what eminem or another rapper is saying, then they don't have to listen or buy their music.

As for people speaking out against it, I recall Lauryn Hill and KRS One touching on it briefly at a symposium or something several years ago. They were basically pointing out that hip hop is becoming an increasing part of our culture so it is important for artists to think about what they are promoting and portraying in their songs with the younger, more impressionable audiences.

I don't know of any gay rappers, but I am sure there are some out there. I know that da brat was thought to be a lesbian, but she has never officially come out.
I suppose everyone one has their views and it's easier to get it heard through music. I hate any kind of prejudice no matter where it comes. Yes hip hop has in the past been a source of that but i think it's due to image more than anything.

It's not just about homophobia, what about sexism too? I sure don't like being referred to as a 'B****'!
In a sense...

There are plenty of people behind the scenes that're gay. I mean, it just isn't accepted. It's taboo.

But, i'm sure there are plenty of artists that're gay or bi-sexual and they just aren't open with it because they feel as if it'll be a problem... And that may be so.

But it isn't only the artists, it's the fans also. Guys aren't going to want to listen their favorite artist rapping but in the back of their minds know they like it up the rear. Sorry for being blunt... But you know.

I also don't know of any artist that have mentioned anything about it.
Hip Hop is without a doubt homophobic. The irony is that gay men run the industry. The urban black community is homophobic (in general, I am not saying all black people are homophobic) and this is why we have some of the problems we do (the whole down low thing). Hip Hop is based on black urban culture and that culture looks down on gay males (lesbians are more accepted). Black men are supposed to be dominant, masculine and strong (I know gay men can be all of these things but we must remember homophobia is based in ignorance). Being openly gay conflicts with this stereotype.

He who protest the loudest. (if you know what I mean)
Hip Hop is all about the male bravado, puffing out ones chest, getting respect. Being attracted to other men isn't going to put you into this light and in fact calling someone else gay or a fag is a way to de masculineize another guy in the hip hop culture.
rappers talk about stuff they see stuff they here - so is hip/hop homopobic?

or is society?

eminem talks alot on gay people elton john still done a duet with eminem.

why?

because he understands it's apart of life and eminem is speaking about the world.
sorry slightly off the point but elephant man is a hip hop artisist... and i dont know but im sure tupac has a song against homophobia i aint heard one but i can imagine there is
I think hip hop is racist, homophobic, and degrade woman. But those things there is seen in everyday life so it's up to you to chose if want to hear it or not. You should not believe or bring to fruition everything you hear, its only entertainment.

I LOVE HIP HOP!!!!
its like when you say hip hop is misogynistic, its not everyone doin it, but its there. its those ppl's thoughts, not hip hop in general.
if an artist says something homophobic they usualy just mean a loser. just like some people use "gay" to mean bad at sports or generaly a wimp, not actualy trying to insult homosexuals
Elephant man is not hip hop - he is ragga!

Kanye West has spoken out about homophobic lyrics before. There was an interview with him on MTV. Rappers target a lot of things...they call women names, some rap about guns etc but then on the flip side you get rappers who speak about totally other things on a more positive level.
i will continue to defend hip hop along with you =D lol

elephant man was in an interview with a gay man about his lyrics and said he couldn't think of anything to rhyme so he started bashing against gay people cause it opened up a whole new vocabulary

REAL ARTIST? I THINK NOT!

I don't think that hip hop itself is homophobic

maybe a few artists can be homophobic but tha doesn't make the whole entire genre homophobic

eminem was accused of being homophobic but hes had a duet with elton john! and got along with him very well!

i think people have that impression because

●their songs are non stop about having sex with women

●they look so women obessed that they look so ungay they must be against those kind of people which is untrue!
the one and only ELEPHANT MAN,he aint even allowed in the UK,because of the views in this country protecting de battyboys

edit:err i think you will find that he is a hip hop artist,and ragga