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Hidden gay life of macho hip hop stars

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"A former MTV executive reveals a homosexual subculture in an aggressively male business.

American rap music is an industry ruled by machismo. It is a place where reputations are made by shady pasts, the aura of violence and ultra-masculinity. But now an explosive new book is lifting the lid on one of hip hop's most unexpected secrets: that many people in the business are gay.

Perhaps not surprisingly, many in the industry are nervous about the book's publication this week, fearing that it will expose some of the top black names in music and Hollywood as secretly gay. But Dean said that his memoir was not intended as a way of outing famous people. 'I was never tempted to name any names. The book is not about outing people. I wrote it so that people realise the industry has a gay subculture and we are part of this music,' he said.

That gay hip hop subculture certainly seems to be thriving. Dean's book describes a world where many industry executives and some artists are leading secret gay lives, which are often obvious to everyone but rarely talked about. And, despite using some false names, the book contains enough information so that it will undoubtedly spark off a frenzy of speculation as to who some of the characters are in real life.

For example, Dean describes 'Lola', a singer who is a lesbian and had to keep her sexuality secret. And 'Gus', a male rap artist who appeared on television in typical 'gangsta' style yet hid a secret gay life. Then there are the other hints of big-name celebrities close to the hip hop business who are also gay. They include 'Lucas', a married A-list movie star, and 'Kareem', a leading sitcom actor.

Dean hopes that by bringing out his book he will allow a leading hip hop figure to come out as gay and thus pave the way for the notoriously homophobic industry to come to terms with its secret side. 'Within the next year I believe a major artist will come out. They are going to have to be brave but I think they can do it,' he said".

Paul Harris in New York
Sunday May 11, 2008
The Observer
mischabarrett

46 responses // Hidden gay life of macho hip hop stars

  • great! Me too I think so! power flowers, peace and love is better I thinks! but no drugs... :-)
    insonya
  • It's unfortunate that "to be/act" gay somehow goes against the laws of hip hop. I'm glad that a book like this has surfaced although I wish identities would have been disclosed because I'm sure many of these nameless acts are the same ones who have engaged in gay-bashing via their lyrical content.
    lisettecazaret
  • Why don't we just let these people live their lives? If they're gay, they're gay. I don't listen to music based on sex, color, creed, sexual preference, etc....I choose it by the amount of talent put into it, the amount of passion for their words and beliefs.

    Groups like: Black Star, Binary Star, A Tribe Called Quest, Typical Cats, etc...
    Midnight_DevilX
  • I've always thought that the most vocally homophobic people are closeted; usually a case of 'the lady doth protests too much, methinks'.

    If this is the case, maybe it isn't surprising that one of the most vocally homophobic sub-cultures involves a lot of gay-sex.

    One thing that always surprises me is why being gay is often dis-associated with masculinity; what could be more masculine than two guys getting it on? Unless it's viewed as a case of two doubles making a negative?
    lwhi
  • It's really unfortunate that just because of someone's profession that they must hide who they truly are in fear of losing respect and reputation. I think this book has the capability to really change the course of the hip-hop world and probably the realm of gay and even straight-culture.
    Peewong

  • I came out at 14 in NYC in 1972. It was new, and strides towards a new freedom shot over the world. To be Gay is a gift - god deals in gifts - never shame - and people will always be repulsed by what they think gay folks preoccupied their time with but let me tell you, it's mostly animals and plants, and every once and a while, a wild gang bang orgy. Best keep your mouth shut until you reach Methuselah's age - I mean Ian Macmillan or Mc Kellen or be one the Bernie Taupin twins who gave us Sir John. DIGRESSING ;/;"Hey, what's up with this 'don't ask, don't tell? The military canned a few hundred valuable Farsi-Arabic interpreters and I work for free but they can't have my talent until they say it's ok by be slightly pansyfied, or design entrenched at the cellular level. Scott Utley LA CA
    nuclearmind
  • This may sound weird, but i always felt that Ludacris was gay. I never really see him with women. Not that that means he's gay. But considering the rapper culture, they all surround themselves with women, so I found that as either a statement or a way for him to be himself without having to say so.

    I like a lot of his music. If he or any rapper were to come out, I hope they're met with open arms. I don't agree with much of what rap has to say, but the art form itself isn't bad. It's a beautiful art form, I just wish it wasn't hijacked by idiots who feel guns, bling and women are there simply for entertainment.
    VSiskos
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bp0lXV1-iU
    @lwhi: Steve Hughes makes the same point...
    _Hayko
  • http://concreteloop.com/2006/10/ludacris-and-his-daught...
    Image...
    Don't know if Ludacris is gay or not but he has a kid. I guess that doens't mean much these days. A lot of these rappers have to keep their wives hidden too so they can maintain their pimp images.
    observer2121
  • Now try telling that to that "certain" rap culture that lives the rap culture life, cause I don't think they got the memo. No those rap thugs couldn't be gay.
    keeesha
  • But the way people deal with sexuality is changing. Gay is a label - some people will choose not to use it, but still sleep with men.

    Couldn't be gay? Perhaps .. maybe the label isn't compatible with rap culture. Couldn't sleep with men? I don't think so.
    lwhi
  • haha I saw an episode of The Boondocks that made fun of gay rappers...
    PaolaBear
  • It's a shame that these stars won't go by there real names. They could really make themselves out to be more positive role models than people make them out to be.
    MissJonaLyn
  • I'm completely exhausted by labeling something gay means it's inherently wrong. What a horrible life: to be stuck in a self-hatred profession. Homosexuals are a part of all professions. Some are strong enough to be who they truly are. Opposite examples are gay Republicans and gay rappers whose self hatred ruins them totally.
    jleemuse
  • Now I know what the Republicans and Hip Hoppers have in common. Besides, now I know why SOME of them dress so nice. Not to say str8 boys like me can't dress tight.
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • So what ? What about hollywood and the rest of the entertainment world ? People have a right to be who ever they choose to be.It's ignorant for any of us to feel different.
    keithponder
  • WOW

    There are homosexuals in show business?!?

    who'da thunk?

    </sarcasm>
    johnnyyuma
  • Who cares?These people are,for the most part, talentless copycats and what they do with their sexual organs just doesnt matter.
    squilla1123
  • I believe it's time of these black entertainers come forth and let black youth it's ok to gay and still be embraced by the hip-hop community.
    Dexcess
  • there was some special a couple years ago about guys on the DL and it was amazing.
    i can't wait to go pick up this book.
    i have a bunch of DL friends and it's just...
    well...
    my hear goes out for them sometimes.
    but most of the time i get pissed hahaha.
    ssppeencceerr
  • That episode on the BOONDOCKS was funny as hell and it was so true.
    Even Kanye West said that homophobia and the Down Low seems to be the norm in hip hop and rap culture.... although there would be some that speculate that the Louis Vuitton Don himself and musical partner John Legend are on the Down Low. But who cares? as long as they are not breaking the law, getting married and then keeping it from their wives, they are ok.
    Raven7
  • How's keeping from their wives ok? Poor women.
    Dexcess
  • No. These are all straight rappers like god intended.
    CarlosIsDown
  • Oh yeah PaolaBear, haha

    Riley: Ewwwww! N***a you gay!

    Heh, heh. *deep voice* thug love.
    CarlosIsDown
  • I know some people who choose not to talk about the possibility of being gay specifically for the reason that it allows them to get with guys who are straight-identifying (but sleep with men). Becomes a web-of-deception where no one will rat on anyone else, because they all stand to loose out.

    Some people seem to really like the intrigue and associated risk. I suppose being able to live out a double life is exciting.

    One thing is, that because people who identify in this way are never going to be forthcoming about it, apparently it's difficult for safe-sex messages to reach them. You have a 'monogamous' hetro couple who choose not to use any form of protection and, the guy is sleeping with men; sooner or later an accident happens, diseases spread and heartache results.

    As someone who identifies as gay, I find the situation sad, because this kind of un-spoken sexuality does nothing to progress societies acceptance of homosexuality. It's treated as unspoken and secret - sex is more frequent, but the possibility of forming a meaningful relationship is made all the more difficult.

    For me, the only benefit associated with 'coming out' was learning to accept myself; and life's difficult enough without the possibility of being able to accept the way you are.

    lwhi
  • Now that says it right-on lwhi
    jleemuse
  • Is being gay even that big of an issue anymore? If this book had come out twenty years ago, it might have brought some shock and awe - but now I think, what's the big deal? So, some of these guys are 'fake' macho men - whatever.
    patsarts
  • Dexcess, you're killin' me with the "I believe it's time of these black entertainers come forth and let black youth it's ok to gay and still be embraced by the hip-hop community."

    The "black youth" as you put it, are well informed about gay culture as all of us have a gay cousin somewhere in our family and we love him/her just the same.

    It's ALL types of people in the entertainment industry that probably need to "come out of the closet" per se.
    However, if they don't choose to, then thats their choice and so be it.
    kamalie
  • I wonder if the A-list star is Will Smith? I've never thought of Will as being a gay man, but he is the only rapper turned actor that is a current A-list star.
    rockman_blues
  • in an incredibly fake industry, is it hard to believe that these people are living fakes lives outside of work? And homosexuality shouldn't even be a big deal but for some reason it is in the US. I don't get it. So you're gay, what impact does that have on my life? Besides that, if you are willing to base your values and actions off of rap music then you more serious issues than finding out your idol is gay. Maybe you should consider the fact this person has a life of their own that shouldn't impact yours. Everyone needs to just get over themselves and understand people rather than judge them.
    alman365
  • there are some straight people who rap too, but they aren't going to be in this book. that is because they aren't really in the industry.
    phatmahka
  • “Well, isn't that special?" --The Church Lady (SNL)

    and what? no one cares for the fan who's disappointed? i feel for the groupies. =P as the rap industry is all about attitude, i'd liken it to finding out the Aston Martin you thought you'd love to sink into and drive actually powers like a cheap Ford Escort...

    the entertainment industry is so saturated with gay people I don't think it's coming out that concerns any supposed artists like this as much as it is their ability to generate income from a clientele that simple is NOT gay. that's right, i think hip hop people are keen enough to know if Cher is in town, any hope for their hip-hop productions are a lost cause on the openly gay crowd...unless they can fool the rest of us. =) Funny, how not coming out may not always be about discrimination =P lol
    echoz
  • Usher anyone?
    Scudettostarved
  • The entertainment industry is queer! I think shows like The Wire was on to that trend for a minute now. There were two gay gangsters, and where you would think it would be weird, it didn't seem all that strange. I'm sure the NFL and NBA is full of booty slappin' gay guys too and we know the WNBA is chock full of lint lickers. Let's face it. Whether or not we want to beleive it, there's a little bit of homo in all of us. Not in me of course. Lol!
    Neghie
  • In the 'End Times', people will call what is bad, Good ; and what is good,... Bad.
    chillwillNJ
  • "homo in all of us" ewwww... that sounds like "homo-made" propaganda (pun intended). Yes, and the axe is already at the root chillwillNJ...beggin' for it.
    echoz
  • I don't find this very surprising at all.
    As has been said, many times it is those who protest the loudest that have the most skeletons in the closet.


    lwhi -

    "One thing that always surprises me is why being gay is often dis-associated with masculinity; what could be more masculine than two guys getting it on? Unless it's viewed as a case of two doubles making a negative?"

    Indeed, I've always found that surprising as well...the logic is more than a bit stunted. I believe it works fine if one is thinking like a monkey.



    Neghie -

    There are indeed far more than would like to admit it.



    echoz -

    "and what? no one cares for the fan who's disappointed? i feel for the groupies. =P as the rap industry is all about attitude, i'd liken it to finding out the Aston Martin you thought you'd love to sink into and drive actually powers like a cheap Ford Escort..."

    I personally do not give a rat's rear that the fans are disappointed, and I don't think you do either.
    I'm pretty sure they have the capacity to grow up and get over it; there is plenty of other music out there if they feel that strongly...though, if everyone was THAT much against the works of homosexuals, they'd be trying to get rid of most of the Italian Renaissance as well.

    And the fact that you'd make that analogy is fine, go for it...but it's a not-so-subtle sign of your prejudice.

    Frankly, I can't understand the rest of that post...


    ""homo in all of us" ewwww... that sounds like "homo-made" propaganda (pun intended). Yes, and the axe is already at the root chillwillNJ...beggin' for it."

    A childish reaction, an unfounded conspiracy theory, and conviction of Godly retribution/ apocalypse, all in one short post...shweeeeeet.
    Humdrum
  • Gangsta Dresta:
    "Everyday its a new rapper, claimin to be dapper then
    the Dresta, softer then a bitch but portrayed the roll
    gangster, ain't broke a law in yer life, yet every time you rap you yap about the guns and knifes, just take a good look at the Nigga, and you'll capture the fact, that the bastard is simply just an actor, who mastered the bang and the slang and the Mental, of Niggaz in Compton, wattz, and South Central never ever once have you ran with the turf, yet in every verse you
    claim you used to do the dirt, but tell me who's a witness to your fuckin work, see ya never had no buiness, so save the drama jerk, Niggaz straight kill me
    knowin that they pranksters, this is going out to
    you studio gangsters,see i did dirt, put in work, and
    many Niggaz can vouch that, so since i got stripes
    i got the right to rap about that, but Niggaz like you
    i gotta hate ya, i'm tired of Suburbian Niggaz talkin about they comin from projects knowin ya ain't seen the parts of the streets G think ya started tryin to bang around the time of the peace treaty wearin khackis and mob while ya rhyme, little fag
    try to sag, but ya flooding at the same time,
    and your set don't accept ya, scared to kick it with yer homies 'cuz ya know they don't respect ya, So Nigga please check nuts before ya step to deez, motherfuckin Reeeeaaaallll G's"
    --Real muthafuckin G's, Easy-E
    echoz
  • Haha! That was to Dre, who still runs for cover from a fight. However, this doesn't apply to many of the rappers. Many of them do come from the gutters, with serious rap sheets, but where it gets funky is when you live in a mansion and you're still talkin' about bitch ass niggaz and bustas as if Baybay from around the way is going to roll up to your front gate blazing. At that point, you're simply glorifying a lifestyle you no longer have to live, but hey, it's the only way you're gonna get little Timmy from suburby to buy your corny cd.
    To Humdrums point, it does seem that to be gay is to be a sissy boy, and sissy boys can't beat, shoot or sell drugs like a straight guy, even if he's just talking about it. Perhaps 50 cent needs to come out and prove the world wrong.
    Neghie