Hip-hop is continually changing, and this applies to every part of it: fashion, beats, culture. One aspect which has been dominant in hip-hop culture for awhile, homophobia, also seems to be changing, or perhaps even disappearing.
The response to Frank Ocean's heartfelt letter coming out of the closet seems to confirm this, and also launched a discussion on the subject into the spotlight. Ocean didn't seem to lose very many fans, as his album Channel Orange still hit the #2 spot on the Billboard charts.
Rappers have been chiming in, the large majority showing their support for Ocean and saying that the time may be right for an openly gay rapper. Now we can add Snoop Dogg to the list, as he spoke on the matter in a recent article in the Montreal Gazette.
"People are learning how to live and get along more, and accept people for who they are and not bash them or hurt them because they're different," Snoop said.
He commented on how times have changed from when he was first on the come-up in the rap game. "When I was growing up, you could never do that and announce that," Snoop said of Ocean. "There would be so much scrutiny and hate and negativity, and no one would step (forward) to support you because that's what we were brainwashed and trained to know."
On whether or not a gay rapper could make it in the game, Snoop says what many have always thought: there is probably a successful gay rapper out there now. "There might be some openly gay rappers in hip-hop that's having success — for real. You never know. There might be some(one) right now that hasn't pulled a Frank Ocean yet, that hasn't jumped out of the closet to the living room to make that announcement."
What are your thoughts? Can hip-hop ever have a successful openly gay rapper?
