Comments on: With Gen Y In Charge, A Gay Rapper Can Make It Big http://www.themarketingstudent.com/2008/05/18/with-gen-y-in-charge-a-gay-rapper-can-make-it-big/ Generation Y consumer behavior, marketing, advertising, Gen Y attitudes Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:45:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Holly Hoffman http://www.themarketingstudent.com/2008/05/18/with-gen-y-in-charge-a-gay-rapper-can-make-it-big/comment-page-1/#comment-257 Holly Hoffman Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:50:47 +0000 http://www.themarketingstudent.com/?p=217#comment-257 Rap is too aggressive for gays? What's more aggressive than pummeling another dude in the ass as means of sexual arousal (or vice versa)? I mean this tongue-in-cheek, of course. Here's the thing with my generation (I hope): Your sexuality doesn't matter unless you make it matter. If you hold yourself up as some pioneer in homosexual hiphop, then it probably won't resonate. But if you do some kickass mixes and your songs are worthwhile, we don't care who you f*ck (or love for that matter). Rap is too aggressive for gays? What’s more aggressive than pummeling another dude in the ass as means of sexual arousal (or vice versa)? I mean this tongue-in-cheek, of course.

Here’s the thing with my generation (I hope): Your sexuality doesn’t matter unless you make it matter. If you hold yourself up as some pioneer in homosexual hiphop, then it probably won’t resonate. But if you do some kickass mixes and your songs are worthwhile, we don’t care who you f*ck (or love for that matter).

]]> By: David Ronnie http://www.themarketingstudent.com/2008/05/18/with-gen-y-in-charge-a-gay-rapper-can-make-it-big/comment-page-1/#comment-193 David Ronnie Sat, 24 May 2008 09:20:12 +0000 http://www.themarketingstudent.com/?p=217#comment-193 I think it's pretty unlikely, but I think there's a very small possibility. Earsnot (http://gridskipper.com/65339/new-york-graffiti-field-identification-guide) made it pretty large in the graffiti scene and was openly gay since his late teen years I believe, which proves that homosexuality can survive and be acceptable within the street culture. I think the unfortunate part is that on a global star level, hip hop would never accept anything even close to the traditional gay stereotype and would mostly likely be as Greg pointed out, an after note once they'd proven themselves. As EarSnot elegantly states in the Infamy video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=F9v2UgHUHY4), "I'm gay and I'll fuck you up". Without that primal edge and strength, I just don't think it would be accepted. I think it’s pretty unlikely, but I think there’s a very small possibility. Earsnot (http://gridskipper.com/65339/new-york-graffiti-field-identification-guide) made it pretty large in the graffiti scene and was openly gay since his late teen years I believe, which proves that homosexuality can survive and be acceptable within the street culture. I think the unfortunate part is that on a global star level, hip hop would never accept anything even close to the traditional gay stereotype and would mostly likely be as Greg pointed out, an after note once they’d proven themselves. As EarSnot elegantly states in the Infamy video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=F9v2UgHUHY4), “I’m gay and I’ll fuck you up”. Without that primal edge and strength, I just don’t think it would be accepted.

]]> By: David Fallarme http://www.themarketingstudent.com/2008/05/18/with-gen-y-in-charge-a-gay-rapper-can-make-it-big/comment-page-1/#comment-192 David Fallarme Sat, 24 May 2008 05:04:39 +0000 http://www.themarketingstudent.com/?p=217#comment-192 It also makes me think whether some things are just "closed" cultures where certain things are disqualifiers (or prerequisites, depending on how you look at it). Who knows though. It's true, Greg, if a gay rapper was starting to make waves I would hope that he has more to stand on than having a unique sexuality in the industry. Although these days as long as you get Timbaland to make the beat you're going to cash in on a #1 hit, so anything is possible. It also makes me think whether some things are just “closed” cultures where certain things are disqualifiers (or prerequisites, depending on how you look at it).

Who knows though. It’s true, Greg, if a gay rapper was starting to make waves I would hope that he has more to stand on than having a unique sexuality in the industry. Although these days as long as you get Timbaland to make the beat you’re going to cash in on a #1 hit, so anything is possible.

]]> By: Greg Rollett http://www.themarketingstudent.com/2008/05/18/with-gen-y-in-charge-a-gay-rapper-can-make-it-big/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Greg Rollett Wed, 21 May 2008 20:14:42 +0000 http://www.themarketingstudent.com/?p=217#comment-191 I agree that hip-hop will not likely embrace a gay artist. I feel for a truly gay hip-hop star to emerge they will have to prove themselves first and then com out of the closet. I do not believe that using "gay" as a marketing angle would resonate within Gen-Y or the hi-hop scene. Talent still trumps everything. If he can spit, perform and hold his own, it's worth a listen. The problem is that hip-hop is so diluted with crap that he will really need to be breathtaking in his skills and delivery. I agree that hip-hop will not likely embrace a gay artist. I feel for a truly gay hip-hop star to emerge they will have to prove themselves first and then com out of the closet. I do not believe that using “gay” as a marketing angle would resonate within Gen-Y or the hi-hop scene.

Talent still trumps everything. If he can spit, perform and hold his own, it’s worth a listen. The problem is that hip-hop is so diluted with crap that he will really need to be breathtaking in his skills and delivery.

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