What Rappers in the Hip-Hop Community Have Come Out as Gay?

The world of hip-hop isn’t exactly known as the most welcoming place for the LGBTQ community. The genre has a history of making queerness a punchline, but thankfully, the scene is evolving. Let’s take a closer look at the stories of rappers who’ve come out as gay.

Odd Future has long been criticized for its homophobic lyrics, so much so that the band was booted from Australia’s massive Big Day Out festival in 2011, according to Billboard. That made it all the more shocking when, the following year, Odd Future member Frank Ocean publicly came out in a statement posted to his Tumblr account. According to NPR, Ocean posted the message after a journalist who was at a listening party for his then-upcoming album Channel Orange claimed that some of his songs involved male love interests.

In Ocean’s letter, which was originally meant to be included in the Channel Orange liner notes, the rapper spoke about having his first gay romance at the age of 19. It was unrequited love at its most heartbreaking. He was ultimately rejected after their fling.

He wrote, “Some things never are. And we were. I won’t forget you. I won’t forget the summer. I’ll remember who I was when I met you…I feel like a free man. If I listen closely…I can hear the sky falling too.” Watch the video for more Rappers Who Have Come Out As Gay. #LilNasX#LGBTQ#Gay