Snoop Lion, formerly known as Snoop Dogg, has stated that homosexuality might never gain acceptance in the realm of rap music.
In July of the previous year, artist Frank Ocean candidly discussed his sexuality, sharing that his first love was a man. However, when asked if Ocean’s openness signified a shift towards acceptance in rap, Snoop expressed that the inherently “masculine” nature of hip-hop presents challenges.
“Frank Ocean ain’t no rapper,” he asserted. “He’s a singer. In the music world, that’s acceptable, but in rap, I’m uncertain if it will ever be embraced, given the masculinity that permeates it.”
He further elaborated, saying, “It’s akin to a football team. You can’t be in a locker room surrounded by tough guys and suddenly declare, ‘Hey, man, I’m into you.’ That’s going to be a hard situation.”
Regarding his personal stance, he added: “I have no issue with gay individuals. I’ve got some gay buddies, truly. In the past, it was permissible to target gay people with violence. However, during the ’90s and 2000s, being gay transformed into just another way of life—regular folks with jobs. Now, they have gained acceptance and aren’t put into categories. They’ve faced similar struggles as we have as black individuals.”
Snoop also delved into his motivation for evolving into a reggae artist recently. “I aimed to create music reflective of my current life as a father and a 41-year-old man, rather than still focusing on my childhood and upbringing,” he stated. When asked why he couldn’t achieve this as a rapper, he responded that it wouldn’t resonate, citing his established image as “Gangsta. West coast, from the hood. Voicing for the lost generation – the gangsters and the drug dealers. I maintained this for 21 years, consistently, until I could no longer do it.”
Earlier this week, Snoop premiered a new track titled ‘Ashtrays And Heartbreaks,’ featuring vocals from singer Miley Cyrus.
This song will be part of his upcoming album ‘Reincarnated,’ which includes collaborations with Drake, Chris Brown, and Rita Ora, and is scheduled for release on April 23.
by Wallace McTavish
