Kanye West Calls for End to Gay Bashing

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:18pm

Sounds like a pretty cool guy. I might actually listen to some hip hop now.
Kanye West Calls for End to Gay Bashing

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:21pm

I saw that today too, but still, if he's really opening for U2 in Madison Square Garden, I think I'll be at happy hour instead. (Respect his views though!)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:25pm

Tiff, you're back! I need advice on Europe!

OK, I'll stop jacking my own thread. Check your PMs!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:29pm

wow--this is fantastic!!

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:48pm

Yay. I always thought he was one of the more talented rappers anyway :) Now he's 'cool'.

[mabel]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:52pm

I say, if he's at MSG, we at least give him a go on Saturday and play it by ear for Monday, Tiff.

While I haven't really cared for what I've heard of his music, I do appreciate his publicly taking such a positive stance.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:57pm

It is an extremely brave stance. And, if others step up (Missy?), it might just make a slow change--which would have a HUGE effect on homophobia in this country over time.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 10:01pm

Word, jrb. I think we also need country singers (who I tend to interpret as targeting a more conservative-minded crowd, unless I'm wrong) to take an anti-homophobia stand as well.

And Mabel, that seem fair enough.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 10:08pm

Bravo to him for taking that stance.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 10:35pm

The MTV special is on right now. He's egotistical, but I can appreciate his stance about gays.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 11:19pm

I have a lot of respect for him to publically take a stance against homphobia. It must take a lot of guts to stand against something that many of colleagues and I'm sure many of his fans believe in. Bravo to him for having an open mind. I might actually give his music a listen now.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 11:40pm

This is what makes me so sick about the posts around here.

"I might actually give his music a listen now." Ya know what? Don't do Kanye any favors. He's trying to show people that "gay" isn't the opposite of hip hop. The last thing he needs is a an argyle sweater vest-wearing musical theater quean telling the world how good he is now that you took a listen to his music after he made his "brave" statement.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 11:45pm

K. That was a little harsh. But whatever. I won't listen to his music. Better?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 11:52pm

He took a stance to maybe create a little change in HIS community. Not to appease people who would never listen to him in the first place but who would deign to maybe give a glance in his direction now that he said something they could personally relate to.

I think I was one of maybe one people on these boards who thought his performance at Live 8 was great. The fact that the man took his standard ode to bling tome "Diamonds" and once he heard about the diamond trade in Sierra Leone and how it has been the cause of widespread death, destruction and misery for almost a decade altered the song into a critique of the trappings of upward mobility shows that he is no fool.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 11:56pm

It's not the fact that I would NEVER have listened to him... it's that I never THOUGHT of listening to his music.

I was merely saying that he sounds like an intelligent person with a real voice and something to say, so he sounds like someone whos music I might actually enjoy. And from what you said about his Live 8 performance, I can add more support to that statement.

... and unfortunately I missed his performance at the Live 8 concert. I'm sure it was wonderful.

Really, there was no need to fly off the handle.

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 11:58am

Maybe it was all the gays who turned up to see Shoshana Bean open for Kanye at Hammerstein Ballroom a while back that changed his views...hahah

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:16pm

Yay for Kanye, and I hope others - like Missy Elliot, as previously mentioned - stand up as well.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:21pm

Tiff, there are several country folks who are pretty liberal and progressive, even if they're not running around yelling at people to stop with the homophobia.
Dolly Parton has LONG acknowledged her wild popularity with the gay crowd, The Dixie Chicks are big anti-discrimination liberal-schmiberals, and even Loretta Lynn has said her song on "Van Lear Rose" (titled "God Makes No Mistakes") is in response to people who can't even love their own children when something is perceived to be "wrong" with them, like homosexuality.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:22pm

Don't worry, TheActr97J, FindingNamo is just going crazy over nothing.

I agree fully...when I hear an artist say something smart, it makes me think their art may be smart -- which is a reason for me to try their music on for size.

However, Namo thinks if you wear certain kinds of clothes, you should be marginalized from already marginalized music. I guess we just don't think you have to look a certain way or talk a certain way to enjoy/respect those that are different than us.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:24pm

Next: Prominent rappers speak up against rampant misogyny!

No? Oh, okay then.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 2:58am

bwaysinger, good point. I stand a bit corrected.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 10:05am

I have actually been impressed with Kanye. While he is egotistical, he seems to march to the beat of his own drummer and think for himself. You have to respect that considering so many other pop/hip hop artists out there now a days are just driven by stereotypes.

Any update on whether Kanye will be opening for U2 at MSG during the October dates or the November dates?
Updated On: 8/20/05 at 10:05 AM

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:53am

who the heck is he?

Posted: 8/20/05 at 6:27pm

Believe me - if he spent any time on this board - he'd change his mind!!!

Run in horror, actually!!
Updated On: 8/20/05 at 06:27 PM

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 11:56pm

ooooh, I really hope he does open for U2... i'm soooo close to bribing my way to tickets, that'll be amazing... Kanye does seem like a really cool guy