Lesbian hip-hop artist, Feloni spent the better part of Saturday. January 2 sharing public tweets about her upcoming CD, Love Spent, and her plans for it to be the last project under that name, stating that she “has done what she needed to do”
“As I’ve stated in the past, I’m not a rapper. I got in the game bc I had something 2 say, not bc I wantd 2b a “rap star”, I stepped in hip-hop & spoke my mind the way I wanted…not the way the media, industry or others may have liked. inspired a lot of ppl not only 2 come out (incldg celebs), but 2 pick up the mic as proud gay or lesbians w/somthg 2 say. hip-hop is ran, owned & controlled by men, but none of them ever ran, owned or controlled me…period….any man (or woman) that was intimidated by my music…well, that’s their issue…not mine…An intrstng fact is…since the release of my 05 debut of “Brand New”…69% of my albums were purchased by “str8″ ppl…not “gay”…I wasn’t surprised cnsdrng a lot of “gay” ppl that club R not really n2 hip-hop as they R pop, electro, dance, r&b- w/the exceptn of urban “gay” clubs where u’ll find more hip-hop played.”
Feloni’s debut disc, A Woman Revenge, released in 2005 on her own imprint, Trak Diamond Records, was a bold statement in hip-hop, period. In 2007, we discussed hip-hop in the gay community and Feloni’s own discomfort to side with lesbian labels at the sacrifice of the music on the Mandrake Society Radio podcast series. She was also featured on MTV LOGO’s “Coming Out Stories” and we discussed that experience of coming out to your real family on television.
On a recent MySpace blog, she stated that she never was a fan of the “gay hip-hop” product.
For the record, I don’t belong to any particular gay or lesbian organization. Some of them have been using my name, music and image to promote all types of agendas and stuff. Also, let me make it very clear: I don’t believe in “Gay Hip-hop”…I believe in “Hip-hop.” If you’re a rapper or lyricist, and you just happen to be “gay,” “bi,” or “lesbian” that’s ok with me. I support you 100%. Although they try to pin me as a “gay rapper,” I’m a female lyricist who happens to be lesbian. My point is akin to gays and lesbians who are fighting for “human rights.” They’re not asking for a yellow bus of special “gay rights.” We want the same rights given to everyone else.
As far as running around trying to create a new category called, “Gay Hip-hop” so they can eploit it, and profit from it, that’s them…not me. So understand that I’m not down with that, personally. I support “bi,” “gay,” and “lesbian” rappers and lyricists, but I don’t support creating a seperate category because what you’re actually doing is purposely excluding yourself when the goal is to be seen as a rapper or lyricist, first… otherwise you’re just limiting your voice. Speaking the “truth” is what qualify you as a rapper or lyricists in hip-hop–not mattering if others feel you or not. Being “gay”…”bi”… or “lesbian” alone does not qualify you to make the cut.
No release date was given for the new Feloni CD.
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I think we can all agree that Feloni speaks the truth! The problem is that in a utopian world labels would not be needed. But in our present world people, media, record industry, etc. label things as “hip-hop,” “country,” Gangsta rap,” “Back-pack rap”….. gay rap! You can’t escape the fact that most people will see her as a LESBIAN RAPPER! The problem is how do we embrace that title and make it do-what-it-do…. speak to all people?
I think most gay rappers, if they had it their way, would want to be viewed as a “rapper that happens to be gay.” But this is a far-fetched notion and highly unlikely in a genre of music (rap) that feeds into our basest understandings of sexual orientation. At-the-end-of-the-day, Feloni is a gay rapper! She can change her name 1,000 times, but as long as she spits on the mic people will see her as a lesbian rapper…. unless she pulls a Nicki Minaj and goes from butch to Barbie Doll. Appearance is EVERYTHING in hip-hop! You can’t dress like a dude and expect the public to not see your sexuality!
We’ve seen this before…. remember the UK Lesbian rapper MS. Fontaine? She changed her name to something crazy, started calling herself a man and we ain’t heard about her since…. a once promising lesbian Emcee. SMH!