DJ Kayslay: Inside the Studio

I want to thank those that took time to come out and cheer us on (Medino Green, DJ Baker, Swanny River, King Jabbar, Soce, and a host of friends) as we embarked on what could arguably be the greatest step to date that gay hip-hop has taken—only time will tell.

Real hip-hop heads stand the fuck up! That’s what it do! The “Gay Rapper Throw down” on DJ Kayslay’s Streetsweeper Radio was a complete success! Everybody represented! Everybody did their thang! And everybody came away feeling like we accomplished what we came to do—even Kayslay!

Out/Gay hip-hop history—This was the first time our voices went across the airwaves on a major hip-hop/rap radio network—Kayslay’s Streetsweeper Sirius Radio—not just locally, not just nationally, but internationally! That, in and of itself was a feat! Like Black Rob rapped, “Like Whoa!” Don’t get it twisted! This was some monumental ish! (And not just because I was involved!) I can tell you for a certainty that many mainstream rappers and record label folk tuned in. Rapper Killer Mike hit me up on Twitter and said he’d be listening. He said, “If Kayslay cosignin’ it, I gotta listen!”

We all gathered in Times Square New York at Bubba Gump, where we had drinks and food, took a few pictures and then walked the few blocks to the McGraw-Hill Building where the studio is located. After passing through security, we were placed in a “green room” (a holding area) where they had a freezer full of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! (I was like a kid in a candy store!)

At approximately 7:55PM we were led into the studio, where Kayslay was already doing his DJ thing with his lovely co-host Dee Vasquez. We sat at a horseshoe-shaped desk, headphones and mic’ed, ready to go.

We’d previously agreed to who would rhyme first—Sonny Lewis, Bry’NT, Drew Mason, Last Offence, and Bone Intell. Once the music started, it was time for these guys to suppress the butterflies and do what they do—rhyme! (I think I was more nervous than they were.) I wanted them to do their best and show the world what they’ve been missing—and they did just that!

The critics can write what they want, but the proof-is-in-the-pudding! You had to be in the studio and watch Kayslay’s and Dee Vasquez’s expressions/reactions to know that these guys killed it. (Fuck what you heard or read!) My whole focus was watching Kayslay’s reaction/body language to each one of them, as they spit. And I gotta tell ya—Kayslay was feeling each one of them—nodding, smiling, laughing at their punch lines, grunting when they said something gutter or profound. Oh, he was feeling us!

The cipher—If you know anything about ciphering (rhyming in a circle), it’s never perfect! This is the beauty of coming off the top—off the dome—hip-hop’s version of jazz improvisation. It’s not meant to be seamless! It is the mistakes, the inconsistencies, the “hold up, give me another beat!,” the free flow of ideas that have never been spoken—the rawness of simplicity, which makes ciphering so interesting and special. When Drew Mason told Kayslay to drop another beat, (and to my surprise, Kayslay did!)… That’s hip-hop! When Lasto spit his verse and then started over—that’s hip-hop! Ciphering is not about perfection, but rather the ability to ride the beat, fall off, get back on that mutha and still rip shit up! If you wanna hear perfection, go buy the album where everything is mixed and mastered.

The comments— Kayslay opened the phone lines to allow people to voice their opinions. In his genius, he didn’t want the rappers to let on that they were gay because he wanted the people to “HEAR” them without the “BIAS” of homophobia. Most of the comments were positive, with only two that were outright negative and wouldn’t you know that one of them was a rapper. I think the point was well-proven that if you take the “bias” of homosexuality out of the equation, gay rappers will fair just as well as straight rappers! Thank you Kayslay for proving that point!

To you rappers; don’t allow negativity/hate to fuel your thought-processes. Don’t let one negative comment outweigh ten positive comments! Distinguish between constructive criticism and hateration. If you came out of Kayslay’s show feeling high, why would you let your “management team” and “critics” change your opinion of your accomplishment? Remember! Without you, there is no critic! Without you, there is no Khalil Amani! Without you, there is no “management team!” Without you, there is no Kayslay! You are the artist! You are the creator! Let them all have their say and then keep it moving.

Critiquing the Critic(s)—sometimes we need to listen to the edict given by Brother Jesus, who told his disciples, “Peace, be still!” Sit down and let the people speak! Shut up and let the (rappers) words “go where they go and do what they do!” In the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “So shall my words be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). You (or me) don’t know who your words touched in a positive way, so to speculate that their words damaged the persona of gay rap is sheer lunacy! Somebody out in the satellite world found their “Jesus” through these brothas’ words! Believe dat!

If you think, for a moment, that Out hip-hop’s image has been tarnished by these brothers’ display of wordplay and banter you are sadly mistaken and out of touch with mainstream radio and hip-hop! Calling this a “Minstrel Show?” Let’s kick da ballistics!

The Minstrel Show was an American entertainment style consisting of comedy acts, dancing and music, which was performed by white people in blackface in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Al Jolson is perhaps the most famous white entertainer to perform in blackface. Later on, blacks would also paint their faces jet-black and perform. The Minstrel Show lampooned (made fun of) black people in the most disparaging ways: as ignorant, lazy, buffoonish, superstitious, joyous, and musical. Are you saying that these rappers were “cooning,” “buffooning,” and “lazy”—the tenets of the Minstrel Show? Oh contraire!

While many diss Al Jolson for his blackface/Minstrel Show artistry, he is accredited with single-handedly introducing African-American (black) music to white audiences and fought against black discrimination on Broadway. Jolson promoted equality and paved the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Ethel Waters.

If these rappers put on a Minstrel Show, then let’s pray that their work has the impact of an Al Jolson! (Strangely, I didn’t read the Minstrel Show comment about the “It’s raining men” gay rapper show on another Sirius radio station. Hmmm?) I think this is a little bit of literary masturbation on your part—talking (writing) loud and ain’t saying nothin’.

Let’s keep it real! These brothas did more to dispel the myth that homosexuality is a “chosen lifestyle”—they destroyed the “Nature/Nurture” debate—the “I was molested by a relative” argument—they cremated the notion that homosexual men/gay rappers are all soft and effeminate. They did more stereotype-busting than all the scientific books ever written on the subject! Without fail, they all said they’ve known they were gay from the womb—from early childhood. Their comments were honest and brave! Lasto was articulate and Bone was downright street. Whatever your educational level, you got the message loud and clear! How’s that a “Minstrel Show?” That shit was EDUCATIONAL for a lot of straight folks who’ve been dying to ask a gay person about when they found out they were gay.

You want to enter the mainstream without answering the gay questions? Fuck outta here!

Not to mention that this is radio—entertainment! (Shout-out to Bone Intell, the M.V.P. of the show. By shows end, Kayslay was calling him “Bone” and saying he’s the realest nigga!) There was an element of seriousness and playful banter, which, again, was quite educational for the straight listener.

After the show concluded, I asked DJ Kayslay if the rappers could take a picture with him and in his loudest voice shouted, “Hell yeah, I’ll a picture with them!” The way he said it was an affirmation that he was proud to have been a part of what had taken place.

On My “Mickey Skillz”— Unlike Mickey Skillz, who will call your name and not give a flying fuck, I’m gonna air-out some things that went down in New York without calling names and hope that this can be a teaching moment for Out Hip-hop instead of some personal disrespect.

Brotha! There is no blueprint to this gay hip-hop game! If there were, Tim’m and Juba would’ve discovered it many moons ago! You almost brought the night down by telling us what your “management team” relayed to you. I know you didn’t want to repeat what they said, but you did. Phrases like “this wasn’t a good look for you,” “they don’t wanna market me this way,” “we can do some damage control” and some other ridiculous shit you were saying! Negro please! If you don’t want to be marketed as a “gay rapper” or a “rapper that happens to be gay” go on and do as your management tells you and excuse yourself of these types of events in which millions of people can hear your rap. Easy enough.

You had an international platform and your people think it wasn’t a good look? Let me tell you what’s not a good look! Smelling like a Hot Ghetto Mess (pun intended!). I don’t know what you are (philosophically) on, but walking around smelling like a sewer rat isn’t a good look! I smelled your funky ass in another city and gave you a pass, but evidently you’re on some “au naturale” shit and don’t believe in deodorant. So I’m-a tell you what your mama would tell you—tell you what your management team already knows—tell you what your rapping cohorts won’t tell you. You stink! You grown-ass, rusty-butt stinking ass nigga! Why the fuck do you think I opened the green room door at Kayslay’s? Because you were singeing my nose hairs with your funk! And then you commented that you like smelling boys’ locker rooms! This ain’t a gay or straight thing bruh. This is a perverted thing! I know good and goddamned well the other rappers smell you! Or am I to believe that this old nose of mine is super-sensitive? Nah nigga! You stink to high-heaven! I would’ve been embarrassed if Kayslay himself would’ve walked up in there and smelled your odor. Come on and join us First World freedom-loving people and start wearing deodorant, before someone embarrasses you publicly. I just saw a video where The Game was commenting on niggas stinking and recommends Secret (my personal fave too!). Stinking isn’t cute! Stinking is rude, foul and nasty and no amount of spiritual, afrocentric, or environmental justification can overshadow the putrid aroma radiating from your pores. The choice is yours; start bathing and wearing deodorant or watch your career go down the toilet because I, for one, don’t/won’t be around you and slowly but surely others will disassociate from you and you will surely fly solo.

Bro.! You were such a diva that night at Kayslay’s. One rapper suggested that we pray before going into the studio and you tried to shut his request down by stating that you were an agnostic (one who does not confirm nor deny God’s existence) to which you don’t/won’t join us in prayer. First, and foremost, had you been on a P. Diddy tour (or most rappers tours) and you would’ve said you don’t wanna pray, you’d be bounced off the tour with a foot in your ass! Secondly, this was, (and I hate to say this) my deal, some shit I put together! You weren’t calling any shots! And thirdly, you could’ve bowed your head and prayed to Beelzebub (the devil), the Ancestors, thanked yourself, or just took a moment to reflect upon that which you are about to do. Shout-out to Bone Intell for giving a great prayer!

And another thang! I see you like to regulate conversations. Myself and another rapper started talking about girls (pussy) and you said you were gonna puke. I retorted that we’ve been talking about gay shit all night and the minute girls come up, you can’t handle it. Well guess what? Every “Gold-Star faggot” has been in pussy! Pussy juice has been all over your face! You came from pussy, so stop acting like its Kryptonite!

And another thang! Stop devaluing other people’s opinions, whether they are about Kanye West or any other subject. Give ear and listen and stop being condescending.

And you brotha, it ain’t a good look to be on your celly texting, while Kayslay is about to bring you on the air! Show some professionalism. You should have your headphones on and be focused on spitting your best verses, not checking on some dick!

Like a father-figure, I’ve got much love for you. Be a team player or do you! Stop playing the diva. Stop being a pussy!

Where da Women at?

It was by design that I chose these gay rappers—men, males, strong, masculine. In your own narrow, homosexual world, some think that I should’ve included female rappers. No I shouldn’t of—this time! The biggest myth to straight heads is that gay rappers are effeminate, sweet, soft, and non-masculine. Enter Bone, Bry’NT, Drew, Lasto, and Sonny. They don’t fit the profile, nor the stereotype, nor the straight perception of what a gay rapper is—so much so, that Kayslay’s host, Dee Vasquez took a picture of them to put on Twitter to show how unstereotypical (if that’s a word) they are. They simply couldn’t believe their eyes and ears! Sonny Lewis—gay? Bone Intell—gay? Kayslay and Dee Vasquez wrestled with themselves looking at all of them! This is EXACTLY what I was going for!

Now I could’ve brought on Feloni, Fiona, Mz. Jonz, De La Cruz, Aquariz, Best In Da Game, Snoop (from the Wire), Kin4Life, B.O.I. Sha, Benni E, JenRO, Miss Money, Thuggie Taylor, etc. etc. etc. And guess what? They are the (straight) public’s perception of what a lesbian rapper is! (No shade) They all are “butch,” baggy pants-wearing, fitted-cap, dread-locked, bald-headed masculine sistas. Again, no shade, but it-is-what-it-is! An accurate stereotype of most females in the game. Where’s the lipstick lesbian rhyme-sayer?

Sex sells! When she comes on the scene, she’s gonna blow because she has no competition in terms of looks and persona. She’ll be in a class all be herself like a Foxxjazell/ Pam Jones.

So my lesbian/SGL sistas, I purposely chose to start this off with the biggest stereotype killer (masculine gay rappers), but I assure you there is no bias in my heart. I will definitely reach out to some of you in my future endeavors to bring the full range of what Out/Gay Hip-hop has to offer. I hope you understand where I’m coming from.

Now wait for my next ghoulish plot to put you on! Khalil Amani.