"We All In” cuz we all OUT
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 10:06PM May 13, 2009
Back last summer I was approached by Humility’s Hand (Denver) (then known as Bandit) about a collaborative project involving (potentially) eight emcees on the gay side of the Hip Hop game. The track already included some hot verses from Chewy, Humility’s Hand, and Last Offence, so I was eager to contribute to the track and offer and older school representation on the project. Because the UK, Denver, and LA were already represented, Humility’s Hand sought my expertise and insight to broaden the project. I also got my new comrade/lil brother J.A.P.A.N on the track to help me rep the South. Understanding that hardly everyone I love could be on the track, the other collabos were strategic for me. Tori Fixx had production experience and good flow and both Bry’Nt and Soce represent two of the more dynamic, if different, styles on the NY scene right now. I was really proud that there were gay rappers reppin' both old and newer schools in OHH, as well as the West Coast, East Coast, Midwest, and South.
For all of my seasonal pessimism about the lack of unity and all the catty backbiting and shade among OHH artists, this collaboration painted a different picture. We are all in and we’re all out. In because we find some sense of community by mobilizing via mediums like OHH to encourage, battle, collaborate, etc… We’re both OUT and OUT because by virtue of our sexual orientations, we are placed outside of an homophobic industry that privileges marketing and image over real talent. If most of us were straight or closeted, based on skill alone, I have no doubt that half of us would have deals with either major or Indie labels. If the industry really wanted to make GHH mainstream, they have the resources to paint a picture as captivating as Ellen or Elton John. Maybe it’s that gays are still afraid of “niggas” (or people who love “nigga music”). Maybe it’s that Hip Hop is terrified of talented fags. It’s likely a little of both.
There were other prospects for inclusion in “We All In”, but thanks to Out Hip Hop and GHH, there are tons of great collaborations happening. I knew this wouldn’t be the last of its kind, if the most vast to date. A question came up about whether or not we should add a woman on the track and that seemed shrewdly tokenistic at best. I thought back to a conversation I had on okayplayer.com with a few gay rap fans who lamented that the female side of the gay rap game was a great deal more solid/tight than what men have been presenting. As a founding member of Deep Dickollective,







