'My first love was a man' - rapper
'Big day for world of hip hop'
Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we?
Singer Frank Ocean, a rising star who is part of the rap collective Odd Future, has revealed online that his first love was a man, an admission of same-sex attraction that is seen as groundbreaking for the world of hip hop.
Ocean late on Tuesday posted on Twitter a link to his writings on his Tumblr blog page that described his coming to terms with his sexual orientation. But he did not specifically call himself gay.
The post, which music mogul Russell Simmons called courageous and a "big day" for hip hop, came as Ocean faced rumours about his sexuality due to content on his forthcoming album, "Channel Orange," that one reviewer pointed out had love-themed lyrics with the word "him" instead of "her."
The posting by Ocean also followed the disclosure on Monday by CNN journalist Anderson Cooper that he is gay.
Hip hop has often faced criticism for being hostile to gays.
Last year, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation singled out Tyler, The Creator - a rap star whose real name is Tyler Gregory Okonma and who leads Odd Future - for lyrics GLAAD said were derogatory toward homosexuals.
In the 24-year-old Ocean's post on Tuesday, he described meeting a young man four summers ago.
"I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide," Ocean wrote.
"... Until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him," he added.
The post goes on to describe the relationship as Ocean's "first love", although he said he had other relationships with women.
He described how he told the young man his feelings for him, but the man did not admit to similar feelings until years later.
Hip hop producer Simmons, in a post on his website Global Grind, called Ocean's admission courageous.
"Today is a big day for hip-hop," Simmons wrote. "It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we?"
The text of Ocean's post is described as having been written in December 2011. In a preface post on his Tumblr page, Ocean said he had originally intended to include the note in the "thank you" section of the credits for his "Channel Orange" album, which is due to be released on July 17.
Ocean's hit songs include "Novacane" and "Swim Good."
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iVolontiya
Frank Ocean is a singer, not a rapper...Report Abuse
1andonlybucs
so he's gay.. what is the world turning in to mara?Report Abuse
KeRataBasadi
Ricky Martin, Elton John, Luther Vandross, George Michael, Frank Ocean (if the article is true) none of these ppl are rappers but are/were gay.Report Abuse
Blogger87
Dear iVolontiya reading is a good skill that is nurtured from pre-school... I quote from the copy, "Singer Frank Ocean, a rising star who is part of the rap collective Odd Future..." They did not say he's a rapper but a singer who's part of a rap group - maybe you're confused by the word collective... Let's not read our own things please... Reuters the originator of the story is a very well established news wire or rather source... *hides at your comment*Report Abuse
SeshegoGuY
Selwyn, Amu, Pro-Kid, Pro-Verb, AKA, Khuli-Chana, HHP, Teargas, Mo Molemi, Tumi, Zubz, SkwataKamp, Driemanskaap, CashTime, Morafe, Tuks, Jub-Jub, JR, Zulu-Boy, Zakwe etc....Can One of u just come out of the Closet???????
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Bdoobs
A gay rapper will never survive in a battle, it easy to crush their spirit, plus they sisi naturally. I hope none of my friends one day come and say he's gay, I swear I will flip, all along you be shaking my hand like you my friend and now you telling me you gay...Report Abuse
MommaC
BdoobsCome out of the closet.
Only a repressed gay could be that fearful of who someone else sleeps with. Stop being jealous and just come out and admit that you are attracted to men. You will feel much happier
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SeshegoGuY
@MommaCLoL..
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T'dpole
what's Sowetan into nowadays, don't they have anything better to publish except this rubbish?how do you call these news that you expect South Africans to read? Should Beeld maybe follow suit?
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Bdoobs
MommaCI had to breath for a munite, I feel insulted, but its cool, I been told the same thing before, but then I know when some say something like to me they trying to get under skin, my a$$whole is still intact and I'm very wary how close a man stands to me, either from the back, sides or front.
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