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class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ AlertMsage-jgAjgo bVCFRm jEGgOR bmhHIl alert-msage"><p>To revis this article, vis My Profile, then<!-- --> <a href="/acunt/saved">View saved stori</a></p></div><button class="BaseButton-bLlsy ButtonWrapper-xCepQ gJNxgH bSqbcl button button--utily close-alert-button" data-event-click="{"element":"Button"}" data-ttid="Button" role="button" type="button"><span class="ButtonLabel-cjAuJN bBWXSg button__label">Close Alert</span><div class="ButtonInWrapper-gFdzAL bPDyTT button__in-ntaer"><svg class="ButtonIn-YqaGo iwlhuX button-in in in-close" focable="false" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32" xmlns="><path d="M16 14.586l6.364-6.364 1.414 1.414L17.414 16l6.364 6.364-1.414 1.414L16 17.414l-6.364 6.364-1.414-1.414L14.586 16 8.222 9.636l1.414-1.414z" fill-le="nonzero"></path></svg></div></button></div></div><div class="StackedNavigatnSectnLogo-gMsxSu dwOfTV"><a href="/" class="StackedNavigatnLogoLk-byNqXP dmvHfj"><picture 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data-ttid="ContentHearContaer" class="ContentHearContaer-cGKRbE knDxNq"><div class="ContentHearHedAccredatnWrapper-GFiQf cDNVlV"><div data-ttid="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper" class="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper-cjmSKp eiGjZk"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubric" class="ContentHearRubricBlock-LmpbT tPofh"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubricDateBlock" class="ContentHearRubricDateBlock-kAQcZP fTFWxD"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric ContentHearRubricContaer-eTudtt iRsSlw"><a class="RubricLk-gRWSOU cwyjHY bric__lk" href="/entertament/mic"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Mic</span></a></div></div></div><h1 data-ttid="ContentHearHed" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearHed-NCyCC iUEiRd jdcWfa isouMH">Lil Nas X Praised Frank Ocean and Tyler, The Creator For Makg It Easier For Queer Artists</h1></div><div class="ContentHearAccredatn-lfctVB etVsnJ ntent-hear__accredatn" data-ttid="ContentHearAccredatn"><div class="ContentHearDek-bIqFFZ eijTxK">In a recent Apple Mic terview, the multi-Grammy Award wner also opened up about datg, g out, and his upg album.</div><div class="ContentHearByle-kmPyCa emiglw"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC rponsive-image"><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 80w" siz="66px"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 90w" siz="66px"/><img alt="" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></span><div class="ContentHearByleContent-dpPmNn DRFq"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl ContentHearByl-cZqgyJ bHLeKI"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH hdWCIC byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ByleLk-gEnFiw iUEiRd hSmufO skIR eErqIx byle__name-lk button" href="/ntributor/michael-cuby">Michael Cuby</a></span></span></p></div><time data-ttid="ContentHearPublishDate" dateTime="2020-12-03T13:44:17-05:00" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearPublishDate-eIBicG iUEiRd dCoEhu bDGyxQ">December 3, 2020</time></div></div><div class="SocialInsWrapper-hKMEXV ffgPVr social-ins social-ins--standard ContentHearAccredatnSocialIns-jorO fPzfaa ntent-hear__social-share"><ul data-ttid="socialInslist" class="SocialInsList-cHVTIA ivmblD social-ins__list"><li class="SocialInsListItem-mbhR fxaFQj social-ins__list-em social-ins__list-em--twter social-ins__list-em--standard"><a aria-label="Share on Twter" class="external-lk SocialInExternalLk-huuzOU blkfJb social-ins__lk social-ins__lk--twter" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" 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social-ins__lk social-ins__lk--email" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"mailto:?subject=Lil%20Nas%20X%20Praised%20Frank%20Ocean%20and%20Tyler%2C%20The%20Creator%20For%20Makg%20It%20Easier%20For%20Queer%20Artists&" href="mailto:?subject=Lil%20Nas%20X%20Praised%20Frank%20Ocean%20and%20Tyler%2C%20The%20Creator%20For%20Makg%20It%20Easier%20For%20Queer%20Artists& rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><div class="SocialInContaer-huXzUC pMzVC social-ins__in-ntaer"><svg class="SocialInNetworkInComponent-cZaKGz dlOAhZ in in-email" focable="false" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32" xmlns="><tle>Email</tle><path d="M6 23h20V9H6v14zm3.631-12H22.37l-6.368 5.661L9.631 11zM24 12.227V21H8v-8.773l8.002 7.109L24 12.227z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></asi></hear></div><div data-attribute-verso-pattern="article-body" class="ArticlePageContentBackGround-cNiFNN kJkLmH article-body__ntent"><div class="ArticlePageChunksContent-etcMtP bwyLBj"><div data-ttid="ArticlePageChunks" class="ArticlePageChunks-fLyCVG eOdfIs"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p> </p><p>When <a href=">Frank Ocean</a> me out as bisexual a betiful, raw Tumblr note 2012, right before the release of his soon-to-be crilly acclaimed but album <em>Channel Orange</em>, felt like everythg had changed. While hip-hop and R&B, had been monly wrten off as herently homophobic, the rponse to Ocean’s emotnal letter was mostly posive, wh many praisg the one-of-a-kd talent for his bravens and honty. As a young gay Black boy who grew up stgglg to reckon my love for hip-hop, rap, and R&B wh the homophobic sentiments often rattled off, Frank’s g out was a pivotal moment — one that let me know I wasn’t alone and that society uld be ready to accept others like me, too.</p><div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-mid-ntent" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-mid-ntent nsumer-marketg-un__slot---ntent"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><p>Apparently, I wasn’t the only young gay Black boy who felt that sense of lmg support followg Ocean’s g out. Durg a <a href=">recent holiday episo</a> of Zane Lowe’s #AtHomeWhAppleMic show, Lil Nas X, an openly gay rapper himself, revealed how much Frank Ocean — and his close llaborator Tyler, The Creator, who is also openly queer — has meant for his reer. Drsed a full Old Santa stume, plete wh silver gray beard and matchg unly mane (a look he playfully jok is his attempt at beg “lowkey”), <a href=">the multi-Grammy Award wner</a> spoke ndidly about the lastg impact the artists had on him.</p><div class="GenericCalloutWrapper-tojWn iezhXq llout--has-top-borr" data-ttid="GenericCallout"><div class="ContentCardEmbedWrapper-kULtsE iGAJsG ntent-rd-embed ntent-rd-embed--stacked" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedWrapper"><div class="ContentCardEmbedImage-iwqgVw jlIubp ntent-rd-embed__image" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedImage"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa rponsive-image"><img alt="Lil Nas X" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/></picture></span></div><div class="ContentCardEmbedInfo-bDftKl bGnSrq"><div class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentCardEmbedHed-kJVPGC iUEiRd gFmvMS cewqFA ntent-rd-embed__hed" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedHed"><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ContentCardEmbedHedLk-eXLwe iUEiRd gFmvMS hRaEiJ eFUKSb ntent-rd-embed__hed-lk" href="/story/lil-nas-x-g-out" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedHedLk">Lil Nas X Jt Came Out, and Mastream Hip-Hop Is About to Change Forever</a></div><div data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedDek" class="ContentCardEmbedDek-bA-DKch hXdQfY">The genre-fyg rapper is the latt Black man to brg queerns to hip-hop.</div></div></div></div><p>After exprsg his approval of Lil Nas X’s cisn to place risg R&B sger Kaash Paige si-by-si wh Frank Ocean <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> a playlist</a> the rapper curated for Apple Mic listeners, Zane Lowe asked the young sger how Frank Ocean factored to his life, as both a fan and an artist. “I thk artists like Frank, general, and like Tyler [the Creator] and whatever, they ma easier for me to be where I am, fortably,” he rpond. “Also, ‘<a href=">Provir</a>’ was like a very special song to me durg this relatnship that I was . So yeah, go, Frank! He’s amazg.”</p><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><p>At the mentn of “relatnship,” Lowe asked Lil Nas whether or not the forced stagnancy of the COVID-19 panmic has allowed him to explore personal relatnships a way he might not have been able to if he were workg durg a normal year full of prs, performanc, and tourg. “I’m such a loner of a person. Like, I hontly like beg alone,” Nas admted turn. “Sometim I’ll nvce myself, like, <em>no, I need more people!</em> But then I’m like, <em>ugh, I wanna be alone aga</em>. So relatnships, for me, have been like…,” he trails off before snappg his fgers quick succsn to dite how temporary the majory of his personal nnectns have been. “I gus ’s mostly bee I still don’t know what I want a relatnship or what not, bee, you know, I didn’t get to date when I was younger. So ’s fely tertg.”</p><div class="GenericCalloutWrapper-tojWn iezhXq llout--has-top-borr" data-ttid="GenericCallout"><div class="ContentCardEmbedWrapper-kULtsE iGAJsG ntent-rd-embed ntent-rd-embed--stacked" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedWrapper"><div class="ContentCardEmbedImage-iwqgVw jlIubp ntent-rd-embed__image" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedImage"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa rponsive-image"><img alt="Lil Nas X" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/></picture></span></div><div class="ContentCardEmbedInfo-bDftKl bGnSrq"><div class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentCardEmbedHed-kJVPGC iUEiRd gFmvMS cewqFA ntent-rd-embed__hed" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedHed"><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ContentCardEmbedHedLk-eXLwe iUEiRd gFmvMS hRaEiJ eFUKSb ntent-rd-embed__hed-lk" href="/story/lil-nas-x-g-out-guardian-terview" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedHedLk">“I Planned to Die Wh the Secret”: Lil Nas X Opens Up About Comg Out</a></div><div data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedDek" class="ContentCardEmbedDek-bA-DKch hXdQfY">The “Old Town Road” mician also plans to “explore” his queer inty his but album.</div></div></div></div><p>Robbed childhoods me up aga as the rapper talked about g quarante to “strengthen my relatnship wh myself.” Nas nfs that he had a history wh self-hatred his youth, somethg many queer kids n relate to. “I grew up a lot havg this hidn self-hatred for myself and not even realizg that was there,” he begs. “And I gus havg somethg where I n be super creative and exprs myself has fely brought forward how much, no matter what happens, I’m always gog to be there for myself.” As such, the rapper is proud that he’s been able to ternalize this self-sufficient realy, spendg the past few months of the panmic “learng to love myself more and realizg that sometim I wasn’t dog that, jt beg more nfint what I’m dog and blockg out anybody’s negativy.” As he lets off, “If ’s not good crique, then ’s not for me.”</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB kNleGZ sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="hrwr1"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="j41nodd"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>Of urse, Lil Nas X has been on a journey of self-disvery ever sce <a href=">he me out</a> at the peak of his populary followg the succs of “Old Town Road” 2019. “I hontly feel like I have my angels wh me at all tim. I jt felt like, <em>okay, ’s time to do this thg</em>. Bee ’s like, I’m already movg forward and I’m beg more ee wh everythg I do, so let’s take this to the next level and do this,” he told Lowe. “It was eher gog to be that or what? Pretend this for the rt of my entire life and also not be able to exprs that what I do, my mic?”</p><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad---ntent"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot---ntent" data-no-id="cj0x"></div></div><p>Perhaps the most excg reveal of Lil Nas X’s chat wh Lowe had to do wh his hotly anticipated, currently untled but album. “This album exuberat nfince, creativy, jt me pletely steppg out of my fort zone, sayg whatever I want, and givg my actual stori, givg my fans somethg to take om me,” he said. That n already be felt the album’s first sgle, “<a href=">Holiday</a>,” where the rapper is unaaid to heavily reference his now-public sexual orientatn, whether he’s jokg about bottomg “<a href=">on the low</a>” or talkg about <a href=">the doors he had to knock down</a> to achieve succs. Lil Nas X teas that this album will mark a huge pivot towards the personal parison to his chart-toppg <em>7 EP</em> om last year. “<em>7</em> was ol. I love <em>7</em>. It’s great,” he says. “But wasn’t personal enough and I feel like that’s exactly what this album is gonna brg.”</p><p>Check out Zane Lowe’s full nversatn wh Lil Nas X below.</p><figure data-ttid="IameEmbed" class="IameEmbedWrapper-sc-dRedg hZiq iame-embed"><div data-ttid="IameEmbedContaer" class="IameEmbedContaer-hptgUZ gwYBCr"><div class="IameEmbedAspectRatWrapper-hFVJps kaOLzO"><iame class="IameEmbedContent-cMdiev csnuAY IameEmbedContent lazyload" height="270" width="480" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-popups allow-same-orig" tle="Embedd Frame" data-src=" allow="toplay *; encrypted-media *; clipboard-wre; toplay; fullscreen; picture--picture"></iame></div></div></figure><p><em><strong>Get the bt of what’s queer.</strong></em> <a href=">Sign up for <em>them</em>.'s weekly newsletter here.</a></p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="1hd2to"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 PaywallInleBarrierWhWrapperGrid-fyrGfS kLQIUk grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__le-barrier article__body"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"><asi class="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper-iBnuqk lfXXa-D" data-ttid="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper"><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--paywall-le-barrier" role="prentatn" aria-live="pole" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--paywall-le-barrier"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></asi></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ContentWrapperGrid-fvkmBv brYtrA grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__ntaer"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"></div></div></div></div></div></div></article><div class="ContentFooterWrapper-jVNdRG dTJkpP ArticlePageContentFooterGrid-ccsXYy eMZRHU article-body__footer"><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div data-ttid="TagCloudWrapper" class="TagCloudWrapper-gGgndx jkqdij ContentFooterTagCloud-krQmRG ZLGh"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudSectnHear-cOforY iUEiRd chxZaG kQQRmu">Tags</span><a href="/tags/lil-nas-x" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">Lil Nas X</span></a><a href="/tags/ank-ocean" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">Frank Ocean</span></a><a href="/tags/g-out" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">g out</span></a><a href="/tags/rap" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">rap</span></a><a href="/tags/hip-hop" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">hip hop</span></a></div></div></div></div><div data-ttid="ContentFooterBottom" class="ContentFooterBottom-jwWZfC kcbyiW"><div class="ntent-bottom-anchor"></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-footer" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-footer"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="recirc-list-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan ContentFooterRelated-kEBiFe kVUuwq"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK eRggVV grid grid-margs grid-ems-0 SummaryCollectnGridComponent-ktyEog bdTTVU summary-llectn-grid RecircListDefltOverlaySummaryCollectnGrid-AHJhY bEaXiL recirc-list__ems summary-llectn-grid--four-lumns summary-llectn-grid--TextBelowLeft"><div class="GridItem-buujkM kHPPIF grid--em"><div class="SummaryCollectnGridContent-eVUpRm gOErDJ"><div class="SectnTleRoot-dBGvdq iEHvtl SummaryCollectnGridSectnTle-fCmYwG izjbVn" data-ttid="SectnTle"><hear class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ SectnTleHed-dKqZet dxqEAa dvxNrX jttyjJ">Read More</hear></div><div class="SummaryCollectnGridItems-DZShR jbbmwr hi-read-more-ad" data-ttid="SummaryCollectnGridItems"><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/lil-nas-x-new-mic-vio-holiday-michael-j-fox" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Lil Nas X Teas New Song “Holiday” Wh a Wild Vio Starrg Michael J. Fox" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Mic</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/lil-nas-x-new-mic-vio-holiday-michael-j-fox" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Lil Nas X Teas New Song “Holiday” Wh a Wild Vio Starrg Michael J. Fox</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Michelle Hyun Kim</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/ank-ocean-lu-guadagno-llaboratn" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-2" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Frank Ocean and Lu Guadagno Worked on Mic Vio Together, Director Says" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Mic</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-2" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/ank-ocean-lu-guadagno-llaboratn" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Frank Ocean and Lu Guadagno Worked on Mic Vio Together, Director Says</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Michelle Hyun Kim</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/ank-ocean-prep-party" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Was 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class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Michelle Hyun Kim</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO ad ad--read-more"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--read-more" data-no-id="u4ekqk"></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below 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320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="7 Queer Moments om the 2020 Grammy Awards" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Mic</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/7-queer-moments-grammy-awards-2020" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">7 Queer Moments om the 2020 Grammy Awards</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Michael Cuby</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryCollectnGridToActnWrapper-gnReGN eGayfk"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="TaboolaWrapper-hMVdpE iYfBhy"><div class="TaboolaWidgetWrapper-egPIjc hkSrgt TaboolaWidget-eUSdED hQCCRa" data-ttid="TaboolaWidgetWrapper"><div 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frank ocean openly gay

Ocean is the first openly gay mician to headle Coachella, one of the largt and most important mic ftivals the world.

Contents:

FRANK OCEAN: ‘I CRIED THE NIGHT I ME OUT AS GAY’

" "Frank Ocean Com Out and Be the First Gay Rapper History.

FRANK OCEAN’S LGBT MASTERPIECE: THE RADIL QUEERNS OF ‘BLON’UNKNOWABLEFRANK OCEAN’S SEND ALBUM REF FN. IT BENDS GENRE, TIME, AND GENR, ALL THE SERVICE OF STAYG TE TO HIMSELF. MIC IS ALL THE BETTER FOR .AMY ZIMMERMANENTERTAMENT REPORTERUPDATED APR. 13, 2017 3:07PM EDT / PUBLISHED AUG. 25, 2016 1:00AM EDT FILMMAGICLIKE MANY OUTSIRS, FRANK OCEAN BETRAYS AN OBSSN WH INTI AND OBJECTS JT BEYOND HIS REACH. IN AN EXCERPT OM THE BOYS DON’T CRY MAGAZE RELEASED LAST WEEK ALONGSI AN ALBUM, BLON, A VISUAL ALBUM, ENDLS, AND A MIC VIO FOR THE SONG “NIK,” OCEAN WR ABOUT AN IMAGE OF A YOUNG GIRL A R. “I PUT MYSELF HER SEAT THEN I PLAYED ALL OUT MY HEAD. THE CLSTROPHOBIA HS AS THE SEATBELT TIGHTENS, PREVENTG ME OM EVEN LEANG FORWARD MY SEAT. THE PRSG ON TERNAL ANS. I LEAN BACK AND FORWARD TO RELEASE . THEN BACKWARDS AND FORWARD AGA. THERE IS—I GOT EE.” LATER THE NOTE, HE REMEMBERS, “RAF SIMONS ONCE TOLD ME WAS CLICHé, MY WHOLE R OBSSN. MAYBE LKS TO A EP SUBNSC STRAIGHT BOY FANTASY. CONSCLY THOUGH, I DON’T WANT STRAIGHT—A LTLE BENT IS GOOD.” OCEAN IS SCRIBG HIS R FANATICISM, AN OBSSN THAT HAS FED HIM, WHILE SIMULTANEOLY ARTICULATG A EP ALIENATN. HE DO NOT F THE STEREOTYPE OF THE STRAIGHT, SUBURBAN BOY WH AN ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE OF TOMOBIL. IN FACT, HE SEEMGLY FDS EASIER TO ACCS HIS MEMORI THROUGH THE FIGURE OF THE YOUNG GIRL, WHOSE SEATBELT VOK A GUT MEMORY OF ENTRAPMENT. TO SAY THAT BLON IS NOT STRAIGHT IS AN UNRSTATEMENT. THE ALBUM—ALONG WH THE VISUAL ALBUM, ART MAGAZE, AND “NIK” VIO—BENDS GENRE, BENDS GENR, AND BENDS TIME. OCEAN DRIV HIS R ACROSS UNTRI AND S, MEANRG, AND ZIG-ZAGGG. RETURNG AGA AND AGA TO SCEN OM HIS CHILDHOOD AND ADOLCENCE, OCEAN LEAV LEARY BY THE SI OF THE ROAD. MIC BE A VEHICLE PABLE OF IMPOSSIBLE MOVEMENT, RRYG SI A THOUGHT, SI A MOMENT, SI A FANTASY. BLON’S UNNVENTNAL NARRATIVE MIRRORS THE REAL-LIFE STORY OF HOW THE ALBUM GOT HERE, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT FORMS HAS TAKEN THROUGHOUT S EXTEND GTATN. SCE THE RELEASE OF HIS LAST ALBUM CHANNEL ORANGE 2012, OCEAN HAS BEEN TEASG AT THIS RETURN, RELEASG VAR RELEASE DAT ONLY TO ABANDON THEM. THE JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN BURNED BY BROKEN PROMIS AND THE FANS WHO HAVE EAGERLY AWAED OCEAN’S SOPHOMORE ALBUM HAVE NMNED THE SGER AS OUTRAGEOLY, UNNECSARILY EVASIVE. PERFECTNISM IS ONE THG, BUT WHAT’S THE POT OF SETTG ADL ONLY TO FY THEM? OR BUILDG A STAIRSE WHEN YOU SHOULD BE MAKG MIC? OR STEPPG SO FAR OUT OF GENRE THAT HALF THE TRACKS ON YOUR ALBUM DON’T EVEN HAVE A DM BEAT? FRANK OCEAN DASH EXPECTATNS AND REF FNS FOR A REASON. HIS PHOBIA OF LABELS AND LIMS ISN’T JT AN AFFECTATN—S SENTIAL TO HIS ART AND HIS SELF-EXPRSN. IN 2012, ON THE CP OF CHANNEL ORANGE’S RELEASE, THE CRILLY ACCLAIMED ARTIST PUBLISHED A SCRIPTN OF HIS FIRST LOVE, A MALE IEND WHO DIDN’T ROMANTILLY RECIPROTE. OCEAN’S SEXUALY IS, AS HE SCRIB , “DYNAMIC”—A SELF-ASSSMENT THAT HASN’T STOPPED JOURNALISTS OM PIGEONHOLG HIM AS BISEXUAL OR GAY. THIS REFAL OF NVENTNAL TERMS IS BEG MORE AND MORE MON AMONG YOUNGER GENERATNS, WHO CREASGLY REJECT BARY NSTCTS. DYNAMISM IS AT THE HEART OF BOTH THE ARTIST AND HIS OVRE. IT’S ALSO PART OF AN EVER-EVOLVG FN OF QUEERNS. JT LIKE BLON, WHICH REF TO STAND STILL, QUEERNS IS LS OF A LOTN OR ENDPOT AND MORE OF A HORIZON. IN THE WORDS OF QUEER THEORIST JOSé MUñOZ, “QUEERNS IS NOT YET HERE… PUT ANOTHER WAY, WE ARE NOT YET QUEER. WE MAY NEVER TOUCH QUEERNS.” HERE QUEERNS IS FED NOT BY A STATN OR A TERM, BUT BY NSTANT MOTN. FOR OCEAN, THIS THEORIZATN IS TANTAMOUNT. AS OCEAN TOLD GQ 2012 REGARDS TO HIS UNTEGORIZED SEXUALY AND MIC, “I’M GIVG YOU WHAT I FEEL LIKE YOU N FEEL… THE OTHER SH, YOU N’T FEEL. YOU N’T FEEL A BOX. YOU N’T FEEL A LABEL.” BY REFG TO CLAIM AN INTY, HE RERV THE RIGHT TO NSTANTLY REFE.THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT BLON FULLY EVAS THE QUTN OF HOMOSEXUALY. IN “GOOD GUY,” OCEAN CROONS ABOUT BEG TAKEN ON A DATE TO A “GAY BAR.” THE DATE THEN FIZZL TO ROMANTIC DISAPPOTMENT: “I KNOW YOU DON’T NEED ME RIGHT NOW / AND TO YOU ’S JT A LATE NIGHT OUT.” OCEAN’S LGBT FLUENC ARE ALSO ON DISPLAY “AMBIENCE 001: IN A CERTA WAY,” A SHORT TERLU ON ENDLS THAT SAMPL THE VOICE OF INIC DRAG QUEEN CRYSTAL LABEIJA. BUT OCEAN REFERENC BCH JT AS OFTEN AS HE REFERENC BOYS. IT’S THE KD OF IRREVERENCE AND MUTABILY THAT MAK OCEAN SUCH A DIFFICULT GAY IN, AND SUCH AN TRIGUG QUEER ONE. FRANK DO NOT SEEM CLED TO TAKE ON ANY RPONSIBILI AS THE HIP-HOP WORLD’S PRE-EMENT GAY ARTIST—A LABEL HE’S NEVER CLAIMED AND DO NOT SEEM LIKELY TO. WHILE HE WROTE ELOQUENTLY AND OPENLY ON THE ORLANDO PULSE SHOOTG, BLON DON’T NTA ANY SIARLY POLIL GAY STATEMENTS OR LOGI. THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM, VISUAL ALBUM, AND MAGAZE, HE SEEMS MORE PREOCCUPIED WH DISORIENTATN THAN ORIENTATN. WHILE APPLE MIC LISTS THE ALBUM AS BLON, THE VER ART READS BLOND. THIS TERCHANGEABLE MASCULE AND FEME IS AT THE HEART OF THE VIO FOR “NIK,” A SONG NAMED AFTER A TRADNALLY MASCULE HIP-HOP FETISH. THE VIO WEAV TOGETHER SHOTS OF OCEAN GLTER AND HEAVY MAKP WH NU MEN AND WOMEN, DANCG ANGEL WGS. OCEAN’S ABILY TO SAMPLE OM GENRED ATHETICS AND EXPECTATNS EVEN AS HE PULLS OM VAR GENR AND DULG MULTIPLE MEDIA REVEALS HIS UNFLCHG MMENT TO FLEXIBILY ALL THGS. AND WHILE FRANK MAK THIS RTLSNS LOOK LIKE ART, AND EVEN MAK LOOK LIKE FUN, ’S MORE THAN JT LIGHTHEARTED EXPERIMENTATN. TO FE ONELF LEADS TO PRSUR AND RPONSIBILI—TO PRODUCE ANOTHER CHANNEL ORANGE, OR TO PEN THE NEXT GAY ANTHEM. ON “NIK,” OCEAN SHOUTS OUT TRAYVON MART, MG, “THAT N**** LOOKED JT LIKE ME.” INTI, OM RACE TO SEXUAL ORIENTATN, N TRAP, FE, EVEN KILL. ARTISTILLY, THEY N STAGNATE. AND SO, OCEAN KEEPS MOVG, CG OVER 40 MIL NTRIBUTORS ON AN ALBUM THAT REF TEGORIZATN OR IOLOGIL -OPTN.OF URSE, THE WAY OCEAN APPROACH QUEERNS IS PARTLY PRAGMATIC. HIP-HOP HAS NEVER HAD A GAY SUPERSTAR. AS A MUNY, THE HIP-HOP WORLD IS STILL PLAGUED BY HOMOPHOBIA, AND PROHIBIVE MOLDS OF MASCULY. WHILE MALE RAPPERS ARE EXPECTED TO ABI BY CERTA NVENTNS, THERE APPEARS TO BE A LOOPHOLE FOR MCS WHO HAVE EXPAND THEIR ARTISTIC REACH. ONE EXAMPLE IS YOUNG THUG, A RAPPER WHO WAS FEATURED CALV KLE’S AUTUMN/WTER 2016 MPAIGN. IN A VIO FOR THE BRAND, YOUNG THUG SPOKE TO HIS PENCHANT FOR PULLG OUTFS OM MENSWEAR AND WOMENSWEAR, EXPLAG, “I FEEL LIKE THERE IS NO SUCH THG AS GENR.” WHILE YOUNG THUG’S REMARKS TRIGGERED A B OF A BACKLASH, WH HIP-HOP FANS AND MEDIA OUTLETS MG ON HIS SEXUALY, THERE ALSO SEEMED TO BE AN CREASG UNRSTANDG THAT QUEERNS ISN’T SYNONYMO WH HOMOSEXUALY. IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT YOUNG THUG STATED HIS PROGRSIVE PHILOSOPHY A FASHN FOM, NOT ON A TRACK OR A BREAKFAST CLUB TERVIEW. JAN SMH WAS SIARLY EMBRACED BY SARTORIAL TASTEMAKERS FOR HIS ANDROGYNO STYLE, PROVG THAT WHILE GENRED EXPERIMENTATN MIGHT BE RARE HIP-HOP, S MALE NIZENS N FD PRECENT AND ENURAGEMENT BY DIPPG TO OUTSI WORLDS. LIKE KANYE WT BEFORE HIM, FRANK OCEAN IS EXPLOG THIS DISTANCG LOOPHOLE BY PRENTG HIMSELF AS A MULTI-FACETED ARTIST. BY MAKG STAIRS, SHOOTG FILM, AND PRODUCG MAGAZ, OCEAN FI THE RAPPER LABEL JT AS HE SHIRKS A GAY OR BISEXUAL INTIFITN. BY LIBERATELY REFG TO BE KNOWN AS A GAY RAPPER OR A BISEXUAL MAN HIP-HOP, OCEAN N PARTIALLY SKIRT THE HOMOPHOBIC BIAS THAT THE HIP-HOP MUNY N’T SEEM TO SHAKE. QUEER, WHICH IS NOT A SGLE, STABLE INTY, MIGHT BE MORE ACCURATELY SCRIBED AS AN ACTIVE CRIQUE OF THE NORMAL AND THE NORMATIVE. NORMALY IS NOT UNIVERSALLY ACCSIBLE, OR UNIVERSALLY SIRED. THE QUEER SUBJECT, FORCED TO THE OUTSI, IS GIVEN THE PLITED GIFT OF PERSPECTIVE. BLON IS MA RICH THROUGH THIS LOOKG . FRANK OCEAN, A SEXUALLY FLUID, BLACK MAN WHO ATTEMPTS TO FY GENR, IS JT THE OUTSIR TO TAKE ON AMERI 2016. IN OCEAN’S PABLE HANDS, THE FAIAR BE STRANGE. IN BOYS DON’T CRY, OCEAN QUEERS AMERINA, PHOTOGRAPHG A MAN PUTTG ON HIS UNRWEAR A FIELD, AND SHARG IMAG OF YOUNG MEN WH TOMOBILE LOGOS SHAVED TO THEIR HEADS. IN A FEATURED POEM, KANYE WT MANAG TO WRE A EPLY UNSETTLG O TO THE MOST UBIQUO FAST-FOOD JOT AMERI: MCDONALD’S. IN “NIGHTS,” OCEAN IS HOMELS TEXAS AFTER BEG N OUT OF LOUISIANA BY HURRINE KATRA. IN ALL THE PLEMENTARY PROJECTS, THGS THAT ARE QUTSENTIALLY AMERIN—MCDONALD’S, RS, THE SOUTH—ARE TAKEN AND MA UNFAIAR AND DISQUIETG THROUGH THE LENS OF RACE, TRMA, AND SEXUALY. OCEAN’S UNIQUE MENTARY, AND THE ALIENATN THAT RMS , IS A QUIET, POWERFUL CRIQUE.IN THE WAKE OF RIGHTS-BASED VICTORI LIKE GAY MARRIAGE, SOME QUEER ACTIVISTS HAVE QUTNED A MOVEMENT THAT PRRIZ THE CHANCE TO BE THE SAME OVER THE EEDOM TO BE DIFFERENT. THIS IS WHERE OCEAN, AND HIS REJECTN OF THE STRAIGHT, TO PLAY. IN A PIECE OM BOYS DON’T CRY TLED “BOYIEND,” HE WR, “I ULD SAY THAT I’M HAPPY / THEY LET ME AND MY BOYIEND BEE MARRIED / I ULD SAY THAT I’M HAPPY / BUT CROSS MY HEART I DIDN’T NOTICE.” IT’S AS IF FRANK IS LIBERATELY PLAYG WH EXPECTATNS OR HOP FOR HIS GAY POLICS BY CLAIMG APOLICISM. OF URSE, QUEER FOLKS MIGHT ARGUE THAT THIS APATHY TOWARD MARRIAGE EQUALY IS A EPLY POLIL REJECTN OF HOMONORMATIVY. AND OCEAN GO BOTH WAYS—ON “SEIGIED,” HE PONRS AND THEN ULTIMATELY DISMISS THE ALLURE OF THE HETERONORMATIVE. OCEAN WONRS IF HIS LACK OF NVENTN MAK HIM A “FOOL”—“MAYBE I SHOULD MOVE / SETTLE DOWN, TWO KIDS AND A SWIMMG POOL.” BUT THE END, HE WAGERS, “I’D RATHER LIVE OUTSI.” IN BLON, “LIVG OUTSI” IS A PERSONAL SACRIFICE AND A RISKY WAGER. BARRED OM THE ACCEPTABILY OF STRAIGHT LOVE OR THE STABILY OF A LEGIBLE GAY INTY, OCEAN HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP MOVG, AND KEEP LONGG. VEXATN AND DISAPPOTMENT ARE EVERYWHERE, AND SATIATN SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE. WH SUCH AN UNCERTA FUTURE, HE LOOKS TO THE PAST AS HE HEADS FOR THE HORIZON. ON “FUTURA FREE,” THE FAL TRACK ON BLON, OCEAN EXCERPTS AN OLD NVERSATN BETWEEN HIS CHILDHOOD IENDS OM THE HIP-HOP CREW ODD FUTURE. ON AN ALBUM MARKED BY ROMANTIC DISILLNMENT, THIS RETURN EVOK THE FAY MAKG AND PLATONIC LOVE THAT IS SO VAL TO QUEER MUNI. IN A WORLD WHERE LOVE DISAPPOTS AND NORMALCY ISN’T AN OPTN, THERE’S AN ART TO MAKG YOUR OWN FAY, AND FDG TIMACY UNEXPECTED PLAC. OCEAN’S STEADY STREAM OF EMOTNALLY UNAVAILABLE PARTNERS, UNANSWERED TEXTS, UNFULFILLED DREAMS AND MISSED NNECTNS SPEAKS TO A SPECIFIC BRAND OF DISORIENTED SIR. IN MON PARLANCE, SEXUALY IS OFTEN RCED TO ORIENTATN. BUT QUEER THEORY PROPOS THAT THE SIRG SUBJECT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE GENR OF THE PERSON THEY HAVE SEX WH. THIS IS CERTALY THE SE FOR OCEAN—BLON ISN’T ABOUT WHO HE LOV, BUT HOW HE LOV THEM. HIS BRAVELY BROADSTED TIMACY IS PROOF THAT BOYS DO CRY, THAT SEXUALY N BE FLUID, THAT LOVE N BE UNREQUED, PLATONIC, QUEER, AND CEL. HE MAK THE FAIAR STRANGE, BUT HE ALSO MAK THE STRANGE FAIAR. EVEN THE MOST TRADNALLY MASCULE STRAIGHT BOY WILL SEE PIEC OF HIMSELF OCEAN’S FLUID OVRE—CHILDHOOD MEMORI THAT ULD BELONG TO ANY OF , TEXTS THAT SOUND FAIAR, LANDSP WE’VE SEEN, HALF-ASLEEP, OUT THE WDOW. IN QUEERG THE WORLD AND CHRONICLG THE QUEER, OCEAN’S BENT MASTERPIECE BRGS UNR-REPRENTED MOS OF SIRE TO THE MASTREAM. AMY ZIMMERMAN

" That last one is wrong on several levels: Ocean did not e the word "gay, " nor is he a rapper, nor would he be the first gay rapper if eher of those labels applied. Especially black mic, which has long been sperate need of a voice like Ocean's to break the layers of homophobia.

" At, Jaah Lemix noted that while few urban artists openly embrace homosexualy, many are "the closet wh the glass door, " livg a life they don't reveal their mic. "I hope that Frank Ocean don't bee 'the gay sger, ' for would be crimally unfair for him to wear that label as so many of his peers are sleepg wh and lovg same genred persons, while sellg imag of hyper-heterosexualy, " she wrote.

FRANK OCEAN'S NOT ALONE: FIVE OTHER SGERS WHO'VE COME OUT AS GAY

Unlike the standard g out gture – newsman Anrson Cooper's public email to his iend Andrew Sullivan, "The fact is, I'm gay" — Ocean's prented sexualy as somethg that aris wh particular circumstanc, fed by shiftg sire and dividual enunters rather than solidifyg as an inty. There is a leage of Ain Amerin artists who've prented broar fns of sexualy through their songs and their public personali, as well, though homophobia has certaly kept many more om livg fully hont liv. Gospel mic thory Anthony Heilbut's newly published book of says discs the impact of "the gay men of gospel, " om key mil archects like Jam Cleveland to crossover figur like Bayard Rt.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* FRANK OCEAN OPENLY GAY

Frank Ocean: 'I cried the night I me out as gay'.

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