Rapper/singer Angel Haze wrote a column for Noisey discussing sexuality, and hip-hop's long-standing homophobia problem. Never afraid to speak her mind, Haze explains why coming out shouldn't be a big deal, why she never feels the need to discuss her sexuality outside of "sexual situations" and the struggles she's encountered as a part of the hip hop community.
Being gay in hip hop is still really stigmatized. There are so many people in this world that are closet homosexuals. I guess I'm "out," but people ask me what my sexuality is all the time and I always tell them that it doesn’t matter, we’re not in a sexual situation so you don’t need to know. If we were in a sexual situation you would know exactly who I am sexually. But if we’re just having a conversation you don’t need to know what I do in private.
Haze went on to discuss her hesitation in releasing her freestyle over Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Same Love."
I was so reluctant to do “Same Love,” because I get so caught up on people thinking of me as a queer rapper, I don’t discuss my sexuality in my music. But I’ve always said to myself that an artist is a person who has something to say and isn’t just a part of the noise. Adele is one of those artists for me. So are Frank Ocean and J. Cole, people who have something genuine to say and won’t just add to the room full of chatter.
This isn't the first time Haze has written about her sexuality. Last year on Twitter, she responded to a fan who had asked if Haze was a lesbian.
No. Lol. i am whatever i am when i am it. RT @YazminAlaina: Hold up. @AngelHaze really is lesbian????????????
— Angxl Hxze (@AngelHaze) April 29, 2013
Listen to Haze's freestyle over "Same Love" below.
Before You Go
