Kid Cudi, who has publicly battled with mental health in the past, is no stranger to the ills society can place upon a young man, especially in the spotlight. Cudder recently addressed this in a heartfelt letter reaching out to fellow rapper Lil Nas X. Lil Nas’ unapologetic queer identity and boundary-breaking art have captivated audiences but, according to Lil Nas, isolated him from peers.
Recently, the Montero rapper tweeted that black male artists wouldn’t work with him, hence the lack of said artists on his debut album, set to drop September 17th.
In response to the tweet, Kid Cudi penned a thoughtful letter addressing Lil Nas X, and the larger issue of homophobia in hip-hop.
Hip-hop and Homophobia
Hip-hop has a long tradition of eschewing anything that deviates from the aggressive, testosterone-laden roots from which it was born. It’s an unfortunate tradition, as hip-hop comes from blending influences and genres while careening around American folklore in order to carve its own path. Hip-hop was birthed out of bucking the system.
While some may say homophobia and other illogical social fears are at an all-time high in the states and abroad, hip-hop overall has certainly softened on certain prejudices. Lil Nas X’s chart-topping record shows the audience has accepted him, so why not hip-hop insiders? Kid Cudi reflects upon these questions in his letter.
“To have a gay man in hip hop doing his thing,” Cudi writes, “crushing records—that is huge for us and Black excellence.”
Could a Cudi/Lil Nas collab be on the way?
Kid Cudi’s letter also speaks to the way Lil Nas X is ousting rap norms, something Cudi sees as very rock-n-roll. “He’s a true rock star,” Cudi wrote.
Lil Nas apparently read Cudi’s letter, following up with a powerful proclamation (via Twitter, of course):
“We will make the greatest song of all time together.”
Would you like to see a Cudi/Lil Nas X collab? What do you think of the artists’ commentary on the issue of homophobia in hip hop? Interact with us on Twitter or Instagram @FMHipHop; we would love to hear what you think.
By Dariel Figueroa
Reach me at: svgknomad@gmail.com
