Migos On iLoveMakonnen Coming Out As Gay: “That’s Wack, Bro”
Rap music might not be as homophobic as it once was, but we’ve got a long way to go before it’s free of homophobia. Case in point: Last month, Atlanta sing-rapper iLoveMakonnen came out as gay on Twitter, and most of the reaction was loving and supportive. But the great Atlanta rap trio Migos, who appeared alongside Makonnen on his 2015 track “Whip It (Remix),” are not among his supporters. As Pitchfork points out, the members of the group got uncomfortable talking about Makonnen’s coming out in a recent Rolling Stone profile, ultimately deciding that Makonnen’s sexuality undermines his credibility and that it’s “wack.” Here’s how writer Jonah Weiner describes the exchange, after Quavo had been talking about how much he loves Atlanta’s “diversity”:
And so I’m surprised by Migos’ reaction when I mention iLoveMakonnen, the local MC who just came out as gay on Twitter. “Damn, Makonnen!” Quavo bellows after an awkward interlude. I mention support I saw online for Makonnen’s decision. “They supported him?” Quavo asks, raising an eyebrow. “That’s because the world is fucked up,” says Offset. “This world is not right,” Takeoff says. “We ain’t saying it’s nothing wrong with the gays,” says Quavo. But he suggests that Makonnen’s sexuality undermines his credibility, given the fact that “he first came out talking about trapping and selling Molly, doing all that.”
He frowns. “That’s wack, bro.”
The idea that gay people cannot sell drugs is a weird one. You can read the full profile here.
UPDATE: Migos issued a statement in response to the backlash over their comments:
— MIGOS™ (@Migos) February 8, 2017