So, by now, many of you have probably heard that Lil’ B will be titling his new album, I’m Gay. And no… there is no punchline. The Berkely native, XXL Freshmen class member, and all around kind of weird guy announced the title of his new LP during his set on Saturday at Coachella. Within minutes I had 3 emails from VladTV letting me know all about it. I’m surprised that I’m not surprised, but at this point, anything Lil’ B does is within the realm of possibility. Lil’ B told the Coachella crowd (see in the video below) that the name of the album is to prove a point that “words don’t mean s**t”.
“We’re living this life, you can be whatever you want. Don’t give a f**k what anybody else thinks… I’m gonna tell you like this, I’m about to do the most controversial thing in Hip Hop and you heard it here first. I’m gonna show y’all that words don’t mean s**t. I’m gonna make an album called I’m Gay, right… Some people be worried about what people mean with definitions and words and s**t, but first of all, gay means happy. I like women, I love women, but it just shows you no matter what you do, it doesn’t matter. It’s like, live life, we only got one life to live. Do what you do, be happy.”
Is this is humanitarian act by Lil’ B? An attempt to further kill homophobia in Hip Hop? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s an attempt to be controversial because controversy sells, and for Lil’ B, it also moves magazines, concert tickets, and has made kids all across America request double-orders of Wonton Soup. I don’t know Lil’ B’s true reasoning. At the core, his explanation makes sense, people should be able to be whoever they want. But, I really wonder what the gay and lesbian community’s reaction will be. After all, Lil’ B didn’t really rally against homophobia in his title or explanation, but moreso words and labels. What about the people that truly are gay, and to them, that word means a lot?
And that’s something I’m not sure Lil’ B really understands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Wr3lXU_wo