S. Samuel
Rappers Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs and Killer Mike have shared their mixed reactions to Lil B announcing plans to drop a new album called I'm Gay.
Kweli believes Lil B is ultimately going to show off his true fan base with the controversial title.
“Immediately (upon hearing the hubbub) I’m like [now’ that’s a f*ckin’ social experiment, if I’ve ever heard one,” Kweli said. “Look I don’t care who you sleep with at the end of the day. I don’t care if Lil B’s gay or not. It doesn’t change my life in any way, but for him to name his album I’m Gay, issues such a challenge to his fans. I’m not sure if it’s brilliant or not, but what he did with that, in one fell swoop, was challenge every single bandwagon fan. Like are you really down with me or not. And me as an artist, I have no choice but to respect that.” (XXL Mag)
Freddie Gibbs took a closer examination at the possible album name.
“[The] Lil B sh*t was funny at first but now I feel like it’s just a bunch of white people laughing at a n*gga, like a minstrel show. Sh*t is wack. I ain’t dissin’ gays, if you gay that’s yo biz.” (XXL Mag)
Killer Mike understood Lil B’s angle and ultimate goal.
“He’s a happy guy, gay means happy,” the ATLien reminded readers. “It makes perfect sense to me. It’s a provocative, bold thing to me. That’s what B does. It’s not as shocking to me. From a social element . . . this just feels like knocking down walls and stereotypes, embracing controversy and flipping it. Bravo to him for being the next Madonna. I also don’t think Lil B could ever make some of the music that I make. If he’s rapping about (gay) lifestyle the whole album, no I probably wouldn’t want to hear it. If he’s rapping on some hip-hop sh*t and it’s a weird a**, weird Lil B album . . . I’d probably buy it like I I did his last (album) and have a little laugh.” (XXL Mag)
Lil B officially announced his album title initiative during the weekend’s annual Coachella concert in his home state.
“I’m gonna do the most controversial thing in hip-hop,” B said while performing at Coachella in Indio, California. “Y’all heard it hear first. And I’m gonna just show y’all that words don’t mean sh*t. I’m gonna make an album called ‘I’m Gay.’ Now I’m gonna tell y’all why I’m the first person to do it in hip-hop and why y’all are the first people to know my reason…First of all, gay means happy. I like women, I love women, you feel me? But it just shows me, no matter what you do, live life, you only got one life to live, be happy. F*ck the hating.” (YouTube)
Check out Lil B’s album title announcement down below:
