I was intrigued by the response to indie-rapper Murs‘ “Animal Style”. The song and its accompanying music video were created as a response to “the overall anti-homosexual sentiment that exists within hip hop culture”. Some viewers have lashed out that we don’t need a straight man attempting to tell our story, but they’re missing the point here—this isn’t for us.
I will wholeheartedly admit that the ending made me uncomfortable at first. “That’s not the answer!” I shouted in my head. “That is definitely not the answer!”
Then I thought about it. That might seem like the answer if you’re living in a world that’s constantly telling you you’re wrong. While you or someone else might feel empowered by the video or Murs’ support, this is more about highlighting the societal consequences of homophobia and challenging non-gay (or closeted) listeners to rise above ignorance.
In that sense, I can get behind this. What are your thoughts?
– Dewitt
Click through to watch the music video for “Animal Style”:
Murs explains: “Animal Style is a song I did for many reasons. The first was to be an advocate for people close to me who are out, and those who have yet to come out. It’s also a love song, which is nothing new for me. But with this one I wanted to challenge the listener to ask themselves: Is the love shared by two people of the same gender, really that different than the love I have for my partner of the opposite sex? And finally, I just felt it was crucial for some of us in the hip hop community to speak up on the issues of teen suicide, bullying, and the overall anti-homosexual sentiment that exists within hip hop culture. I felt so strongly about these issues and this song that I had to do a video that would command some attention, even if it makes some viewers uncomfortable. Even if it came at the cost of my own comfort.”
difficult to watch, but I commend Murs for making such a bold statement. These are the kind of artists that hip hop needs.
Wow…thanks for posting this
sitting here with all kinds of hurt inside…makes it all too real,,,thank you
This is certainly an important piece of work. (Although I wish it was stronger as a piece of hip-hop music.) Long, long history of lesbian and gay literature–much of it penned by lesbian and gay authors–that can only imagine suicidal culmination. Interesting how this dovetails with the typical abusive/battering behavior of murder-suicide. How does this anti-homophobia video connect to anti-domestic-violence campaigns?
sad but true in this bigoted world
Here’s another incredible show of support for the LGBTQ community from the hip hop world by Seattle’s own Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Dig it http://soundcloud.com/macklemore/macklemore-x-ryan-lewis-same
Damn…
Is that a sample of Maggot Brain by Funkadelic I hear in the background?
Damn, very powerful statement.
BRAVO MURS.VERY STRONG BUT TRUE”’
Wow, so true. Bravo!
Great video!!!!!!!!!!! Surprised that all the smart Queers who saw it have missed that “Roderick and Jonathan” are playing out the story of “Romeo and Juliet”
—- notice the initials
I posted it to the Facebook page of the Marine who was in the homecoming kiss photo this year
That was a very deep video and song…..Its just so sad what WE have to go through…I hope this sends out a message that hate can and will not be tolerated..LOVE IS LOVE!!!!