Gyre on hip-hop homophobia: I’m done keeping quiet!
19.07.2022 - 19:55
/ mambaonline.com
“I choose to be provocative because that is a valid form of expression,” says Gyre (Photos: Chris Dennis Rosenberg)
South African queer hip-hop trailblazer Gyre has had his fill of homophobia in the hip-hop scene. Now he’s speaking out, the consequences be damned.
Born S’bonakaliso Nene, Gyre released his 2018 debut album Queernomics while still a student. He’s continued to make an impact with his no-holds-barred, unashamedly queer lyrics, sex-positive image, and provocative live performances.
Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t been an easy path to take. He recently went public about the homophobia he encountered from the influential SA Hip-Hop 24/7 platform, which censored a paid-for promotion of his new single Fem Physique.
Gyre was sent screenshots in which the administrator said to “remove that unacceptable ass” because it’s “not good for the brand.” This is despite SA Hip-Hop 24/7 having no qualms about posting images of equally or even more scantily-clad women in the past.
Gyre spoke to Mamba about his experiences navigating the world and the music industry as an openly queer and femme hip-hop artist.
Hip-hop has a notorious history of homophobia. What drove you to create your work in this unwelcoming genre?
When I was coming into my queerness, I couldn’t help but express it in rap. That’s how I started rapping. I needed to feel whole again, and rap saved my life! So hip-hop chose me. And I chose rap the art form, [but] hip-hop culture and the hip-hop industry is a completely different matter.
Is queerphobia pervasive in the hip-hop world or just a portion of it?
I think it’s pervasive in sections of the hip-hop community. However, also large sections of the hip-hop community because silence is also to choose the side of