Posted: July 16, 2012 at 9:16 pm
AUTHOR: SheiFunmiRapper Murs Kisses Man In Video, Sparks Up Controversy
California rapper Murs has sparked controversy by kissing another man in his new music video in a bid to highlight the longstanding problem of homophobia in hip-hop.
The emcee released the visuals for his single ‘Animal Style’ last week, which sees the 34-year-old play a closeted high school student in love with an openly gay student.
Although, the rapper shocked viewers when he shared a kiss with his love interest in a move which comes just weeks after R&B singer Frank Ocean revealed he is attracted to men.
Explaining why he kissed his male co-star, Murs wrote on YouTube when posting the video:
“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 exist 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.”
Jul 16, 2012
