No homo
The phrases no homo and pause are slang terms. They parenthetically assert that the (male) speaker of such is not homosexual and are usually used after an utterance that may have given that impression.[1]
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[edit] History
The term no homo originated in East Harlem slang of the early 1990s.[2] It was used by many to distance themselves from the stereotype of closeted gay and bisexual men.[3]
[edit] Criticism
Several social commentators have criticized the use of both no homo and pause in hip hop and in the mainstream. It has been said that the phrases "uphold an unhealthy relationship with homosexuality, a relationship based in fear."[4] Fox News commentator Marc Lamont Hill encouraged the hip-hop community to stop using no homo in its music.[5] At the same time, Slate columnist Jonah Weiner suggested the use of the phrase is somewhat more complex. Weiner notes several hip hop artists — such as Cam'ron and Lil Wayne — cultivate an extravagant and camp public persona while embracing homophobia thus saying no homo can help expand established concepts of masculinity, and challenge the status quo.[2] Nick Catucci, writing for New York magazine, disagrees with this assessment. In his view, no homo is merely another form of gay bashing, and to a large extent is used simply because it "just sounds good," and is easily applicable in rhymes. A rapper like Cam'ron, Catucci argues, will use the phrase, and dress in pink, simply to show that he is man enough to get away with it, without being suspected of being gay.[3]
[edit] Notable uses
- In Run This Town, a 2009 song by rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, the sentence no homo is used.[2]
- Harlem rapper Cam'ron in his 2009 album Crime Pays has a song called Silky (No Homo).
- In 2010, in The Boondocks TV series, the episode Pause explained the use of both pause and no homo.
- In 2011, The Lonely Island made a parody of the expression with their song No Homo published in their album Turtleneck & Chain. The song begins with standard usage of the term and expands to be said after more and more blatantly homosexual statements such as "I've been thinking about fucking a dude/No homo!"[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Matson, Andrew (2009-07-22). "Dear Eddie Francis, morning host at KUBE 93.3 FM: Cut the homophobia". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/matsononmusic/2009518145_dear_eddie_francis_morning_hos.html. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ a b c Weiner, Jonah (2009-08-06). "Does This Purple Mink Make Me Look Gay?The rise of no homo and the changing face of hip-hop homophobia". Slate. http://www.slate.com/id/2224348/. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ a b Catucci, Nick (2009-08-07). "‘No Homo’: Cause for Hope in Hip-hop?". New York. http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/08/no_homo_cause_for_hope_in_hip.html. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Matson, Andrew (2009-07-27). "The continuing saga of KUBE morning host Eddie Francis and American English's current homophobic lexicography". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/matsononmusic/2009546491_the_continuing_saga_of_kube_mo.html. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ "Roundup: Kiss-Ins Spread, 'No Homo' Must Go". The Advocate. 2009-07-21. http://www.advocate.com/printArticle.aspx?id=90140. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Review: Turtleneck & Chain". http://www.allmusic.com/album/turtleneck-chain-r2170521.
[edit] External links
- That's Gay: No Homo, October 7, 2009, Current TV.
