iLoveMakonnen performs on stage on Day 1 of Born And Bred Festival at Haggerston Park on 4 June 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Hip hop star iLoveMakonnen says his “music talents”, “originality” and “influence” have been ‘discredited’ since he came out as gay.
Makonnen Sheran, better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen, rose to fame in 2014 after Drake released a remix of his song “Tuesday”. The rapper and songwriter opened up to his fans about his sexuality in 2017, saying “it’s time I’ve come out”.
iLoveMakonnen wrote: “And since y’all love breaking news, here’s some old news to break, I’m gay. And now I’ve told u about my life, maybe u can go life yours”.
Four years after coming out, iLoveMakonnen shared how his sexuality has affected his career. He released a series of tweets on Friday (2 April), questioning why his “music talents”, “originality” and “influence” have been discredited since he came out. iLoveMakonnen wrote: “Why they love leaving me out of the 2014-2015 music talks now days, the shade the blogger girls and music sites be giving!!! Honey! Was I not there??”
Why they love leaving me out of the 2014-2015 music talks now days, the shade the blogger girls and music sites be giving!!! Honey! Was I not there??
— Non-Fungible Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) April 2, 2021
He continued: “Is it cus I came out as gay? Since I came out as gay everyone has tried to discredit my music talents and originality and influence.
“I know y’all ashamed to say u was on a gay mans d**k, but just keep it 100 since everyone so real nowadays”.
Is it cus I came out as gay? Since I came out as gay everyone has tried to discredit my music talents and originality and influence. I know y’all ashamed to say u was on a gay mans dick, but just keep it 100 since everyone so real nowadays
— Non-Fungible Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) April 2, 2021
The rapper also condemned people who believe that he “came out as gay” for promotional reasons. iLoveMakonnen wrote: “Like there was no album. No nothing. U think im tryna get support in a homophobic environment for promo.
“Lol the game so f****d up. It was quite the opposite. I knew it would piss people off. But it was needed”.
For people to think I came out as gay for promo is beyond me. Like there was no album. No nothing. U think im tryna get support in a homophobic environment for promo. Lol the game so fucked up. It was quite the opposite. I knew it would piss people off. But it was needed
— Non-Fungible Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) April 2, 2021
iLoveMakonnen also tweeted that there was some hypocrisy in the hip hop community’s love of fashion but lack of support for LGBT+ rappers. He wrote: “It’s really crazy how hip hop loves fashion brands made by gay men but get upset when someone in hip hop comes out as gay. Make it make sense. U confusing yourself.”
It’s really crazy how hip hop loves fashion brands made by gay men but get upset when someone in hip hop comes out as gay. Make it make sense. U confusing yourself.
— Non-Fungible Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) April 2, 2021
“rappers be feeling confident bragging about being in gay designer brands and buying their so called girlfriend gay designer handbags but u don’t f**k with music made by a gay man cus why?” iLoveMakonnen said.
rappers be feeling confident bragging about being in gay designer brands and buying their so called girlfriend gay designer handbags but u don’t fuck with music made by a gay man cus why?
— Non-Fungible Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) April 2, 2021