Hip-Hop Fueling Wave of Gay-Bashing?
ZAHN: This week, we have focused on hip-hop culture and whether it's art or poison. And one of the reports in our hour-long special on Wednesday really touched some pretty raw nerves. Ted Rowlands looked into the disturbing strain of gay-bashing in the hip-hop world. And his story became one of the most watched videos on CNN.com all this week. Here's what got so many people talking.</s>TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Since the early days of hip-hop, gay bashing has been a theme in the music of some of the industry's most successful artists.</s>KANYE WEST, HIP-HOP ARTIST: Everybody in hip-hop discriminates against gay people.</s>ROWLANDS: Kanye West is one artist who opposes hip-hop homophobia, but he told MTV it's rampant.</s>WEST: To me, like, that's one of the standards of hip-hop, is to be like, You, you're a fag, you're gay. As a matter of fact, the exact opposite word of hip-hop I think is gay.</s>ROWLANDS: Some experts believe hip-hop's celebration of violent and manliness is a reaction to historic African-American powerlessness, and its tough-guy masculinity doesn't allow for homosexuality. 50 Cent, who sold millions of hip-hop albums, uses anti-gay language but says he isn't homophobic. 50</s>CENT, HIP-HOP ARTIST: Absolutely. I will say faggot all day. I will say all gay, all different comments. I put it in the music all day. You know what I'm saying? But it's not a direct -- I don't mean it as a direct thing against someone when I'm saying it. I'm just using it as slang. Like, in the neighborhood, they're like, Oh, man, you're a faggot. That don't mean it's bad.</s>ROWLANDS: Los Angeles hip-hop artist Deadlee disagrees.</s>DEADLEE, GAY HIP-HOP ARTIST: They don't know the power in the word. I mean, that word is thrown around. So on the playgrounds, little kids are being called faggot . They're getting beat up because they might be -- you know, think they're a little sissy or whatever. And I don't think they really understand the power in those words.</s>ROWLANDS: Deadlee is gay and sings about it.</s>DEADLEE: It's so easy for people to say, I hate gays. It's like it's the one -- one group of people that it's still OK to hate on.</s>ROWLANDS: Hip-hop artist Eminem used anti-gay lyrics on his 2001 Grammy-winning album, "Marshall Mathers." Protesters were outside the Grammys that year. Inside, Eminem accepted the award, saying that he thought people were taking the issue too seriously.</s>EMINEM, HIP-HOP ARTIST: I want to thank everybody who could look past the controversy, or whatever, and see the album for what it was, and also for what it isn't.</s>ROWLANDS: 50 Cent argues that the aggression and slang in his hip-hop songs should not be considered anti-gay, pointing out that he actually sings about his mother kissing another woman. 50</s>CENT: My mom did like women. You know what I mean? So how could I hate gay people? You know what I mean? It would be hating your mother.</s>ROWLANDS: While some artists like Kanye West want the music to change, others believe that homophobia will be in hip-hop as long as it's in society. Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.</s>ZAHN: And my next guest has some thoughts about the verbal assaults against gays in hip-hop culture. He is a hip-hop artist and producer, and he also happens to be gay. He is Tori Fixx. And he has a brand-new C.D. out called "Marry Me." Thanks so much for joining me tonight, Tori.</s>TORI FIXX, HIP-HOP ARTIST: Thank you, Paula. Good evening.</s>ZAHN: Good evening. So, how often do you come face to face with homophobia when you're performing?</s>FIXX: It really depends on the venue that we perform in. I haven't personally experienced a ton of it, because, generally, I play with a lot of mixed audiences. But we have been -- a lot of people that I perform with, we have been turned down for performing in predominantly straight venues. That just really isn't accepted. So, it really depends if you get into a certain venue. That's -- that's pretty much where more...</s>ZAHN: All right.</s>FIXX: ... of the homophobic acts occur.</s>ZAHN: Yes. And -- and let's talk about the more specific venue of hip-hop culture in particular. How piercing is it when you hear rappers like 50 Cent using the F-word? How offensive is that?</s>FIXX: It -- for me, I grew up -- I come from the streets, so I kind of have a different perspective than a lot of people, you know, may have. I know the difference between when someone is using the F-word, say, like in battle rhymes -- that is just to belittle each other -- and as opposed to saying: I hate gays, you, blah, blah, blah. There's a big difference there. I think that a lot of people kind of get misconstrued. So, it really depends on the context. You -- we saw the clip of Eminem, when he says something like, "If you ask if I hate gays, the answer is yes," that's piercing to me.</s>ZAHN: All right, Tori Fixx, thank you for better -- helping us better understand what you're up against. Really appreciate your time tonight. And...</s>FIXX: Thank you.</s>ZAHN: ... we're going to move on to the big weekend ahead, Sunday, of course -- I think you probably know this -- Oscar night. Check this out, outside the Kodak Theatre, believe it or not, there are actually people starting to line up, folks that will camp outside the perimeter of this theater, so they can catch all the stars and the parade hours and hours before the Oscars actually get under way on TV. And the question tonight is: Guess what color most of the winners will be? Next: Is Hollywood cheating minorities? Then, a little bitter on -- a little bit later on, that is...</s>ZAHN: ... why a comedian is also a leader of tomorrow. And how many thousands of calories are you sneaking? We're going to bring America's most common eating disorder right out in the open. It turns out you have got a lot of company.