o be politically correct, the Homorevolution Tour involves a group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender hip-hop artists who travel the country spreading their message of equality and reality.

"Homorevolution Tour"

Find out more about the Homorevolution Tour at:
www.homorevolution.com

But screw political correctness. This is hip-hop, after all. And the Homorevolution Tour performers are not trying to sugarcoat the fact that they fall under the small but growing category of, as they say, "gay hip-hop."

When the tour made a stop in Minneapolis Sunday at the Pi Bar, it wasn't the city's first experience with this genre.

After all, Tori Fixx, the godfather of the GLBT hip-hop scene, calls the Twin Cities home. Alicia Leafgreen, better known as White Lesbian Rapper, has been causing a stir at straight Twin Cities' venues for a couple of years now.

But the Homorevolution Tour, or Homorev, as the artists involved call it, is still breaking new ground in Minnesota and all around the country. It is the first city-to-city tour of GLBT hip-hop artists.

Minneapolis was the tour's last stop, for now. The organizers, like creator Camilo Arenivar and Midwest tour manager Bigg Nugg said that they are taking this tour in spurts because the artists are essentially funding their own tour.

Homorev started in the Southwestern United States, where a majority of the original 17 performers were based. But the GLBT hip-hop movement started years before that.

Tori Fixx has been rapping for about 20 years now, he said. Living in California about a decade ago, he helped start what has evolved into an entirely new genre, and a movement for awareness, acceptance and equality.

Seungjae Seo

DaLyrical performed last Sunday at Pi Bar in Minneapolis for the HomoRevolution Tour.

The GLBT hip-hop scene received national attention with the release of 2005's "Pick up the Mic," a documentary exploring the genre and highlighting the "PeaceOUT World Homo-Hop Festival" that occurs every year in Oakland, Calif.

The Homorev tour itself was birthed unintentionally, Arenivar said. He manages Deadlee, one of the rappers featured on "Pick up the Mic," whose new album came out earlier this year. They wanted to gather up a couple of GLBT supporting acts to go on a tour with Deadlee to promote his new album. They found so many willing supporters, however, that Arenivar decided to expand the album tour into a first-of-its-kind GLBT hip-hop national tour.

"This is a slap in the face of hip-hop," Arenivar said. "We're gay and lesbian and we're out of the closet. They don't want to know that."

Indeed, the attention Homorev has received from mainstream media outlets - among them Tyra Banks, CNN and Rolling Stone - revolved directly around this tension between mainstream hip-hop and GLBT hip-hop.

"Hip-hop, more than any other musical genre, is blatantly misogynistic and homophobic," Tori Fixx said.

Although, according to Bigg Nugg, some major record labels have asked the Homorev artists to submit their albums for review, none of the artists have been signed. The reason, Homorev artist DaLyrical thinks, is fear.

"It's a struggle because mainstream hip-hop don't want to acknowledge who you are," she said. "But they're not going to be able to deny us very long because we're right there in their faces. And we're just as talented, if not more talented, than some of the people on (the major labels.) But they're scared because we're gay."

Another Homorev rapper, Unecc, agrees that it's frustrating how one personal fact inhibits their careers.

"It's sad that we are locked out because of who we choose to sleep with," she said.

The over-the-top posturing and straight-as-a-gun-barrel masculinity expressed through mainstream hip-hop culture alienates a lot of gay youth who otherwise enjoy the genre, the Homorev artists said. They are trying to counteract that image by saying what they are presenting is a more realistic image of hip-hop and homosexuality.

"We want people to know that what you thought was gay isn't. There are masculine gay men on stage, like Deadlee," Bigg Nugg explained. "Every lesbian is not the bulldog type; there are everyday women up on stage rapping."

Growing up as a hip-hop fan, White Lesbian Rapper said she was never bothered by the homophobia in the genre. It wasn't until she came out in her late teens that she started to notice the lyrics a little more.

"It bothers me now, but I'm sure my lyrics bother other people," she said. "I think people are able to say whatever they want. Just don't expect me to support what you're saying. You do your thing and I'll do mine."

All of the artists expressed a desire to represent all of who they were, not just a part of their beings.

"The overall message is that, beyond our differences, there is still talent and beauty and a diversity of thoughts," Tori Fixx said. "Our sexuality is just a part of who we are and where we're coming from in our music."

Highlighting the fact that these rappers and producers are homosexual does not change the fact that the Homorev artists are, first and foremost, hip-hop artists, Arenivar said.

"This is hip-hop," he said. "It's confronting social problems, fighting oppression through music, challenging mainstream ideas."

And how much more genuinely hip-hop can you get?

September 28, 2007

Rapper's Delight

Queer hip hop hits Columbus

by Anthony Glassman

With almost every genre of entertainment there now is a queer subgenre.

There are gay romantic comedies, dramas, even horror and science fiction films. There are gay musicals on Broadway and off, and queer literature has been around in one form or another for millennia.

With music, each type of music has its own substrata of out, queer performers pushing the boundaries of their style.

In punk rock, for example, the homocore or queercore movement started in the 1980s and still is going today.

Hip-hop, however, seemed to take a little longer to get out the big gay gate. While much of punk rock was political, or at the least anti-establishment, hip-hop is as much about partying as it is about protest. For every Public Enemy fighting the power, there are a dozen Naughty By Natures trying to get some OPP.

That all began to change by the dawn of the new millennium, however. Groups like Deep Dickollective, God-Des and She, Team Gina and individuals like Tori Fixx, Katastrophe, Deadlee and other picked up the mantle of homo-hop, organizing festivals like the PeaceOut World Homo Hop Festival.

Now, the HomoRevolution tour is traveling across the country, filling in the gaps that the coastal PeaceOut might miss. Rapper Bigg Nugg, a native of Fremont, Ohio, and co-organizer of the tour, is excited about its only Ohio stop currently scheduled, in Columbus on October 4.

"Columbus' date will actually be a Bigg Nugg headlining show, due to artists having to withdraw from the tour," he said. "So it will be Unecc (pronounced Unique), DaLyrical, and myself."

Nugg was effusive in his praise of the women with whom he will perform.

"Unecc has a great stage presence and her flows are off the chain. She is actually a Columbus native, so I'm sure her home town will bring the love!" he noted.

"DaLyrical comes to us from Atlanta, but she too also lived in Columbus at one point in her career," he continued. "She has so much charisma on stage with her delivery that it is amazing to watch. And her tracks and her knowledge definitely need to be heard."

The rapper has been playing in bands for 12 years, but picked up the mike and became an MC as Bigg Nugg three years ago. He says that Fremont, despite being a small town, is big on hip-hop.

"Fremont's culture is pretty hip-hop driven. It's a little city with big city problems, as I like to say," he noted. "So I think the people there relate to it more. There are also some tight hip-hop artists there as well. I have one cousin that flows, and another that produces tight beats."

Nugg signed with Milo Management in Los Angeles last year, putting him in a family with Deadlee, Delacruz, Salvimez, Tori Fixx and Shorty Roc, and it was through that family that the tour was created.

Although Columbus' show is currently the only Ohio date, organizers are looking to bring it back through the state in 2008, possibly paired with the documentary film Pick Up the Mic by Alex Hinton. The film is where the tour got its name.

The homo hop scene is growing, and will continue to do so, he believes.

"We are not quite there yet, but we are growing," he said, noting that it stretches beyond the country's borders. "It's international as well, with great artists like Qboy, Mz. Fontaine and Gay Fight Club. This gay hip-hop scene has a very underground, punk feeling about it. It's very indie, and the community is very tight."

"And our followers are the most loyal fans," he said. "We are only going to grow and grow until we are in every Best Buy around the world!"

That growth is the most notable change he has seen since he started following homo hop.

"The scene has seen dozens of new gay hip-hop artists lately, which is dope," he opined. "I am glad more people know they can stand up and really take a hold of this conscious movement."

"The main thing I notice is all of the artists' ability to do more shows, and to take their live shows nationally and internationally," he continued. "Artists on the HomoRevolution Tour, as well as Katastrophe who is doing a ton of dates this year, need to be commended for spreading the love."

The HomoRevolution Tour hits Jacks Bar, 2210 Summit Street in Columbus on Thursday, October 4. Doors open at 10:30 pm, the show is at 11 pm. Tickets are $5, and available now at www.gaymusicusa.com. More information about the show is available at www.homorevolution.com, and Bigg Nugg can be found online at www.myspace.com/biggnugg.

In the closet no more

Ignored by the hip-hop industry, gay rappers are touring the nation to increase their visibility

by Kitty McConnell / September 27, 2007

"Put on a good show, change minds": Bigg Nugg, an Ohio rapper who is part of the HomoRevolution Tour 2007 When the first few beats of Bigg Nugg's "La Revolucion" kick in, the song—delivered in a gravelly voice and featuring slightly menacing lyrics—sounds like a track from any other low-budget rapper's debut album. Only when the chorus hits is it clear exactly which revolution Bigg Nugg is advocating. "I don't give a fuck if you're gay or if you're straight." These lyrics could serve as the mantra for the HomoRevolution Tour 2007, the first national tour of gay, lesbian and transgendered hip-hop artists, which will come to Jack's Bar (formerly Summit Station) next Thursday. HomoRevolution was the brainchild of Deadlee, a self-proclaimed "gayngster" rapper from L.A. who gained the attention of the mainstream music press when he lashed out at 50 Cent and other rappers for their gay-bashing lyrics. Bigg Nugg, who grew up in Toledo and is manager of the Midwest leg of the tour, shares Deadlee's antipathy towards the famously homophobic rap industry. It doesn't just hinder the careers of openly gay artists, he says. It keeps many others in the closet. "The biggest thing in our tour is helping break the stereotype," Bigg Nugg said. "To encourage other artists to not care if they're gay." That's not always easy. While many hip-hop artists take no part in gay-bashing, a number of chart-topping rappers—trying to cement their tough reputations with macho posturing—have long been granted permission by the rap industry to spread a hateful message. ("Da Dis List," an online archive of rap lyrics that include words like "fag" and depict violence against gays, provides ample evidence of this.) On the other hand, there's some evidence that tolerance is on the rise in mainstream rap. After massive GLBT protests over his gay-bashing Marshall Mathers album, Eminem famously did penance by singing with Elton John at the Grammys. And Common, once known for lyrics like "Homo's a no-no/so faggots stay solo," released a track on one of his more recent records that details how a male friend came out to him and opened his mind. Kanye West has also repented for his previous stance as a hip-hop homophobe. Whether these rappers are sincerely adopting a more tolerant attitude or simply adapting to market forces remains to be seen. But the progressive hip-hop community is pushing the movement forward while it still has momentum. Enter the HomoRevolution. Granted, the tour has caught some snags. Deadlee and other prominent artists from the original lineup—including Tori Fixx, a pioneer in GLBT hip-hop for his work with the San Francisco-area group Rainbow Flava—dropped out after the first leg, through the Southwest, was completed. But the tour had been so successful to that point that Bigg Nugg decided to take over as its manager and bring the HomoRevolution message to these parts. "The Midwest," he said, "is the next place to get hip to it." The lineup at Jack's will include Bigg Nugg, DaLyrical and Unecc, all of whom have called Columbus home at one time or another. Because the city boasts both a supportive GLBT community and a thriving indie hip-hop scene, the tour participants feel they've been given a rare dual-crossover opportunity: Not just to promote tolerance to a straight hip-hop audience, but also to promote hip hop to gays and lesbians who might have never given rap a chance. Jack's Bar might be the perfect venue for such an experiment. Jim Criswell, the owner of Jack's, said his place and the neighboring Café Bourbon Street—a divey rock-and-roll bar that hosts a popular hip-hop night every week—have always shared a back-and-forth flow of patrons, despite their night-and-day atmosphere and clientele. "If their hip-hop people find out there's hip hop at Jack's that night, they'll probably come over," Criswell said. "The Bourbon Street crowd is extremely open-minded." It's that open-mindedness that Bigg Nugg and the rest of the HomoRevolution artists are hoping will keep them coming back to the Midwest on future tour dates. A college tour is in the works for late autumn, and Bigg Nugg hopes for a return to the OSU campus with an expanded line-up. He realizes it will take more than a worthy cause, however. The music itself has to be solid. "If you're going to do it, do it well," he said. "Put on a good show, change minds."

MIDWEST TOUR POSTERS AND PRESS MATERIAL AVAILABLE NOW!!!
CLICK HERE!!!!

DEADLEE Tackles HomoPhobia in Hip Hop Via CNN

HomoRevolution Artists on Tyra Banks Show - Video/iPod Downloads

Click the image below (Right Click and Save Target as to play from Hard Drive) to download the Windows video format of - Deadlee on Tyra Banks

Outsmart Magazine - HomoRevolution Cover Story

Houston's OutSmart Magazine featured HomoRevolution Tour as a cover story with Mz. Fontaine on the cover. Read the great article here!

HomoRevolution Artists On Queer Music Heritage



JD Doyle's indepth feature on Gay Hip Hop features a large amount of HomoRevolution artist
interviews and music. A must visit. Check it out here!

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Tori Fixx Interview with AfterElton.com

Another great interview with a HomoRevolution.com headliner, Tori Fixx. Read it
here. We think you will find it VERY interesting!

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Manhunt.net!

Manhunt.net has signed on to the HomoRevolution and are an official advertising
sponsor! If you are in CA, NV, AZ, NM, or TX you should see our special banner ad
for the site. If you are 18 and up and want to be meet men, Manhunt.net is where it's
at!!!

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About.com Interview with Deadlee

About.com's GayLife Department interviewed Deadlee. Read it here.

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San Diego's Gay and Lesbian Times Article!

The Gay and Lesbian Times did a great article on the HomoRevolution Tour and
the show in San Diego. Read it here.

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LOVE FROM GAY365.COM/NEW NOW NEXT

Deadlee / HomoRevolution Tour 2007 on AllHipHop.com

'Gayngsta' Rapper Deadlee Headlines Homo Tour, Disses Eminem, DMX, 50 Cent
By Roman Wolfe
Date: 1/23/2007 10:30 am

Popular Los Angeles based gay rapper Deadlee has announced that he will headline what is being billed as the first ever organized regional tour of gay, lesbian and bisexual rap & Hip-Hop artists.

Billed as the Homorevolution Tour 2007, the ten-city trek will feature a variety of popular gay and lesbian MC's, including Johnny Dangerous, Delacruz, Melange Lavonne, Salvimex, Bigg Nugg and JFP.

Covering five states, the tour is set to launch in San Diego in March.

"The HomoRevolution Tour is a direct challenge to the old status quo in Hip-Hop," Deadlee told AllHipHop.com. "Times are changing and if openly gay rappers aren't invited then we are kicking the door in - and inviting ourselves...we are taking the mic. It's our turn too."

Deadlee, born Joseph Lee, has grabbed headlines in publications like The New York Daily News, The Advocate, LA Weekly, Urb, instinct and others, with sexually charged music referred to as "Homohop"and "Gayngsta" rap.

The self-described "Queer Bastard Child of DMX & Lil Kim," has also contributed his music to a series of motion picture soundtracks including On the Down Low and Vengeance. He was also the focus of a reality show on LGBT television network Logo, called Hip-Hop Homos.

In the traditional nature of Hip-Hop, his music confronts some of the industry's biggest rappers, including Eminem, DMX, and 50 Cent.

"Eminem was called out for his juvenile, hateful approach to homosexuality, especially in his song 'Criminal,' [The Marshall Mathers LP]" Deadlee said. "He was the biggest rapper at the time and if he used the same song as a diss to Blacks or Latinos, he would probably be dead. Eminem likes to pick on the 'weak' but gay[z] aint weak and he might be a f*g himself. He knew all the subcultures in that song."

Deadlee, who was born in Denver but calls Los Angeles home, also has issues with DMX's constant use of the word fa**ot and his references to "homo thugs."

"I find it crazy when his videos are very homoerotic," Deadlee said. "All the guys kicking it with their shirts off!"

Deadlee saved his harshest criticism for rap's biggest superstar, Queens, NY rapper 50 Cent.

In April 2004, 50 Cent made international headlines when Playboy published an article with the rapper expressing his views on homosexuality.

"I ain't into fa**ots," 50 Cent told Playboy. "I don't like gay people around me, because I'm not comfortable with what their thoughts are. I'm not prejudiced. I just don't go with gay people and kick it - we don't have that much in common. I'd rather hang out with a straight dude. But women who like women, that's cool."

"F*ck him. I don't like ignorant b**ches around me, so he can suck my gun," Deadlee stated. "He is a classic man who had Homo-feelings and chooses to lash out because he is afraid he might act out on his true feelings. 50 Cent has deep rooted homosexual tendencies."

Deadlee will host Logo's NewNowNext, which airs Feb. 4.

Below are the tentative dates for the Homorevolution Tour 2007:

March 29: San Diego, CA
March 30: Los Angeles, CA
March 31: Las Vegas, NV
April 1: Phoenix, AZ
April 2: Albuquerque, NM
April 3: El Paso, TX
April 5: San Antonio, TX
April 6: Houston, TX
April 7: Austin, TX
April 8: Dallas, TX

1/24/07, 5:55 pm EST

ROLLING STONE
Gayngsta Rapper Deadlee Launches a "Homorevolution"

Los Angeles-based gay rapper Deadlee has organized a headlining tour for himself and a collection of gay, lesbian and bisexual Gayngsta rappers (his word, not ours). The Homorevolution Tour 2007 (again, all him) will travel to ten cities and will treat ticket buyers to performances by a collection of gay and lesbian performers you've likely never heard of (including Johnny Dangerous, Delacruz, Melange Lavonne, Salvimex, Bigg Nugg and JFP).

Deadlee is sick of the latent homophobia in hip-hop and has decided to do something about it, starting with accusing the bulk of the genre's gay bashing, chart topping stars of being secretly into each other. "He can suck my gun," Deadlee reportedly spat when asked about 50 Cent's history of making anti-gay comments. "He is a classic man who had Homo-feelings and chooses to lash out because he is afraid he might act out on his true feelings. 50 Cent has deep rooted homosexual tendencies." Then he went after Eminem saying that the notoriously gay-bashing rapper "might be a fag himself."

We're thinking that Deadlee's gonna need help promoting his tour, so we're suggesting three PR moves Deadlee can use to help his cause. Check 'em out, and add your own.

* Get Jay-Z and Russel Simmons on board. They are big supporters of the "Unity: Fighting Our Fights Together" campaign, which supposedly preaches universal tolerance. If these two revered hip-hop impresarios can combat anti-Semitism by sharing Gefilte fish and conducting Public Service Announcements with members of the World Jewish Congress, then maybe Deadlee can recruit them for a Gayngsta event?
* Orchestrate the perfect, nationally televised gay kiss between, say, Eminem and Fiddy. According to Deadlee, this kind of man-on-man love may already be happening at the Connecticut compound, but America needs to see it on primetime TV.
* Deadlee may not make LoveGodsWay's "safe music" list but he should recruit their support anyway. If Oscar Wilde is a "reformed homosexual," anyone can be.

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