Several heavyweights in the hip hop community have come forward in support of Odd Future’s Frank Ocean, who recently revealed that his first love was a man. To Ocean’s list of supporters we can add rapper 50 Cent, not exactly known for frequently exhibiting his compassionate side.
“Anyone that has a problem with Frank Ocean is an idiot,” 50 Cent told MTV UK. “I think Frank Ocean is a talented artist, I think he’s created material that made me know his name, that impressed me … The more successful that project is now, it’s going to leave people in the position where they can actually say: ‘Look, I’m gay.’”
These comments give fans a look at how much the South Side Jamaica Queens native has changed since taking the hip hop world by storm with his critically acclaimed solo debut “Get Rich Or Die Tryin.” Always outspoken, 50 had this to say about homosexuality in a 2004 issue of Playboy:
“I ain’t into faggots. 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 … But women who like women, that’s cool.”
Maybe it’s maturity, but 50 has truly evolved. He has apologized for these type of comments made in his younger days, claiming they are misunderstandings. He also points out that his mother dated women; he even rapped about it on the hit single “Hate it or love it” with The Game. But 50 also still slips up, such s when he had to issue an apology after putting offensive comments about autism and mental disabilities on Twitter.
While 50 has given his support to Frank Ocean, the rapper, who is no stranger to publicity stunts himself, didn’t rule out the possibility that Ocean’s “coming out” was merely to sell records, specifically Ocean’s new album, “Channel Orange,” which has gotten rave reviews.
“It’s cool. You can call it brave or you can call it marketing, because it was intentional; it wasn’t an accident.”
