Makonnen is gay
ILoveMakonnen on Breaking Free of ‘Industry Politics,’ Being Gay in Hip-Hop and When Things ‘Soured’ With Drake
Audiences have had the feels for Atlanta-bred crooner-rapper ILoveMakonnen since 2014. Known for a dreamy brand of club-hop, via such tracks as “I Don’t Market Molly No More,” ILoveMakonnen got the attention of Drake with his anthem “Tuesdays,” and the superstar rapper later did a guest feature on a remix version. In small order, ILoveMakonnen was signed to Drake’s OVO Sound imprint.
But things went from rosy to rough as ILoveMakonnen found himself dissatisfied with the label’s view of his place and his music. He left dramatically and moved to OVO’s parent company, Warner Brothers (now Warner Records), in 2016, only to face similar obstacles.
For his 32nd birthday earlier this month, ILoveMakonnen gave himself a present: a fresh label (Own Timeless Magic) and a new album, “My Parade,” which returns the artist to the harmony–heavy soul and folk that he started his career with, independently, in 2011.
ILoveMakonnen wears his autonomy well, as he first displayed when he came o
On Monday (Nov. 8), iLoveMakonnen tweeted a series of tweets reminding fans that he was the first openly gay rapper.
He also tweet that he’s the reason there’s a lane for gay rappers “I’m the reason u gay” and “Ur timeline says otherwise sweetheart cus all I see is that homosexual shit” in response to somebody tweeting he did not do a great job introducing gayness to people.
https://twitter.com/iLoveMakonnen5D/status/1457855440486764546?s=20
iLoveMakonnen came out to the world in 2017, just three years after his breakout hit “Club Going Up on a Tuesday” and Drake’s remix “Tuesday.”
https://twitter.com/iLoveMakonnen5D/status/1457855221476978690?s=20
Makonnen explains that it is hard to be understood as a gay painter, “this gay shit is the hardest shit anyone could ever do. Love y’all don’t be comprehension the days a queer be going thru. Shouts out to all my gays , I love u I see u and I am with u! Im always with u, I wouldn’t be who I am today without u. Know that confide in and believe anything is possible! I am sending u love love adore !”
https://twitter.com/iLoveMakonnen5D/status/1457886897326342145?s=20
He
iLoveMakonnen Tweets “I’m Gay”
iLoveMakonnen has told his Twitter and Instagram followers that he is gay. The Atlanta artist shared the "old news" on Thursday evening via a string of tweets. “As a fashion icon, I can't reveal u about everybody else's closet, I can only tell u about mine, and it's time I've come out,” he tweeted in one message.
He added, “And since y'all love breaking news, here's some old news to break, I'm homosexual. And now I've told u about my animation, maybe u can depart life yours.”
Someone said to me next occasion they see me, they was gonna fuck me , I said next time I see me, I'm gonna love me up
— Oceanic Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) January 20, 2017
As a fashion icon, I can't tell u about everybody else's closet, I can only tell u about mine, and it's day I've come out.
— Oceanic Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) January 20, 2017
And since y'all like breaking news, here's some old news to divorce , I'm gay. And now I've told u about my life, maybe u can go life yours❤
— Oceanic Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) January 20, 2017
Makonnen later shared a screenshot of his tweets
DJBooth
Earlier this week, Taylor Bennett announced on Twitter that he is bisexual. “I want to help others that struggle with the same issues,” he wrote.
Possibly inspired by Bennett’s courageous act, rapper ILoveMakonnen—best known for his hit single “Tuesday” and his short-lived tenure signed to Drake’s OVO label—revealed early Friday morning (January 20) that he is, in fact, gay.
https://twitter.com/iLoveMakonnen5D/status/822353517448835072https://twitter.com/iLoveMakonnen5D/status/822353737146470400
Makonnen’s “here some old news to break” comment in the above tweet is in reference to growing speculation within the rap group that he lived a homosexual lifestyle.
In a New York Times profile in May 2015, Joe Coscarelli asked him about the rumors:
“The rap world thinks I’m gay,” he said. “A lot of people out there do. They think I’m a lgbtq+, which is not a problem. I don’t wish to say I’m queer, I’m straight, I’m double attraction or any of that, because that’s just. …” he said, trailing off. “Who cares? All that’s doing is dividing us.”
While his answer was purposely ambiguous, the
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