Responses to DaBaby's Homophobic Remarks Show Push and Pull of Progress in Hip Hop

'Homophobic remarks made onstage by rapper DaBaby sparked widespread criticism from fellow musicians as well as concert promoters. DaBaby was slow to issue an apology, and while he has since put several out, that hasn’t stopped festivals including Lollapalooza and Governors Ball from dropping him from their lineups. For queer, Black fans of hip hop, offensive comments like the ones made by DaBaby are the latest in a long list of alienating views put out by some of the genre’s biggest stars. At the same time, stars like Lil Nas X are showing how creative and boundary-pushing an openly gay rapper can be today. Joining  The Takeaway to discuss is Michael Jeffries, dean of academic affairs and professor of American Studies at Wellesley College and also author of Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop.'