Snoop Lion, Frank Ocean: Snoop Dogg Talks About Homosexuality in Rap, Doesn't Know if Gay Rappers Will Ever be Accepted in Hip Hop, Calls Ocean a 'Singer' Not a 'Rapper'

One would think with Frank Ocean's recent success as an openly gay rapper, there would be more of an acceptance of homosexuality in the hip-hop world. However, legendary rapper Snoop Lion aka Snoop Dogg doesn't think this is the case. Snoop Lion made some interesting comments recently in an interview, questioning Ocean's effect on homosexuality in the rap world.

In addition to changing his name recently, Snoop Lion also converted to Rastafarianism. Gone are the Snoop Dogg rap days, instead Snoop Lion is rapping about the importance of preventing gun violence. This didn't stop Lion from giving his opinion on Frank Ocean, even if it does come across as an insult towards the Grammy Award winning rapper. Snoop Lion's new documentary and 2013 album titled "Reincarnated" give fans a new Snoop Dogg. Gone are the days of being a gangsta and pimp.

Snoop Lion didn't hold back though when talking about Frank Ocean and his views on homosexuality in an interview with The Guardian. "I don't have a problem with gay people," Snoop Lion told The Guardian in an interview. "I got some gay homies. Yeah, for real. People who were gay used to get beat up. It was cool to beat up on gay people back then. But in the 90s and 2000s, gay is a way of life. Just regular people with jobs. Now they are accepted, not classified. They just went through the same things we went through as black."

When asked if he thinks Frank Ocean coming out is a sign of progress, Lion didn't hold back. "Frank Ocean ain't no rapper," Lion said. "He's a singer. It's acceptable in the singing world, but in the rap world I don't know if it will ever be acceptable because rap is so masculine. It's like a football team. You can't be in a locker room full of motherf**king tough-ass dudes, then all of a sudden say, 'Hey, man, I like you.' You know, that's going to be tough." This isn't necessarily an insult towards Ocean, although no one would blame Ocean if he took it that way. Lion saying Ocean isn't a rapper could definitely be perceived as a slam by some. However, Lion makes an interesting point, comparing rap to football. The NFL is going through a similar issue as hip-hop, where it's perceived that homosexuality wouldn't be very accepted. Unlike rap, the NFL has yet to have a major star come out. However, if you listen to Snoop Lion, rap hasn't had one either.

Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo and gay rights activist recently talked about gay players in the NFL. He told the Baltimore Sun that a number of players in the NFL are considering coming out. "We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it," Ayanbadejo said. "There are up to four players being talked to right now and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out." This would be a big day for homosexuality in the NFL. Will hip-hop soon be next?

Click here to see a video of Ayanbadejo speaking in support of gay marriage and Mstarz's coverage of the NFL player's recent release from the Ravens.

Do you agree with Snoop Lion that it will be tough for homosexuality to ever be accepted in rap?