Kanye West addressed homophobia in hip-hop culture during an interview with Sway, revealing his personal journey from harboring homophobic attitudes to advocating against discrimination. West explained how high school peer pressure and questioning of his masculinity led him to develop homophobic tendencies, using derogatory language and distancing himself from gay individuals. The turning point came when he learned his cousin was gay, forcing him to confront his prejudices. West drew a powerful parallel between discrimination against gay people and historical racism against Black Americans, noting that hip-hop culture often positions "gay" as the antithesis of authentic hip-hop. His candid reflection culminated in a direct appeal to fellow rappers and the broader hip-hop community to stop discriminatory behavior, stating emphatically, "That's really discrimination. To me, that's exactly what they used to do to black people."
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