A$AP Rocky Supports Gay Equality In Chat With Alexander Wang

In a recent conversation with designer Alexander Wang for Interview, A$AP Rocky talked about the expected topics like fashion and New York City, but the pair also hit on heavier things like gay rights and racism. Interestingly, Rocky said that now that he has an audience paying attention to his words, he wants to use that responsibility for good, particularly regarding the topic of homosexuality in hip-hop (or, as he puts it, “the gay thing”).

“It’s 2013, and it’s a shame that, to this day, that topic still gets people all excited. It’s crazy. And it makes me upset that this topic even matters when it comes to hip-hop, because it makes it seem like everybody in hip-hop is small-minded or stupid — and that’s not the case,” A$AP Rocky said. “We’ve got people like Jay-Z. We’ve got people like Kanye. We’ve got people like me. We’re all prime examples of people who don’t think like that.”

But Rocky took it a step further, saying that he’s relishing the chance to be a role model now that the opportunity has been foisted upon him.

“I treat everybody equal, and so I want to be sure that my listeners and my followers do the same if they’re gonna represent me. And if I’m gonna represent them, then I also want to do it in a good way […] I just want to get it all out there and be the best role model that I can be, if people want to put me in that kind of predicament.”

Rocky feels that he’s particularly suited to break the barriers in hip-hop regarding homosexuality because he has experienced both sides of the debate firsthand, thanks to his upbringing in Harlem and his new experiences in trendy New York City neighborhoods like Soho. “[G]growing up in Harlem and then migrating down to SoHo and the Lower East Side and chillin’ down there and making that my stomping ground… That was a big thing, because I’m from Harlem, and downtown is more artsy and also more open-minded. So I got the best of both worlds.”

Regarding racism, Rocky hit a similar tone, saying that he doesn’t think his generation wants to keep operating with the more close-minded ideals of yore. “People are racist because parents and grandparents are embedding that kind of shit in their heads. But it’s 2013. Time goes on. We’ve moved past that. Everybody should be able to enjoy their life, because you only live once.” Or, to put it another way, “[A]s young people, we can do whatever the fuck we want.”

[via TowleRoad]