Writer Jason Newman has a good article in URB Magazine called "The Out Crowd," one of the rare articles on the gay hip hop scene in a mainstream publication. Based around the film "Pass The Mic," which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, the article also gives a brief history of the reclusive sub-genre that's also called queer hip hop and homohop.

Newman also touches on the differences that exists within the scene.

"While there is no outright hostility within the community, an ideological divide does exist with regard to the role one's homosexuality should play within the realm of hip-hop. As Miss Money succinctly says in the film, 'I'm a hip-hop artist who's gay. I don't do 'gay' hip-hop.' ... 'It’s bullshit,' says Juba Kalamka, when asked about the debate. 'The fact that you are not heterosexual is the fulcrum of that conversation. It’s a shtick. This is show business.'"

To read about the movie, the music and gay hip hop artists, see also:

• The website for "Pick Up The Mic."
• The "Pick Up The Mic" blog.
• GayHipHop.com is a resource with a lot of links and podcasts.
• PeaceOUTFestival.com scanned and posted the article.

(Pictured: Aggracyst. Photo by David Findlay.)