Jay Smooth Contemplates "No Homo"

Jay Smooth discusses "no homo"

Tags: discourse/language, gender, lgbtq, sex/sexuality, fag discourse, homophobia, hip hop, Identity politics, masculinity, 00 to 05 mins
Year: 2008
Length: 2:58
Access: YouTube

Summary: In this clip Jay Smooth of the Ill Doctrine remarks on the emergence and popularity of the phrase "no homo" in hip hop music. Smooth first notes how the term "no homo" was popularized by Cam'ron of New York's Dipset Crew, he critiques the term, then discusses whether it can even be used ironically as a critique of homophobia. The clip would work as a nice follow-up to C.J. Pascoe's Dude, You're a Fag, which argues that through a "fag discourse" boys effectively police the boundaries of masculinity. Students can be asked to consider how "no homo" might be a part of this discourse. Note that this clip works well in tandem with a second short clip from Brian Safi of "That's Gay," which similarly draws attention to the emergence and use of the phrase "no homo."

Submitted By: Jessica Holden Sherwood

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