By now, you might have heard of Terrence Dean, a former MTV executive/outer of famous, closeted black gays, and his much-hyped new book, Hiding in Hip Hop. He promised a tome filled with salacious secrets about hip hop's down low rappers, but it sounds like it's just a collection of blind items about gay or possibly gay black entertainers. False advertising! After the jump, check out some of the excerpts, courtesy of Gawker, and see if you know who Dean is writing about. The most glaringly obvious one is based on speculation about what went on behind closed doors of a mega-star named "Lucas's" on-set trailer. So, you know. Grain of salt.
• Dean discovers that two actors are a couple at Keenan Ivory Wayans birthday party:
"There were two male celebrity actors standing a few feet in front of us. They didn't notice us because the club was dark. Both men are young and very attractive and have starred in some comedic and dramatic films. One of the actors, "Junior," is a tall, muscular, brown-skinned brother who got his start in television and is known for his comedic roles in films. He never married, but has a couple of children with a girlfriend. The other dark-skinned actor, "Fritz," has been in a few movies and has starred in a popular television drama."
• Dean's friend Sandy gave him a few secrets from the set of a film she was working on:
"The lead was "Lucas," who is a megastar. No matter what film project he was attached to it was bound to be a box office smash. In Hollywood, he is considered a golden boy and very bankable. However, there were already many rumors swirling about his sexuality, and even though he married, it was hard for him to shake those pesky gay rumors."
Every day, Sandy says, Lucas' friend "Kareem, a leading [married] sitcom actor," visits his trailer, where they go inside and—everyone believes—have sex. Dean also says that Lucas runs with a circle of high-level superstar down low types. He later meets Lucas again and finds him to be "smooth, charismatic, and charming," and his wife even brings goodies to the film crew.
• And, as promised, here is the big gay rapper:
"Eli was a force to be reckoned with. He flew out the gate with his debut album and would become a mainstay in the ever-changing Hip Hop industry, where many rappers are one-hit wonders. He has been hailed as one of the greatest rappers to bless the mic."
It turns out that Corey has been giving oral sex to Eli (whom Dean describes as "fine as hell") in Eli's home studio. "Up until that moment I had never heard anything remotely close about the rapper being gay. Eli was a burgeoning superstar who parlayed his marketability into television and movie credits. He even had a promising clothing line. But every man's got needs and Eli's needed tending to."
Editor
Lauren Williams Editor-at-Large
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Huh?!
I guess no one told Terrence Dean that outing is so 10 years ago (if not longer). Digging around for who's on the "DL" doesn't really bring about a serious discussion about how homophobia is debated and combatted in hip-hop communities, such as the rise of gay hip-hop or "homo-hop." IMO, that would be a more interesting book than this hot mess of blind items and other gotchas.
I agree, this is an overrated tabloid. And it does nothing for the gay community. In fact, it's counterproductive. A gay man will out or teasingly out gay celebs for a profit. That's shady.
Terrence, as a gay man, you should stick to telling your own story, don't try to seep in your bio while outing people you may or may not have been with. It's tacky and ridiculous. To be real, you are a shame to our black SGL, gay community.
"But every man’s got needs and Eli’s needed tending to." oh geez… who is this E. Lynn Harris wannabe mofo…?
Ewww. Garbage. What people won't do for money.
I agree abbey I agree.
Mr. Dean,
That is very tacky what you are doing. Iam a straight woman, this is the problem today, we are always trying to hurt others for money. If you were a real man you would of outed this people by name. But you scared. Go sit down somewhere.
Okay - I'mma be real. I agree that …damn with the "low down dirty shame" comments above…but I'm not good with reading between the lines.
Who da hell is he talking about?
I really don't care who's gay - wouldn't make me stop patronizing their respective art…I'm just a nosey curious person that is intrigued!
I believe the way he has reported this is tasteful and considerate. Knowing how society reacts to homosexuals and how the black community reacts to black men on the DL, he protected his safety and also addressed a heavily interesting topic. Those who believe he should have typed names, are those who are unconcerned about his personal safety. His account is to address a situation that is taboo in black culture and in society as a whole. He is basically saying "yes there are gay black men in hip-hop". In addition, to name someone by name sets him up for a lawsuit. Obviously No. 7 is not educated on this fact.
To discredit this man's report of who is gay is to acknowledge you SUPPORT black men being on the DOWN LOW. This article reenforces the millions of females who are in denial about the DL status of many men. Possibly because these women wish they could be the mate of these men, but other men are getting more play.
So unless you are walking with these men 24/7 , don't be so quick to discredit the book. It could be right, it could be wrong………but to discredit something without PROOF is unwise!
I do agree with sunfresh…….I will have to do some serious research to discover who he is talking about on some of his accounts.
HOWEVER, I won't be so quick to say " he is lying" because I have no knowledge of what these men do behind closed doors. All I know of them is what they portray on the television screen.