Popping culture: Hip-hop video looks at homophobia, Azealia Banks meets Paris Is Burning

After the recent coming out of R&B and hip-hop wunderkind Frank Ocean, it’s good to see a recent video by Murs features the emcee portraying Roderick, the conflicted love interest of Jonathan, a young man who is on his way to college. Their love goes awry because of Roderick’s internalized homophobia. A great video, a heartfelt story and a smart move toward erasing homophobia in the world of hip hop and R&B.

*

Someone out there in the wonderful world of the internet has put out a fan video of Azealia Banks’s “Fierce” – a track that sends love to the New York ballroom scene – and mixes in snippets of “Paris Is Burning.” It is a wonderful example of post-modern genius. Listen and watch now.