Fat Joe recently sounded off on homosexuality and Hip Hop, speaking with Vlad TV about his perspective on closeted rappers and the need for gays to come out. During the interview, he said that he’s definitely done songs with gay lyricists and that they shouldn’t be afraid to show who they are.

“I think I’ve done songs with gay rappers. I’m pretty sure of that. I’m pretty sure the football niggas is gay, the basketball niggas is gay – niggas is gay,” he said. “There’s millions of gay people in the world. Girls, too. Once again, I’m not a fan of that shit either. I’m a fan of, ‘Yo, I’m gay, what the fuck?’ 2011, you gotta hide that you’re gay? Be real! Like, ‘I’m gay, what the fuck?’ If you gay, you gay. That’s your preference. Fuck it, if the people don’t like it.”

He also gave his perspective on what he describes as Hip Hop’s “gay mafia,” referring to those who make moves behind the scenes. He says that gay members of the media are gatekeepers and hold a position of power.

“[Hip Hop] is the greatest gay market in the world. The Hip Hop community is most likely owned by gay. I happen to think there’s a gay mafia in Hip Hop. Not rappers – editorial presidents of magazines, the PDs at radio stations, the people who give you awards at award shows. This is the fucking gay mafia, man. They’re in power,” he continued. “So why wouldn’t a guy come out and say, ‘Yo, I’m gay’ and get that type of love? Like Lady Gaga, I don’t know if she’s gay but she’s running with that gay shit for real. And she’s winning. […] It’s 2011 going on 2012. I think if you’re gay, rep your set.”

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