Da Brat Believes Being Openly Gay In Hip Hop Is "Way Better Now"

BY Erika Marie 2.8K Views
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Da Brat, Jesseca Dupart
The Rap veteran officially came out last year and speaks on how Hip Hop has evolved to be more inclusive.

Some LGBTQIA+ artists spend the entirety of their careers, if not their lives, without ever speaking about their sexuality. It was about a year ago when Da Brat confirmed that she was gay, and while there has been speculation over the years, the So So Def icon revealed that she was afraid of speaking about her sexuality because of the stigmas in Hip Hop.

Since coming out, Da Brat has been candid about her relationship with mega-successful beauty business mogul Jesseca Dupart, and following the recent controversy with DaBaby, the Rap veteran sat down with TMZ to discuss the state of LGBTQIA+ acceptance in Hip Hop today.

"It's way better now. Back in the day, it wasn't cool," said Da Brat. She mentioned the backlash Ellen Degeneres endured when she came out including being dropped from brands and losing business deals because people didn't want to work with her. "But now, it's 2021. It's a different vibe. Totally. And people are one hundred percent supportive and I'm very grateful that I get to live out loud and I met somebody that made me really wanna not care about what anybody had to say."

Da Brat added that she's putting "herself first and my happiness first." Dupart said she was initially intimidated by dating a celebrity when they got together in 2019, but being gay is something that has been accepted more than in the past. The pair are putting their romance on full display with their new WeTV reality show Brat Loves Judy, and Da Brat spoke about letting the world into her personal life for the first time.

Check out the clip from TMZ below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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