ILOVEMAKONNEN has spoken out at length, for the first time he came out as gay. Also for the first time since those awkward statements Migos made about him.
ILOVEMAKONNEN hasn’t been on many people’s radars since his hit “Tuesday” came and went. He seemed to reach his peak when Drake sought him out to sign him to his OVO Sound label, remix the song and eventually get nominated for a Grammy. But after that, he did not duplicate the success of the single, fell out of favor with OVO and has just lived his own life ever since.
Part of living his life was coming out as gay earlier this year. Many joked “we already knew that,” but for the artist sometimes referred to a just Makonnen it was a statement to the world that he wasn’t hiding from who he was or anyone else for that matter.
In a story for the FADER, the formerly Atlanta-based artist is found living in Portland, a world away from the rap life. In the interview, he was asked about his crumbled relationship with Drake and OVO as well as his thoughts on former “friends” Migos equating his coming out to a “f*cked up” world and later apologizing for their remarks. To let him tell it, he wasn’t really bothered by the remarks. He actually kind of agrees with Quavo’s stance on not being homophobic, but not because he happens to have a song with Frank Ocean.
“Hell nah, they ain’t got no problem with gay people,” Makonned said. “They f*ckin’ song is “Versace”! Like, the f*ck! N*gga, [Gianni] Versace is the gayest n*gga. They ain’t got issues with him, why they got issues with me?”
Here are some more things we learned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQigSg_l7zv/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He Feels OVO Only Signed Him Because They Needed A Hit Song
Makonned revealed that he never really had much of a relationship with Drake or the label except for the time they recorded the “Tuesday” remix and video.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHsX0l4Bhs2/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He Hasn’t Heard From Migos Directly, Yet
Nah! We don’t really talk no more. We ain’t never really talk, you know what I’m saying? I’ve always had business with everybody. But it wasn’t a whole bunch of like, “Yeah we used to [hang out]. Damn Makonnen! You coulda just told us, bruh, you can kick wit us all day.” And I was like, I really don’t kick wit you all. I really don’t know y’all. Like, it was all music shit.
You know it’s like, “Oh sh*t, all y’all from Atlanta.” But like, Atlanta’s big as fuck. So you see Metro getting groceries in the morning and 21’s just catching a goddamn cappuccino? Like, nah. Everybody’s living they own damn lives in this big ass place.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP0qRnGBDwA/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He Moved To Oregon
“I needed to go somewhere where I don’t know nobody else. And I feel like I was looking into Oregon like, Damn, what’s that — whole bunch of woods out there — coyotes and bears?! Shit and they had to tear down all these woods. That’s real man shit! And they didn’t have WiFi back then and they were traveling with lanterns and some dogs. Fuck. Those are men, dawg! And I don’t think nobody even cared if they were sleeping with each other or sleeping with whoever! As long is the job is goddamn done right and it’s correct and sustaining.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNbSweOB47E/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He Says Drake Threatened Him
“It was in the middle of the goddamn afterparty at the Up&Down club. Everybody that was in there was in there. I’m in here around these Vanguard Awards and I’m accepted and I took pictures with Chainsmokers and G-Eazy and everybody and we all friends. And I’m here in the middle of the floor, no security, and they coming and I just step to the side and they see me and stop and the biggest motherfucker in the game goes, woo woo woo, “Next time I’ma f*ck you up!”
And all security and everybody stop like, “What the f*ck.” And the guys with me was like, “What you do?!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMcCKKrBHaP/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He’s Popping In The EDM World Now
“In January I went on my little self discovery. I went to [the annual electronic music cruise] Holy Ship! and I got to spend time on the seas. That whole EDM scene, they take care of me. They very accepting of whatever you are. And I was out there on the ocean and it was a full moon and I had time to reflect and I thought, “I’ve been trying to make up shit and force relationships with girls and all this shit.” I was like, “Fuck that. I’m gon’ go ahead and do me.””
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJn7PHdhatA/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
Mike Will-Made It Still Wants To Work With Him
“Mike, he ain’t really like my trap music. [Laughs] At all! My whole career, he been like, “Bro, I want you to do pop music. When you ready to start doing this shit again, holler at me.” I had no budget and I was throwing scarves on my face [in the early videos] and goddamn trying to be looking all mysterious and shit. And he’s like, “Yeah man, that shit was cool as fuck. You had capes on like a superhero.”
He’d be all the way in meetings with Jimmy Iovine. We’d be arguing on the phone. Like, “How am I gon’ do that, Mike? Look at me, I’m from the southside, I sell drugs, who the fuck gon’ be trying to hear all this goddamn Prince shit from me? I’m fucking 240 pounds. How am I gonna fit into some sick ass boots right now?” But I guess he hears that thing in there. Like, “Yo shit is authentic. That real pain in your voice. You really be crying in there, huh?” I’m like, “Yeah, I do!” [Laughs]”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIifMdSBEbH/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He Told His Mom He Was Gay, Right Before He Tweeted It Out To The World
I told her, like, right before I was gonna tweet? It was like, “Hey mom” [mumbles] “I’m gay.” End of the day, sky’s blue. The next morning she like, “Makonnen what the f*ck! Everybody calling my goddamn phone!” You’d have thought I won the Grammys. Like, “What did you do?!” “I just came out as gay!” She like, “What? I thought it wasn’t a big deal.” “That’s what I’m saying, it’s not a big deal!” Well, it is a big deal in my field of … but she come from the hood. She know all this sh*t.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQvgmbkDK9F/?taken-by=champagnepapi&hl=en
He Doesn’t Think Drake Actually Has Time To Enjoy His Life
On going to Drake’s Calabasas home:
It was a dream come true. And then, Wow, its actually kind of sad up here. I’m in this pool and I’m the only person swimming and shit. And he had to go back on tour. I was like, Oh, he probably tired as fuck. He don’t have time to enjoy any of this shit. That’s probably why he giving me time. He working! I get it man. He definitely hard-working. I give him the utmost respect.
He Fantasizes About Soccer Player Cristiano Ronaldo
Makonnen says he’s never had a boyfriend, but, if he did…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ3iR86lt3Q/?taken-by=ilovemakonnen&hl=en
He’s Drug-Free Now
At a time, but not anymore. I don’t do any of that stuff. I’m a hustler and I like to sell so I was like, “What’s in demand,” and then, “Shit, I got a plug!” But it seems like the pack has gone everywhere. Everybody fucking gone crazy! I don’t do none of that sh*t no more.
Read the entire story here.
