---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dancehall has always had a homophobic…"
description: "\"Dancehall has always had a homophobic problem, but you go to dance parties in Jamaica, and some of the biggest dancers are kinda gay, just not outspoke..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png"
---

#  Dancehall has always had a homophobic problem, but you go…

![“Dancehall has always had a homophobic problem, but you go to dance parties in Jamaica, and some of the biggest dancers are kinda gay, just not outspoken about it. Dancehall was the first kind of music I was DJing, and it was always more about the rhythm.” quote by Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png)

> “Dancehall has always had a homophobic problem, but you go to dance parties in Jamaica, and some of the biggest dancers are kinda gay, just not outspoken about it. Dancehall was the first kind of music I was DJing, and it was always more about the rhythm.”

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker acknowledges dancehall’s homophobic issues while noting hidden LGBTQ+ presence, focusing on rhythm over politics.

**In simple terms:** Dancehall has hidden queer influence despite homophobia.

Key Takeaway

Recognize diversity in music scenes.

Themes

culture inclusion music

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical social commentary

When to use this quote

- club events
- DJ sets
- music production

Key Concepts

LGBTQ+ visibility genre dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can scenes address hidden biases?
- What role does rhythm play in acceptance?

A Different Perspective

May downplay systemic homophobia.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancers/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Jamaica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jamaica/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Outspoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outspoken/) [Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parties/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/)

## Related quotes

> [I think, even though homophobia still exists, there is much more of a dialogue and a taboo around being homophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-even-though-homophobia-still-exists-there-is-much-more-of-a/)

[Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/)

> [I'm not homophobic at all and I have a lot of gay friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-rice/i-m-not-homophobic-at-all-and-i-have-a-lot-of-gay-friends/)

[Stephanie Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-rice/)

> [And why is it "homophobic" for Senate Republicans to look askance at sex in public bathrooms? Is the Times claiming that sodomy in public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/and-why-is-it-homophobic-for-senate-republicans-to-look-askance-at/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [I'm 100 million percent not homophobic. I despise that label being attached to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-m-100-million-percent-not-homophobic-i-despise-that-label-being/)

[James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/)

> [“I'm gay." "Oh. Of course." Immediately, Martin regretted saying "of course". He should have acted surprised. People are flattered if you act surprised when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/i-m-gay-oh-of-course-immediately-martin-regretted-saying-of-course-he/)

[Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/)

> [I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-would-refuse-to-go-to-a-homophobic-heaven/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [“Regardless of who I dated, Valentino always stuck by me. It was one of those things I also learned about during college. People, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senayda-pierre/regardless-of-who-i-dated-valentino-always-stuck-by-me-it-was-one-of/)

[Senayda Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senayda-pierre/)

> [Being gay is not a choice. Being homophobic is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-gay-is-not-a-choice-being-homophobic-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I used to be homophobic, but as I got older, I realized that wasn't the way to do things. I don't discriminate against anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/i-used-to-be-homophobic-but-as-i-got-older-i-realized-that-wasn-t-the/)

[ASAP Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/)

> [I don't think I'm a gay icon. I have no axe to grind. I mean, I'm clearly not homophobic! I'm not pro or con.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-o/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-gay-icon-i-have-no-axe-to-grind-i-mean-i-m/)

[Steve-O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-o/)

> [You're not homophobic for thinking that something gay is bad. All gay movies are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katya-zamolodchikova/you-re-not-homophobic-for-thinking-that-something-gay-is-bad-all-gay/)

[Katya Zamolodchikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katya-zamolodchikova/)

> [To stand together against homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and racist agendas. I’m an optimist and I can’t help but feel hopeful about the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/to-stand-together-against-homophobic-sexist-misogynistic-anti-semitic/)

[Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/)

> [I think the record industry, by and large what's left of it, is still totally homophobic. I think it's much less so in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-gore/i-think-the-record-industry-by-and-large-what-s-left-of-it-is-still/)

[Lesley Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-gore/)

> [Hip-hop is contributing to American society's misogyny and racism, hyper-sexuality anti-Black representations. Hip-Hop isn't setting the standard for misogyny. No one reduces the presidency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/hip-hop-is-contributing-to-american-society-s-misogyny-and-racism/)

[Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/)

> [“Joe. This shit started because of me confronting the dude who threatened to out Simeon. You think I’m stupid enough to trust someone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/joe-this-shit-started-because-of-me-confronting-the-dude-who/)

[Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/)

## More by Diplo

> [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [That's what I care about is the people I work with and representing them and helping to make their music apparent for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/that-s-what-i-care-about-is-the-people-i-work-with-and-representing/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [Gucci is a rapper that doesn't try and be anything he's not - he's straight up. Yeah, maybe it's ironic and all, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/gucci-is-a-rapper-that-doesn-t-try-and-be-anything-he-s-not-he-s/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [If kids can have some sort of social responsibility, that's cool. But if they're not actually having social responsibility, and they're kind of hiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/if-kids-can-have-some-sort-of-social-responsibility-that-s-cool-but/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [It sucks for me, because now I have to not be as crazy as I am on the Internet. Which totally sucks, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/it-sucks-for-me-because-now-i-have-to-not-be-as-crazy-as-i-am-on-the/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [I've probably got the most eclectic social media there is because it literally goes from hanging out with my son at a park, to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-ve-probably-got-the-most-eclectic-social-media-there-is-because-it/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [To me, rap music is bigger than who's the coolest rapper, the biggest rapper. It's everything about your personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/to-me-rap-music-is-bigger-than-who-s-the-coolest-rapper-the-biggest/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [I just love to collaborate with people who take my ideas real serious, and they don't put up walls around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-just-love-to-collaborate-with-people-who-take-my-ideas-real-serious/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [I was never good at scratching, but I was good at collecting old records. Florida was a great place for that, because it's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-was-never-good-at-scratching-but-i-was-good-at-collecting-old/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [If anybody is excited about my music, that's all I care about. I care about people who are excited about new music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/if-anybody-is-excited-about-my-music-that-s-all-i-care-about-i-care/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [Man, I don't got any real fans. Just fair-weather ones and groupies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/man-i-don-t-got-any-real-fans-just-fair-weather-ones-and-groupies/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [I'm trying to always do new things because if you stay behind and fight the future, you are just going to be left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-m-trying-to-always-do-new-things-because-if-you-stay-behind-and/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [Money, for me, is just to create bigger and better things. A lot of guys in the deejaying world flaunt it, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/money-for-me-is-just-to-create-bigger-and-better-things-a-lot-of-guys/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [I was playing hip-hop when everybody else was playing the giant rave music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-was-playing-hip-hop-when-everybody-else-was-playing-the-giant-rave/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [New York feels like the whole city is into dance music. That's not how it felt when I was younger. There was more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-feels-like-the-whole-city-is-into-dance-music-that-s-not-how/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

[Explore all 76 Diplo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Dancehall has always had a homophobic problem, but you go to dance parties in Jamaica, and some of the biggest dancers are kinda gay, just not outspoken about it. Dancehall was the first kind of music I was DJing, and it was always more about the rhythm.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Diplo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-problem-but-you-go-to-dance/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-problem-but-you-go-to-dance/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/diplo-9004_about_dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-pr_1237147.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Dancehall has always had a homophobic problem, but you go to dance parties in Jamaica, and some of the…” — Diplo",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Diplo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Dancehall has always had a homophobic...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-problem-but-you-go-to-dance/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/dancehall-has-always-had-a-homophobic-problem-but-you-go-to-dance/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
