Yesterday, on her MySpace page, California rapper Melange Lavonne lashed out at mainstream media’s treatment of her brand of hip-hop. First The Tyra Show and now, Spin magazine. Spin’s article “Gay Rap: Straight Outa the Closet” details the struggles of the gay genre of music, a well-done article by David Marchese that apparently left out Ms. Lavonne. According to her at least. “After a 45 minute interview with…Spin Magazine, to my surprise I was excluded from March’s Issue in Spin. Why? I’m not sure, I can only assume. Perhaps Mr. Marchese feels my music is not the proper representation of the Gay hip-hop community, maybe he feels my musical content isn’t valid enough for mainstream. I’m not saying other artists don’t deserve recognition, but not even one openly gay female was mentioned in the article, and I gave him some names of female MC’s.”
Apparently, Tyra Banks wasn’t all that nice to her either. They allegedly call her up, invite her in and then snub Lavonne at the last minute. “This particular incident reminds me of the Tyra Banks show. How they found me on the afterellen website off an article and inquired about me coming on, and in the process they asked my manager for a list of other gay openly rappers, ” Lavonne mentions in her post, “After being back stage for a few hours waiting at Tyra Banks Show and having their makeup artist prepare me for the show, the production assistant Coreen decided that my story wasn’t controversial enough for the show. The last minute they sat me in the audience off to the side where the lights from the set-up didn’t even hit, you might think I am lying but this is the truth. I wasn’t even in camera view.” 
So what is up with Lavonne? Is it sour grapes or does mainstream media have something against her? Lavonne may not have that harder edge that rap is identified with song titles like “Gay Parenting” or “Gay Marriage” but it’s somewhat interesting that her side of the spectrum wouldn’t be mentioned. Marchese’s article is a good read but if what Lavonne said is the case, was she merely edited out or wasn’t she hard enough like featured artists Captain Magik and Last Offence?
Either way, Lavonne sounds like she’s over it and has targeted her sites with her next album, “I’m constantly having to prove myself, … having to compete for a spot for something, or someone, or some award, and I’m the underdog that gets thrown the scraps. Nevermind my message, my struggle, my purpose, I am well beyond paying my dues so you can’t tell me nothing. I’m about to be a straight up asshole in a minute, seriously. You think my last album “The Movement” was a statement…it’s about to get a lot deeper, fasten your seat belts because I’m lyrically going to destroy careers, corporations and egos. It’s my time to bring out the gloves.“
Oh snaps! We hope we’re on her good side.
Hint of Mint 