Kanye West praises Frank Ocean for combating homophobia in music industry

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

The rapper has spoken out in support of his fellow singer.

Kanye West has voiced his support of Ocean, who he believes ā€broke groundā€ in the genre by discussing his past relationship with a man back in 2012.

Kanye West praises Frank Ocean for combating homophobia in music industry

The ā€˜Gold Diggerā€™ singer said that Ocean had made a brave move by opening up about his sexuality in a genre which is notoriously homophobic.

ā€œLike people donā€™t have a problem with white rappers now because Eminem ended up being the greatest artist, and everyone thought that with Frank Ocean,ā€ he told contactmusic.com.

ā€œI think itā€™s so clichĆ© to mention him with this subject, but there always are people who broke the ground and I think he is the one who broke the ground because people donā€™t give a f**k.

ā€œPeople love his music so much. The people who break the stereotypes make history,ā€ he added.

The rapper added that he can relate to Ocean because of the prejudice he faced when entering the design industry ā€“ where he says he was singled out because he wasnā€™t gay.

ā€˜Yeah, itā€™s funny. Isnā€™t it so funny how just the culture of different art forms are so different?ā€

ā€Where itā€™s like I felt that I got discriminated against in fashion also for not being gay,ā€ he said ahead of the release of his second fashion range.

Kanye West praises Frank Ocean for combating homophobia in music industry

ā€œWhereas in music you definitely get discriminated against if you are gay. And it definitely takes some amazing talents to really break down that barrier.ā€

ā€œI just thought it was interesting to point that out about the fashion world and the music world and how just culturally itā€™s reverse discrimination.ā€

The rap star gained praise earlier this year, when he gave an unexpected response when he met Caitlyn Jenner for the first time after being introduced by wife Kim Kardashian.

ā€œYou couldnā€™t have been up against more,ā€ the 38-year-old said.

ā€œLike, your daughter is a supermodel, youā€™re a celebrity, you have every type of thing, and it was still like, ā€˜f*** everybody, this is who I am.ā€™ā€