Syd the Kyd on Odd Future, Her Sexuality and Why She Hates the Word "Lesbian"
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Star Foreman
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In this week's cover story, we kick it with Odd Future members Syd the Kyd and Matt Martians, and talk with them about their new duo The Internet, whose album Purple Naked Ladies was recently released digitally. Syd also opens up about her sexuality and what it's like being in a group that uses "faggot" so much. (Tyler employs it over 200 times on Goblin.) Below are excerpts from our conversations that didn't make the story.
On the lack of out-of-the-closet gay urban artists:
Syd: "There's Alicia Keys, who's married to Swizz Beatz - we know that shit ain't real. You got Queen Latifah kissing Common in movies. Missy Elliott saying she don't wanna hang with bitches. You know she loves her some bitches."
On the word "lesbian":
"I hate the word 'lesbian.' Or 'pussy.' Or even like, 'thespian.' They're just awkward words! If you know me you might hear me say the word 'gay,' or something. I'd much rather say gay than lesbian. Not only that, but I don't know if I'd kick it with a group of lesbians anyway."
On coming out via The Internet's "Cocaine" video:
Matt Martians and Syd the Kyd of The Internet Star Foreman
Syd: "I decided to do it because I wish I had someone like that [an openly gay female artist] while I was coming up. People write on my Tumblr just thanking me for making the video, saying that I really inspire them, and they want to be like me. But I wasn't always this way, this comfortable with myself, and I remember what that was like. So I figure, fuck it. Everyday people aren't given this opportunity and I realize that. And I didn't at first. I thought I was just lucky to be along for the ride."
On getting asked that question:
Syd: "I put myself out there because I'm sick of people asking. I've been asked it so many times. It's annoying, it's like, you can't answer that yourself? And awkward because it's not like they're going up to the other guys in the group and asking if they're straight. Now I don't have to answer that question outright. Because I don't want to. It's not that I'm not proud of who I am."
So, um, is she gay?
Syd: "Do I look straight to you? Shit, you got your answer -- go watch 'Cocaine.'"
On good hair:
Syd: "I used to have long hair and get it done every two weeks, and it was never worth it to me. I would just walk out of the salon and put it in a ponytail anyway. I didn't want that shit in my face, blowing all in the wind, turn my head and slappin' me -- that shit is annoying! And it was even more annoying having to pay $50-60 every two weeks to get it look decent. Or to get my mom to let me walk out of the house. The first chance I got to cut my hair I did. It was a start to trying to gain some sort of freedom."
On high school:
Syd: "I was a loner, I spent the first half of high school alone. I was extremely depressed at Palisades, I won't say that switching school even helped that completely. But the black kids at Pali felt that since they were so far away from the 'hood they were better than everybody, and if you weren't on a sports team and you were black, you didn't have any friends. So when I quit the basketball team, suddenly everybody stopped being my friend. But it made me a stronger person, and I'ma be rich when I grow up and make them all regret it."
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