toxic masculinity is the reason behind grandmaster flash’s kidd creole allegedly killing homeless man

The trend of violence and homophobia in male culture has an effect on everyone, whether they’re conscious of it or not. The psychological confines of anti-gay stereotyping dictate the thoughts and actions of everyone it encounters, and the expectations that come with it have written a narrative that must be reversed.

Last Tuesday, founding member of the legendary Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Nathaniel Glover– a.k.a Kidd Creole–murdered a homeless man; stabbing him in the chest with a steak knife after receiving what he thought was a homosexual advance.

The man, later identified as 55 year old John Jolly was himself a registered sex offender, but whether or not the approach to Glover was sexual is not proven, or frankly, relevant. 

Overall, the male response to conflict has a societal precursor; the way in which one responds to a “threat” dictates how manly they are, and despite the changing times, this is an old narrative that needs ultimate reworking. On the surface the 57 year old rapper reacted to threats from a random homeless man he assumed to be  making unwanted homosexual advances, but dig a little deeper and the roots of this incident are clear.

Homophobia is an old and still-prevalent prejudice, and that, fused with the mens’ subconscious reliance on overt masculinity leaves little room for constructive resolution. Adding an extra layer, Glover’s status in the world of Hip-Hop feeds a narrative as unforgiving as it is influential.

Why was Glover’s response to confront Jolly instead of walking away? And why did Glover have a steak knife on deck? And why was he so ready to use it? Why is self-preservation weak, and why is homosexuality a “threat”?

Regardless of particulars, here are the facts: We don’t need any more black men killing black men. Now Kidd Creole has gone from Hip-Hop pioneer, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, to charged with second degree murder, and maximum life sentence.

It’s time to redirect the conversation from punishment to prevention, and realize that situations like these are always deeper than the surface.