Leviticus: Faggot

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"Leviticus: Faggot"
Leviticus Faggot German edition.jpg
Cover art for commercial international releases
Single by Meshell Ndegeocello
from the album Peace Beyond Passion
B-side "Deuteronomy: Niggerman" [1]
Released1996 (1996)
Genre Neo soul
Length6:08
Label Maverick
Songwriter(s) Meshell Ndegeocello [2]
Producer(s) David Gamson [3]
Meshell Ndegeocello singles chronology
"Who Is He and What Is He to You"
(1996)
"Leviticus: Faggot"
(1996)
"Never Miss the Water"
(1996)
Music video
"Leviticus: Faggot" at VH1.com

"Leviticus: Faggot" is a song written [2] and performed by Meshell Ndegeocello, issued as the second single from her second studio album Peace Beyond Passion . The song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard dance chart. [4]

Contents

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Kevin Bray. [5] The beginning of the video depicts a young man who is thrown out of his house for being gay, and the video concludes with the man (presumably) committing suicide. [6]

Controversy

Because of the subject matter, the use of the word "faggot" being used so prominently in the song, and presumably [7] the same-sex relations depicted in the video, many music video stations refused to air it without edits. The Box aired the video in its entirety, while MTV aired it but omitted a clip of the male protagonist showing the razor blade he later uses to commit suicide. [6] BET would not air the video at all, with then-music director Gregg Diggs stating that the network's decision not to air it was strictly because of the use of the word "faggot" and not because of "anything sexual". [7] Ndegeocello declared Diggs' explanation "a crock of bull" [7] and further stated that networks that edited the video or did not air the video missed the point that the song and video were making. [6] [7]

Chart positions

Chart (1996) [2] Peak
position
US Dance Music/Club Play SIngles ( Billboard )15

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References

  1. "Me'Shell NdegéOcello - Leviticus: Faggot (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs . Zink Media. 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Leviticus: Faggot - Meshell Ndegeocello | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  3. "Me'Shell NdegéOcello - Leviticus: Faggot (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  4. "Meshell Ndegeocello | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  5. ""Leviticus: Faggot" by Meshell Ndegeocello | Music Video | VH1.com". VH1 . Viacom International. July 3, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Atwood, Brett (June 15, 1996). "Billboard". Billboard . Los Angeles. p. 85. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "The Advocate". The Advocate . Here Media: 58. July 23, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2015.