"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]
"Leviticus: Faggot" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Cover art for commercial international releases | ||||
Single by Meshell Ndegeocello | ||||
from the album Peace Beyond Passion | ||||
B-side | "Deuteronomy: Niggerman"[1] | |||
Released | 1996 (1996) | |||
Genre | Neo soul | |||
Length | 6:08 | |||
Label | Maverick | |||
Songwriter(s) | Meshell Ndegeocello[2] | |||
Producer(s) | David Gamson[3] | |||
Meshell Ndegeocello singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Leviticus: Faggot" at VH1.com | ||||
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]
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 (1996)[2] | Peak position |
---|---|
US Dance Music/Club Play SIngles (Billboard) | 15 |
| |
---|---|
Studio albums |
|
Notable singles |
|