"Leviticus: Faggot"
Cover art for commercial international releases
Single by Meshell Ndegeocello
from the album Peace Beyond Passion
B-side"Deuteronomy: Niggerman"[1]
Released1996 (1996)
GenreNeo soul
Length6:08
LabelMaverick
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]

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

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.
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