standing up for who he is
by Douglas Messerli
West Akwuobi (screenplay), Letia Solomon
(director) The Cypher / 2020 [15 minutes]
This is a difficult work with which to
sympathize if you’re not part of the freestyle rapper world of Philadelphia.
Name calling, racial self-abuse, violence, and finally homophobic attacks
combine in this backroom competition that is simply hard to endure.
Khalil (Nigel Cox) in the first part of this film wins out over his
first competitor, making him the next man to compete against reigning champion
K.O. (Michael Devon). Having won, Khalil seeks out his gay lover Marc (Juan
Gil) to spend a night in his bed before the next day’s competition.
But his sister Kiki (Kerrice Brooks), also a would-be rapper, is hot on
his trail, discovering quite by accident that her brother is queer, snapping a
picture to prove it to herself.
That
photo gets stolen by others not long before the competition, which begins with
a put down of Khalil’s racial identity, social position, and even his mother,
all in the name of verbal power, answered by Khalil with equal force, who even
argues he will “fuck” his opponent’s father. But what follows Khalil did not
expect, as K.O. reveals his competitor’s homosexuality, shocking the entire
crowd.
After some long pauses, a bit of a stumble, and some deep thinking,
Khalil comes back by claiming that he already is a king with a crown (represented
on the necklace that his lover Marc has placed around his neck beforehand).
Suddenly acknowledging his sexuality, Khalil claims that he at least doesn’t
have to spout homophobic nonsense, that he knows who he is and is proud.
Whether he wins or not doesn’t really matter anymore. He’s become a true
man, admitting who he loves and what he stands for.
Nonetheless, this is not a piece that can expect much general
popularity. It’s a peek into a rough and tumble world where foul-mouthing one
another wins temporary popularity and little else. Yet, it perhaps represents
the only power remaining to these poor young men.
Los Angeles, January 26, 2026
Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (January
2026).
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