GROWING UP MACKLEMORE TOPIC FREE

Later, he went on to discuss how certain political and religious leaders influenced the fight against marriage equality. In the song, Macklemore talks about how, when he was a little boy, certain stereotypes made him think he was gay. The song, Same Love, shocked his listeners due to its serious pro-stance on LGBT rights. His main point is that people can’t change who they are and that love is love.” But, in July after his debut, Macklemore dropped a single that took a political, controversial stand. For a while, as Macklemore built his image, he kept releasing catchy, fun songs. The fun natured song became a household favorite, the catchy beat and unusual topic of thrift shopping lured in thousands. Macklemore became big in 2012 when he released his first song, Thrift Shop. To me, the most important musical activist is the Seattle native, Ben Haggerty, or, as most people know him, Macklemore. We are consistently exposed to artists, musicians, and authors who use their talent to be activists.

It’s through social media and technology that our awareness is created. My generation is actually much more aware of social issues and accepting of diverse situations than those that fall before us.

Technology and social media have ‘taken our attention away from what’s really important in life’. * The article originally stated that 'Thrift Shop' was the first single off of The Heist, when, in fact, it was the fourth.My generation is often chastised for being materialistic and ignorant of the problems in the world. Tickets to the show are available at, 80, or the Theatre Box Office and range from $40.50 to $70.50. But, I am a white guy proselytizing on elements of the Black experience, so.

Something about 'Thrift Shop,' specifically and its reception in a country that often denies, outright, the existence of racism amongst its citizens, just smacks of blackface or.something ugly. If I can't find the perfect words and phrases to express the complexities and engrained nuances of this issue, I can only fall back on my gut: it feels too much like a further denigration of something African-American, once again, using a Black mode of expression for white profit, and doing so with little respect for the art form.Īgain, I do not put the responsibility or blame entirely upon Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' shoulders, they have been releasing hip-hop music since 2008, and much of it is serious stuff. The country versions of classic hip-hop songs, is a great example. I guess what I mean to say is, I've grown very weary of historically Black art forms being used by white folks to exercise their white guilt or air their grievances or poke fun of whiteness, in a comedic tone.

GROWING UP MACKLEMORE TOPIC FREE

I do, however, blame us as viewers, taking another ride on the tired carousel of African-American appropriation, that in this scenario, gets a free pass because it is seemingly using whiteness as a punchline and does so on the back of a sincere art form. My issue with the duo lies completely in their initiation into the mainstream via a hip-hop aestheticization, while operating above the safety net of 'we're white guys making fun of white people, so it's ok.' That is not to say I exclusively blame the artists – the duo have been working in the hip-hop medium together since 2008. Known for taking the swagger and confrontational content of hip-hop and white-washing it so that even grandmothers, toddlers and Republicans can tolerate their kitschy interpretation (' Thrift Shop'), Macklemore – whose name hurts my tongue and sours my tastebuds to pronounce – and DJ/Producer Ryan Lewis – whose name is perfect for a white dude from Seattle, because he is a white dude from Seattle – will be at the Majestic Theatre Monday, January 11.īefore you get all up in arms, dear reader, regarding my displeasure with the duo, particularly their introduction into popular culture via the aforementioned 'Thrift Shop' video, let me say that I think that the release of ' Same Love' and their contribution of one dollar from every ticket sold on this tour to Equal Justice Initiative, Youth Speaks and the 30/30 Project is admirable and commendable.

Growing up macklemore topic