Yesterday (December 29), Grammy Award-winning rapper Macklemore joined Ebro and Rosenberg on Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning to largely talk about racism, white privilege and police brutality among several pertinent issues. Macklemore delves into how, as a white rapper, he got involved with the current activism movement against police brutality and racial profiling in the wake of the death of Eric Garner and Mike Brown among other young Black men, while trying not to co-opt or make it all about himself. He also talks about realizing the reach and platform he has, and the need to use that platform in an authentic matter to have the race conversation.
They then go on to talk about race, white privilege and culture appropriation in the American music industry and how the privilege that exists in the music industry is only a symptom and by-product of the white privilege in America as a whole. Macklemore goes on to raise some poignant questions, asking why he is classed as ‘safe’, why, even though he swears and has a parental advisory sticker on his album cover, parents still allow their children listen to his music. He also asks why he can wear a hoodie and sag his pants, and not be labelled a thug and gang banger respectively.
The three also discuss the Grammy Awards, catching flack for being a white rapper, black versus white radio stations in America and who they choose to support, and the aftermath of the now-infamous Azealia Banks interview with Ebro a couple of weeks ago. Macklemore also touches on the truths behind some of what Azealia Banks said in that interview, and asks the question about whether if you have contributed to the culture or if you are just taking from the culture. Watch the hour-long conversation below, it’s yet another weighty interview.
#Peace.Love.Macklemore
