Macklemore addresses the Israel-Hamas conflict amid continuing college protests.
On Monday (May 6), the rapper known for hits like “Thrift Shop” employed his artistic talents to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict, announcing that proceeds from the track would support Palestinian relief efforts, on socials.
“The people they won’t leave/ What is threatening about divesting and wanting peace?/ The problem isn’t the protests it’s what’s they’re protesting/ It goes against what our country is funding/ Block the barricade until Palestine is free/ Block the barricade until Palestine is free/ When I was 7 I learned a lesson from Cube and Eazy-E/ What was it again? Oh yea, fuck the police,” he raps in the opener.
Addressing the recent wave of college student protests across campuses in the United States, including Columbia University, Emerson College in Boston, and the University of Southern California, among others, he spit:
“Is students in tents, posted on the lawn/ occupying the quad is really against the law/ and a reason to call in the police and their squad/ where does genocide land/ in your definition huh?“
“HIND’S HALL. Once it’s up on streaming all proceeds to UNRWA,” he captioned the Instagram post, accompanied by a visual for the song.
Check out Macklemore’s new song, below.
As reported by CNN, Columbia University revealed plans to cancel its university-wide commencement ceremony scheduled for next week. Instead, smaller events will take place, partly due to security concerns, according to a university official. The official cited security concerns as a primary factor in their decision.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters that President Joe Biden, set to deliver commencement speeches at Morehouse College and West Point later this month, acknowledges the significance of these events as “moments of joy” and emphasized with the situation.
“We feel for each of the graduates, and we’re going to continue to reiterate the President’s comments and statements and what we’ve said from this podium — to call for protests peacefully, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do, but we do feel for them,” said Jean-Pierre, the outlet reports. “These are graduates who are going to miss out on an incredibly important day of commencement.”
Meanwhile, Macklemore fans appear to rally behind him, suggesting that others in the industry may should follow his lead.
“Macklemore is right, where are the big names in music? Why the fear? Why the silence? Art and music are the sanctuary of the oppressed, Last I checked we had freedom of speech 🎤 Proud of you brother!,” wrote one user below the post.
“Every time, we find you on the right side of history, brother. So, eternally grateful for you and what you put out into the world. ✊🏼🍉❤️,” another commented.
A third user wrote: “Love you for standing up and speaking up- you put all other silent celebrities to absolute SHAME.”