Macklemore raps about appropriating black culture in 'White Privilege II'
Macklemore released a nine-minute sequel to his 2005 track "White Privilege," appropriately titled "White Privilege II." In it, the white hip-hop artist calls out Miley Cyrus, Elvis Presley, and Iggy Azalea for "heist[ing]" black music and culture.
"You've taken the drums and the accent you rapped in/You're branded 'hip-hop,' it's so fascist and backwards [...] What's the intention?" Macklemore raps.
The lyrics, while aware of Macklemore's own "white privilege" ("I was many steps ahead to begin with") use a style of musical "storytelling" recently made popular by Kendrick Lamar and Hamilton. Ultimately, Macklemore concludes, "I'm gonna be me, so please be who you are." Listen below. Jeva Lange
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