Macklemore: ‘White Privilege II’ Gains Supporters Amid Twitter Feud
While Macklemore currently faces an array of criticism after the release of his new single, “White Privilege II,” he’s also beginning to gain supporters, including celebrities who state the rapper is “telling the truth.”
CNN reports that the lyrics of Macklemore’s newly-released single, which delves in police shootings and racism, created a stir of controversy on Twitter after some people perceived his lyrics as insults. From alleged insults about Miley Cyrus to Iggy Azalea, Macklemore’s words caused many people to question his motives, as well as his authenticity as a person.
Iggy Azalea, whom Macklemore inadvertently refers to as “fake and plastic,” blasted the rapper after she felt slighted. The “Fancy” singer posted a tweet indicating that it’s really Macklemore whose fake, given that he was friendly to her during past social events and gatherings.
https://twitter.com/IGGYAZALEA/status/690451451412365317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Other Twitter users threw diplomacy out of the window, bashing Macklemore, calling his new single the “worst song” ever. Rapper Azealia Banks joined in on Twitter and claimed she didn’t want or need Macklemore’s support, although others retorted that his song was meant for “White America.”
https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/690655012498862081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Yet, in the midst of a sea of criticism, celebrities are stepping forward to support the rapper and acknowledge the messages he’s trying to convey to society.
Huffpost reports that Atlanta rapper and producer Jermaine Dupri said that Macklemore is a respectable emcee who is supported in the hip hop community, despite the backlash he’s receiving.
“He’s a real emcee. And we, as a hip-hop community, we support real emcees. If we saw you before you had real success and if we know that you been out here trying to put out this message prior to you getting successful — which he has, he’s been talking the same way prior to people knowing him and being the success that he is — then that’s all he should pay attention to.”
Dupri did admit the song’s strong message, which delves into the Black Lives Matter movement and privilege based on skin color, caught him off guard. Yet, he also said that Macklemore is taking a step forward in opening about the uncomfortable topic of racism.
“When I saw it, I was like, ‘Woah! Okay, what is this about?’ But at the same time, he is telling the truth. I mean, he’s putting a message out here that we have to deal with as a society.”
Others agreed with Dupri’s assessment, including hip hop artist and social activist Talib Kweli. The “Get By” rapper slammed Iggy Azalea for apparently misinterpreting the lyrics of “White Privilege II.” and in doing so, Kweli tweeted that she showed her own “white privilege.”
Meanwhile, Macklemore explained that the line in his song about Iggy Azalea wasn’t meant to be an insult to her, but more so an implication of himself.
“That whole verse is me implicating myself. We’re all in the same place. We’re all in the same sphere. We are white artists that in the last couple years have been rightfully critiqued as appropriating black culture and benefiting from it.”
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]
