The Blatant Hate on Macklemore is Pure Bullshit

If you watched the Grammy’s or heard anything about early coverage from the day the nominations came out, you know that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were noms in Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song,  and Best Rap Album, to which he took home four wins. Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Madonna (ew), and Queen Latifah made history by pissing quite a few people off and stirring up the hate that has been following this amazing dude since the mainstream get go.

33 mixed and same gender couples were legally married by (SURPRISE) ordained minister Queen Latifah. I, personally, thought this was a badass way to say a polite “fuck you” to all of the people who harbor hate and anger towards the LGBTQ community, and towards Mack for being a straight, white rapper for standing up for something he believes in. I remember, vividly, the first time I heard “Same Love;” I sat in my car and truly listened to every word. I wasn’t just hearing a song on the radio anymore…it was a message. I went and purchased “The Heist” soon after that and was dumbfounded by how fucking good every song was. It wasn’t regular rap music; there was a message in every song. Mack spoke of consumerism in “Thrift Shop” and “Wings”, he explained struggles in “10,000 Hours” and “Starting Over.” This wasn’t an assortment of songs with messages like “fuck bitches, get money” or getting fucked up on purp and chill in’ with homies. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I was listening to someone with a message that needed to be heard. Don’t get me wrong, I still listen to rappers like Drake and Eminem, but there is something truthful about the way Mack lives his life and doesn’t change to conform to the expectations of the industry.

When I hear hate regarding “Same Love” or just the fact that a straight guy is trying to be an ally, it pisses me off. What the fuck is wrong with someone standing up for what they believe in? I see nothing wrong with being a vegan, but it’s just not for me. Am I a hypocrite? Nope. So how come a straight guy with an awesome platform can’t advocate for a cause that needs light shed on it? He has personal opinions, just like everyone else, and because of his chosen employment field, he can bring attention to the struggles of being LGBTQ. I sincerely believe that he has a dog in this fight somewhere, whether it be metaphorically or literally, and it shouldn’t instill hate in anyone for someone speaking their mind.

Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but if we can accept Paris Hilton “rapping,” then maybe we can stop hating on Macklemore for making good music about real issues.