Conscious Rap (Installment 2) #6

First Installment.
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The last artist I will call attention to is Ben Haggerty, A.K.A. Macklemore. Macklemore has touched on a multitude of topics including white privilege, same-sex marriage, drug epidemics, and politics. In his song “White Privilege”, he addresses his concerns that white privilege has made its way into hip-hop. He says, “‘Cause when I go to shows the majority have white skin // and white rappers’ albums really get the most spins” and “Claimed a culture that wasn’t mine // the way of the American” as he questions whether or not white privilege is a contributor to his success. The song is his way of contemplating whether he is part of the problem. Contrastly, his song “Same Love” is his way of fighting on the pro side of the gay rights movement. He strikes down those who use religion as a justification for homophobia with the lines “The right-wing conservatives think it's a decision // And you can be cured with some treatment and religion // Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition” and “Our culture founded from oppression // Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em”. He goes on to advocate for gay rights when he says “It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion // Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment // The same fight that led people to walk-outs and sit-ins
It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference”. This song contributed to Macklemore’s grammy wins in 2014. Another conscious way Macklemore has used his platform is for drug awareness. He took a stance against pharmaceutical companies because of prescription pill addictions in his song “Drug Dealer”. He compares Pharma to drug dealers in his chorus: “ My drug dealer was a doctor, doctor // Had the plug from Big Pharma, Pharma // I think he trying to kill me, kill me // He tried to kill me for a dollar, dollar”. He brings up how harmful addiction is with “No options, exhausted // This is not what I started // Walkin' carcass, I lost everything I wanted // My blinds drawn, too gone to leave this apartment”. Most hip-hop lyrics are pro-drug and glorify the experience, but Macklemore used his song to spread awareness of the real problems they caused.

Here is Macklemore performing "Same Love" while 33 couples get married on live television:

At face-value the hip-hop industry seems crass and at times too much, but conscious rap is the complete opposite. These rappers have advocated for the better of people, and used their genre to call out problems in our society.

https://www.npr.org/2012/11/23/165667816/macklemores-brand-of-socially-conscious-rap
https://genius.com/Macklemore-drug-dealer-lyrics