Macklemore has entered the 2024 rap beef world, but from a different angle. The Grammy Award-winning artist released a new freestyle via Instagram reel on May 6.
wait macklemore actually cooked with this pic.twitter.com/9gOFzVOuS2
— Hurt CoPain (@SaeedDiCaprio) May 7, 2024
The freestyle comes during nationwide college campus protests against U.S. support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas war and the provision of resources to the longtime ally amid their latest barrage of attacks on Palestine.
“The people, they won’t leave,” Macklemore rapped. “What is threatening about divesting and wanting peace?”
One of the Black protesters on the campus of Ole Miss was called a “fat b—” and reenacted monkey maneuvers by White male students. It was later revealed the students doing the monkey acts on video were removed from the fraternity Phi Delta Theta as a result of the clip going viral and the NAACP releasing a statement about the incident.
Macklemore called out President Joe Biden for funding the attacks. According to the U.S. News & World Report, America has given Israel more than $260 billion, which is more aid than the U.S. has given to any other nation since World War II.
“Blood is on your hands, Biden, we can see it all,” Macklemore rapped. “And f— no, I’m not voting for you in the fall. [I’m] undecided. You twist the truth, the people out here united.”
After Macklemore’s freestyle went viral, Biden doubled down on his support for Israel.
“We’ve seen a ferocious surge of antisemitism in America, and around the world,” Biden said. “Vicious propaganda on social media.”
Macklemore’s energy then moves to address the general silence among star musicians distracted by the industry obsession with Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the biggest feud in hip-hop’s 51-year history.
“The music industry’s quiet,” Macklemore rapped. “Complicit in their platform of silence. What happened to the artists, what do you got to say? If I was on a label, you could drop me today. And I’m fine with it, because the heart fed my page. I want a ceasefire, f— a response from Drake.”
Kehlani has been one of the more vocal star artists who have supported Palestine publicly. Mos Def also has been outspoken on the conflict over the past decade.
Mos Def cries in solidarity with Palestine. ❤️🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/gvBA4rOF8m
— Malcolm X Movement🔻 (@mxmovement) October 30, 2023
Redveil, a 20-year-old underground rapper, highlighted the foreign attacks at the end of his set at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Festival.
💔🇵🇸 “No one on this list made it past the age of 4!”
🚨🇵🇸 Rapper redveil STANDS WITH PALESTINE. pic.twitter.com/YNQ6qZGVni
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) November 14, 2023
At Coachella this year, rappers Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky and Childish Gambino’s outfits were all in solidarity with Palestine.
Tyler the Creator had on Palestine and Congo flag pins. ASAP Rocky’s boxers were arranged in the colors of the Palestine flag. Childish Gambino’s bucket hat was also Palestine colors 🥹🙏 #Coachella pic.twitter.com/kWYJYCvjy5
— HUGO 🌞 (@the_HUGOAT) April 14, 2024
Kid Cudi and The Weeknd have also spoken up. The Weeknd has reportedly donated over $2 million to help the people of Palestine.
Kid Cudi out here protesting in solidarity with Palestine pic.twitter.com/TvMWWUeC9R
— Mass Hannibal 🔻🇵🇸🪂🥷🚀 (@Devils__Leftist) November 12, 2023
