Macklemore's Gay Anthem

Interview

Friday, November 30, 2012

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Ryan Lewis and Macklemore (Jason Koenig)

Macklemore is an unlikely rapper: he’s from the Pacific Northwest, he’s white, he’s proud of wearing secondhand clothes. And now he’s famous for his support of gay marriage.

Macklemore’s “Same Love” came out of his frustration with hip-hop’s misogyny and homophobia: “Those are the two acceptable means of oppression in hip-hop culture,” he tells Kurt Andersen. “It’s 2012. There needs to be some accountability. I think that as a society we’re evolving and I think that hip-hop has always been a representation of what’s going on in the world right now.”

Does he think the song — and its viral video — helped sway Washington’s recent referendum upholding gay marriage, Kurt Andersen wonders. “Yes, I do,” he says.

When everyone else
Is more comfortable
Remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans
That have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same
But that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal
Damn right I support it.

He began writing the song from the perspective of a gay 13-year-old, after his mother sent him an article about the boy’s suicide. “I played it for my producer, Ryan Lewis,” who told him “‘You know what? This is good, but this isn’t your story and you have a story.’” Macklemore has close gay relatives, and comes from an especially liberal corner of Seattle, but “I also come from the Catholic Church and the hip-hop community, which stereotypically are very homophobic communities,” he tells Kurt.

And if supporting gay marriage wasn’t brave enough, Macklemore has a hit right now on pop radio, "Thrift Shop," about shopping for secondhand clothes. “In hip-hop culture we’re constantly being told to buy Louis Vuitton, buy Prada,” he says. “It really stuck out.”

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' new album is The Heist.

Bonus Track: How Macklemore got his name

When Ben Haggerty was 17, he spent a summer in New York City. He made the trip to study art, but spent more time running around the city dressed in ridiculous thrift shop finds. In costume, he called himself Professor Macklemore, which he’d later shorten to his rap nom de plume.

Video: "Same Love"

Video: "Thrift Shop"

Music Playlist

Same Love (feat. Mary Lambert)

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Album: The Heist

Label: Macklemore

Purchase: Amazon
BomBom (feat. The Teaching)

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Album: The Heist

Label: Macklemore

Purchase: Amazon
Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Album: The Heist

Label: Macklemore

Purchase: Amazon
A Wake (feat. Evan Roman)

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Album: The Heist

Label: Macklemore

Purchase: Amazon

Guests:

Ben Haggerty

Produced by:

Sean Rameswaram

Comments [8]

AdamSmith

So many little details, this site reserves the right to edit comments, I am 50-50 on this at the moment the details of the interview , and responses in comments. I support gay marrage, respect to those who deserve it and fuck what anyone else thinks but don't judge there oppinion out of hate. Love the video the lyrics are very powerfull, and knew thrift shop would go str8 to #1 & stay there for a while, one love.

May. 10 2013 07:55 AM

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INeverKnew from Boston, MA

His music is a joke and not real hip hope. He's just another white rapper who doesn't really know anything about the genre and he will eventually fade away just like the other ones who came in and went out. Only a very few have been able to maintain and that's because they have actually lived the lifestyle. Macklemore is just some wealthy white kid from the suburbs trying to be cool. Knock it off.

Apr. 25 2013 09:10 PM

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Gimmick from NYC

NPR is the only one who thinks these rap gimmicks are great.
Macklemore is pretty much a joke to anyone who knows better.
SOOOOO BAAAADDDDD...

Mar. 14 2013 06:36 PM

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Lauren Donner

"Chucking it all and getting your teaching credentials"? You have done a series of shows on creativity and I know you appreciate what great "art teachers" do to foster students to become the great artists. Being an art teacher is NEVER a what you can do if you DON'T make it as an artist. For most of us it is the most creative of all professions. How can you get students to understand the concepts of what makes a great artwork and give them enough training to allow them to create artwork and creating opportunities for young artist to explore ideas in visual and performing arts. No one who has ever had a great teacher in the arts thought of that teacher as "Chucking it all.."

Dec. 02 2012 12:24 PM

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Debra Kuglin from Minneapolis

There is so much hate and hunger in the world it seems so asinine to be upset about who someone loves.

Dec. 02 2012 08:21 AM

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Carey Baumgarten

Macklemore's track is called Wings, not Flight..... yea, I'm old....

Dec. 01 2012 03:07 PM

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Carey Baumgarten from New Hampshire

I'm a East Coast woman in her late 50's - pretty traditional - I just love Macklemore. He has such strong messages with compelling lyrics and music. Listen to Flight too. Wonderful mission. I'm so glad he is having such success. Thanks Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis!

Dec. 01 2012 02:58 PM

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Martha

What a cool guy. And what fun music. Loved watching these songs sweep the country.

Nov. 30 2012 02:30 PM

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