Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are undeniably the most successful breakout artists of 2013.
The two preach messages that contrast starkly with their musical peers: choosing passion over money, reaching one’s highest potential and bargain shopping for swagnificent Velcro shoes. Critics and fans alike have rewarded them for their sincere lyrics and respectable messages. That is, until “Same Love” hit the radio.
Of course, “Same Love” was applauded for its positive message advocating equal marriage rights for the gay community. Macklemore’s first verse illustrates the role of stereotypes in the dynamics of homophobia. He highlights the painful and all-too-common usage of hateful slurs online and in the hip-hop genre.
However, the rapper found himself under fire for addressing an issue not his own.
How could a straight, white male produce a work that accurately depicts the issues surrounding homosexuality? It’s an argument worth considering.
In a blog post about writing “Same Love,” Macklemore stated he hoped the song would “advance the dialogue” surrounding rights for LGBT Americans. He had tried penning the tune from the perspective of a young gay student but realized quickly it “wasn’t [his] story to tell.”
All things considered, it seems unfair to condemn the man for speaking out on an issue in need of representation both in the world at large and specifically in the realm of hip-hop.
A straight man speaking out for the rights of a marginalized group he doesn’t belong to is a start to breaking down the walls of exclusivity.
In an interview with NYC’s Hot 97, Macklemore explained his desire to hold the hip-hop community accountable for its oppression of LGBT people.
“That’s my community,” he said of the music genre, one known for its intolerance of homosexuality.
As Aimee Anderson, an English instructor at Santa Fe College, outlined in her Huffington Post blog, if the song accomplishes nothing else, at least it’s able to spark a “cross-cultural conversation” between the gay and black communities.
Certainly, LGBT individuals feel there are larger fish to fry than certain hip-hop artists, but Macklemore should be commended for effecting change in his own arena. He used his newfound fame to preach positivity and acceptance in an effort to amend the genre’s hateful past.
Skeptics also wonder — and rightly so — if Macklemore is just a good businessman.
Is he capitalizing on the times?
This summer has been a pivotal one, what with all the news surrounding the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8. If ever the time was right for launching “Same Love,” he found it.
If so, the joke is on him. He penned an anthem about one of the largest social issues of our generation that grabbed the world’s attention, so regardless of intent, the product is beneficial. But due to Macklemore’s involvement with the “You Can Play” project, an initiative to combat homophobia in sports, it seems unlikely he’s fronting about his passion for the issue. Also, it’s no secret his uncles inspired the song, making the issue seem even closer to home.
Hateful words and stereotypes have historical context in need of further unpacking, but Macklemore’s influence exists only in the space of a three-minute tune, and he did what he could. How could anyone condemn him for that?
Katie McPherson is a UF English junior. Her column runs on Tuesdays. A version of this column ran on page 6 on 9/10/2013 under the headline "In defense of Macklemore’s "Same Love”"
