The glare of fame only magnifies artists‘ pressure; Macklemore knows this well. Finally, Macklemore shares some pressures he has faced. Not only is it authentically sobering, but it also provides people with a lot of perspectives.
Macklemore
Even though Macklemore seemed to rise out of nowhere, his talent paved the way for him. He nurtured his passion from his youth. Then he moved within that passion to pursue his dreams. Though he didn’t look like what most envision as a hip-hop artist, his talent was apparent.
He and his collaborative partner Ryan and Lewis made “The Heist.” It was a body of work that didn’t go unrecognized. The tracks “Can’t Hold Us” and “Thrift Shop” propelled him to a position of un-deniability.
He had positioned himself as a hip-hop artist. Clearly, he embraced hip-hop. No one could deny that he was talented.
Otherness
However, talent doesn’t always equate to acceptance, as Macklemore learned. Some would meet his talent with vitriol. He was spurned not because of his talent but because of the skin he was born with. He was a White artist in a predominately Black Lane. Macklemore has, in many ways, acknowledged the pressure and tried to assuage others. However, he has never candidly spoken about how it has made him feel. But now he’s chosen the path of transparency.
The Pressure of Being Other
Macklemore was acutely aware, given hip-hop’s dynamic, there were few like him. So, from the onset, he was aware of his otherness. But his Grammy win over Kendrick Lamar brought things to a climactic point.
Despite his success as an artist, he wasn’t a favorite for many people for several reasons. One particularly obvious reason is that he was defined as other and classified as a “culture vulture.”
Macklemore Revelations
Macklemore did what he felt was right after receiving the backlash. He messaged Kendrick Lamar apologizing, expressing that he felt as if he had robbed Lamar.
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While Lamar assured Macklemore he deserved the win, others still made it known they disagreed. That was something Macklemore had to live with. He now admits that it hurt. Nonetheless, Macklemore tried to keep things in context, acknowledging that Hip Hop was in a different position regarding Whiteness a decade ago.
Growth In Pressure
Despite Macklemore’s admission that he felt hurt over the label, he also recognizes that it resulted in growth. As Vibe notes,
“He found solace in the criticism. He started listening to what was being said and dug deeper in himself, understanding he could not control who resonates with [his] art.”
And that’s a big realization and a source of power.
Macklemore’s Growth
When used for building, pressure can develop something of value. Macklemore took a label intended for destruction and turned it into something valuable. What he says about the experience says more about his character than any words can express. According to Macklemore, “whatever everyone else was saying about me wasn’t my truth. If I know I come from a place of faith rather than fear, from radical love versus hatred. If I’m coming from a place of, ‘This is authentically me, take it or leave it,’ it’s not my business what the final decision is. I don’t control other people’s perspectives.”
No more valid words have been spoken.
Conclusion
A razor-thin line separates critiquing from being critical. Perspectives are many and varied. Many people do not realize the impact their views have on others. Kudos to Macklemore for finding his place where he can be himself regardless of what others think. That’s staying real.
Written by: Renae Richardson
