It's difficult to quantify how good music is. Along with other types of art, it is purely subjective. When listening to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' debut album though, it becomes apparent you're listening to not just a collection of rap songs, but an achievement. "The Heist"challenges every Hip-Hop stereotype behind original instrumentals from Ryan Lewis and poetic prose from Macklemore.
Part of what makes this album incredible is the dissimilarity between all the songs. The range between party anthems, personal stories, political statements, lyrical displays, and songs about the struggle of the independent artist shows Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' versatility.
Hip-Hop is an African American art form, so whenever a caucasian tries to rap or comes into some critical acclaim in the genre, it is a compelling situation. Macklemore understands the dichotomy between his skin color and his chosen profession, and he addresses the topic throughout the album. In the second verse in his song "A Wake", Macklemore speaks about the label of being a "conscious" rapper. He doesn't believe he's more conscious than any other rapper because he doesn't talk about guns and killing police or "a stripper on a poll poppin'", rather, he thinks those rappers are as conscious as he is, because this is what they grew up around: "I grew up during Reaganomics/ when Ice-T was out there on his killing cops s**t/ or Rodney King was getting beat on and they let out every single officer in Los Angeles went and lost it."Later in the verse Macklemore wonders if race relations is an issue he should even get involved in: "Don't event tweet R.I.P. Trayvon Martin/ don't wanna be that white dude million man marchin'." He wraps the verse up with: "Don't get involved with the causes of mine?/ white privilege white guilt at the same damn time/ so we just party like its 1999/ celebrate the ignorance while these kids keep dying." Macklemore has had past songs addressing his "white rapper-ship", namely "White Privilege". He obviously struggles with the fact he's a white man in a black art. Still, Macklemore is a symbol of an obviously expanding rap culture. White rappers like Mac Miller, Atmosphere, Eminem, Asher Roth, Brother Ali, and Evidence have become a force in Hip-Hop. The genre is changing and including groups like Chiddy Bang and ANTHM who are rapping about topics usually untouchable for fear of being too artsy or feminine, and instead of just a bass drum and a snare, modern hip-hop instrumentals utilize all types of instruments and are much more layered. Ironically, in this song "A Wake", Macklemore displays how conscious he truly is. He's conscious of issues he doesn't even address, and is able to speak about them authoritatively and humbly.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis include a few old songs, including "Can't Hold Us", "Make the Money", and "Wing$". The two artists were not well known before the album, so this was a nice touch. They were able to introduce new fans to a few of their quality cuts from the past. One of the highlights of the album though is a brand new jam - "White Walls". Macklemore and Ryan Lewis team up with rapper Schoolboy Q of Black Hippy for a high energy ode to Cadillacs. Macklemore again shows his versatility, proving he can "stunt" too, and yeah, he's got a little money in his pocket: "Oh? Haters? Damn y'all mad/ Thirty K on the Caddy now how backpack rap is that?" When the chorus comes in you can't help but turn up the volume.
In the songs "Cowboy Boots" and "Castle", Macklemore puts out an anthem to his friends and a satire of "party rap" songs. Over a hicked-out instrumental and a chorus that sounds like a bunch of drunk dudes belting out their favorite song, Macklemore laments: "You learn a lot about your friends/ right around 2 A.M." and "acquaintances turn to friends, I hope those friends they remember me/ hold the night for ransom as we kidnap the memories/ not sure if there is a way to express what you meant to me/ sit around a table and use those years as the centerpiece." In "Castle" Macklemore details the most ridiculous party known to man: "Unicorns and wizard sleeves/Hammer pants and make believe," and so on. This song pokes fun at modern rap culture through hyperbole by the use of Macklemore's British alter ego - Raven Bowie.
The album was #1 on iTunes for three days and the duo's grassroots fan base came out in full force to support the event. Macklemore's album stands alone in its honoring of creativity. As he said, he chose "love over a desk" and his soul is still his. He refused to live a regular life, which is inspirational in its own sense, as is his appeal to all people (see: "Same Love"), and is an independent artist in its purest form: "Nowadays if you make good music, the people are your label."
No comments:
Post a Comment