Tag: Macklemore

  • Pro-Palestinian American rapper Macklemore releases ‘Hind’s Hall 2’

    Pro-Palestinian American rapper Macklemore releases ‘Hind’s Hall 2’

    Pro-Palestine American rapper Macklemore has released another song in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, titled as Hind’s Hall 2 featuring Palestinian artists.

    The song has been released four months after the release of the first Hind’s Hall which stood out as a key anthem of resistance against the ongoing genocide in Gaza and hypocrisy of the American government in showing support for Israel.

    Palestinian rapper MC Abdul, Palestinian-American author and comedian Amer Zahr, and Arab-American singer Anees Mokhiber have been featured in the second iteration.

    The rapper took to Instagram to announce the release of the song. He shared a picture of three smiling children and captioned the picture with credits given to artists involved in the making. He further declared that all the proceeds of the song would go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It was the same for the first version of Hind’s Hall.

    The title Hind’s Hall refers to the renaming of the Hamilton Hall of Columbia University by protesting students in America as a tribute to six-year-old Hind Rajab who was killed by Israeli military.

    Unlike Hind’s Hall, there is no video in the second iteration. It just has a picture of three smiling children, captured by Gazan photojournalist Motaz Azaiza.

    The new song opens with a verse from Mohibker that says, “In our lifetime we will be free, and they can bury us, but they will find out we are seeds.”
    The verse was complimented by Palestine Kids Choir and the Lifted Youth Gospel Choir.

    As the song progresses, Macklemore also takes a jibe at Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s politics: “Hey Kamala, I don’t know if you are listening but stop sending money and weapons, you ain’t winning Michigan. We are committed, and hell no we ain’t switching positions, because the whole world turned Palestinian.”

    The song has amassed more than 12 thousand views since its release, while the announcement post has more than 67 thousand likes.

    Macklemore is one of the few mainstream musicians who has ardently advocated about the oppression faced by Palestinians.

    He recently cancelled shows in United Arab Emirates citing its compliance with Israel and has announced to perform at the Palestine Will Live Forever festival in Seattle on September 21 alongside Palestinian artists and speakers.

  • Want to help Gaza? Stream Macklemore’s song as many times as you can

    Want to help Gaza? Stream Macklemore’s song as many times as you can

    With his most recent song Hind’s Hall, rapper, Macklemore has once again entered the political sphere, endorsing rallies by American college students in favour of Gaza. The Seattle native shared the explosive song on social media and pledged to donate all streaming service profits to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees.

    Previously, the song was not available on big platforms like YouTube and Spotify but is now streaming on all platforms, ironically, with a warning that it may be inappropriate for some users. However, the description highlights that all the proceeds will go to the UN agency for relief work in Gaza.

    The song’s title originates from Columbia University student protestors who changed Hamilton Hall’s name to Hind’s Hall in honour of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was cruelly slain by Israeli forces in Gaza. The song’s images combine video of police aggression against student demonstrators with tragic blasts in Gaza, a moving show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

    He said, “When I was seven, I learned a lesson from Cube and Eazy-E. What was it again? Oh yeah, f**k the police.”

    The musician continues, criticising US diplomatic backing for Israel and President Joe Biden. He also states that he will not be voting for the incumbent in the next election.
    “Where do you draw the line for genocide? Destroying every college in Gaza and every mosque,” as well as “Forcing everyone into Rafah and dropping bombs.”
    He squarely blames Biden for the bloodshed, stating, “The blood is on your hands, Biden, we can see it all.”
    With over 2,000 students detained nationwide during a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including over 100 at Columbia University alone, the song’s release coincides with the protests. Last week, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over a Columbia University building, intensifying a conflict with authorities who have started penalising students for failing to take down tents erected on the New York campus.

    One protestor screamed from within, “This building is liberated in honor of Hind, a six-year-old Palestinian child murdered in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces funded by Columbia University,” and others outside repeated him.
    Minutes after the protesters gained access to the building, New York City police officers arrived outside the school gates in unmarked cars, the Columbia Spectator newspaper reported. It said police told the paper they would only enter school grounds if someone was injured.

  • ‘Free Palestine’; Macklemore reinstates support for Gaza

    ‘Free Palestine’; Macklemore reinstates support for Gaza

    Rapper Macklemore, a vocal supporter of the Palestine cause, has again reiterated support for Gaza during a concert in Seattle on December 21 at the Climate Pledge Arena. Before this, Macklemore had been on a successful tour in the United States and Europe for his new album ‘Ben’.

    He began with his famous song ‘Thrift Shop’ and another one from his latest album. Then, he talked about the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and expressed his support for a free Palestine. Macklemore has been supporting this cause throughout the war. During the concert, he dedicated about four minutes to speak about the situation, using a style that resembled a poem.
    This isn’t the first time Macklemore has spoken out about the Gaza conflict. He had addressed the issue during a large protest in Washington D.C.

    “There isn’t a drop of antisemitic thought in my head or my blood. Never again means never again for all. Have we not learned the lessons?”
    “I love my Jewish brothers and sisters so much and my perspective is one that’s saying ‘Free Palestine’ is also rooted in your protection.”

    Macklemore didn’t hesitate to say that the attacks in Gaza are a genocide.
    “I want every soul in this arena to feel the reflection of love, but there’s innocent humans out in Gaza getting murdered with our dollars and those precious human lives are an extension of us.

    “The word genocide is such a point of contention for some. And it’s more hurtful than seeing dead babies getting pulled out of the crumbled cement and the dust. Comparative suffering leads to believing the lie: there’s a them and there’s a us.”

    He continued,
    “At some point, we drew lines in the mud based on the color of our skin, the Gods we worshipped, and the Divine up above. And historically, we’ve exploited black and brown bodies to climb up the rungs, but the ladder doesn’t work when it depends on the oppression of some.”

    Macklemore’s speech had even more significance because he spoke at the end of a big world tour and in his hometown of Seattle, in front of a huge crowd.
    “When I say ‘Free Palestine’, it’s not because I’m against anyone, it actually means we should protect everyone. It means equality for all, respect, peace, and love. It means a right to exist regardless of what sector you’re from,” Macklemore said.
    At the end of his speech, the artist shared a simple message, and the thousands of fans in the 18,000-capacity arena cheered loudly.
    “And imma say it till I die, with my chest to the sky. Free Palestine, the message is love.”

  • Priyanka Chopra, Janelle Monae, Richard Gere joined the ceasefire call

    Priyanka Chopra, Janelle Monae, Richard Gere joined the ceasefire call

    As the tide shifts with protests being held in America by activists and journalists demanding an end to the genocide of Gaza, more Hollywood stars have added their names to an open letter calling for a ceasefire.

    The letter urges Congress and President Joe Biden to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza as the Palestinian death toll is set to hit 11,000. Right now, Israeli military has encircled Gaza hospitals, offering no safe exit for doctors and patients stuck inside without water or food.

    The ceasefire letter now features more prominent names including Grammy award nominated singer Janelle Monae, Hollywood legend Richard Gere as well as Indian actress Priyanka Chopra.

    Previously, speaking with the UNRWA, Richard Gere declared that the people of Palestine hold a special place in his heart.

    Prominent actors like Susan Sarandon and rapper Macklemore gave speeches at the March For Palestine protest held in Washington, where both demanded an end for US complicity in Israel’s war crimes.

  • ‘Genocide’: Susan Sarandon, Macklemore address thousands at March For Palestine in Washington

    ‘Genocide’: Susan Sarandon, Macklemore address thousands at March For Palestine in Washington

    On Sunday, more than 300,000 people marched in Washington to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza as well as for a ceasefire to be declared. Among these marchers were Hollywood celebrities Susan Sarandon and rapper Macklemore.

    Sarandon shared a picture where she was seen on stage wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh. She shared the picture on her X (formerly Twitter) account and wrote:

    “You don’t have to be Palestinian to care about what’s happening in Gaza. I stand with Palestine. No one is free until everyone is free.”

    Macklemore gave a speech where he out rightly called what is going on in Gaza a ‘genocide’:

    “We’ve been taught to just be complicit to protect our careers, to protect our interests and I’m not gonna do it anymore. I’m not afraid to speak the truth.”

    Several prominent singers have come out to voice their support for Palestine along with posting links to foundations collecting donations for Gaza. Phoebe Bridgers shared links on her Instagram stories to the organisations that were collecting aid to provide medical relief for injured Gazans.

    Rapper Kid Cudi released a statement on his Instagram account, expressing his solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, pointing out the movement was not anti-Semitic.

    “Supporting Palestinian liberation is not antisemitic, it’s human. Palestinians deserve their freedom. This isn’t poltiics, these are real lives. And I’m just a dude who gives a f*** about humanity. I stand with the people of Palestine as they demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the ongoing genocide. My heart goes out to all my brothers and sisters of all faiths and backgrounds who are suffering. Free Palestine!”

  • Four more Hollywood superstars condemn assault on Palestine

    Four more Hollywood superstars condemn assault on Palestine

    As the tide turns with more activists and public figures taking to social media and the streets to condemn Israel’s barbaric genocide inflicted upon Palestinians, several A-list celebrities have joined in to condemn the war in Gaza.

    Actor Mark Ruffalo shared a link to a Huffpost article on the 10000 Jewish activists who stormed a congressional office building, and re shared a quote given by prominent Palestinian supporter and Jewish professor Naomi Klein:

    “Since we were children, so many of us have told ourselves that we would not stand by if we were ever witnesses to genocidal violence,” Naomi Klein said. “We told ourselves that we would raise our voices. We told ourselves we would put our bodies on the line. We pledged that such horrors would never again happen on our watch.”

    Ruffalo, Marvel’s Hulk, has been a vocal proponent of the Palestinian cause.

    Jenna Ortega, who is the star behind Netflix’s critically acclaimed series ‘Wednesday’ has remained a staunch supporter towards creating a free state for the Palestinians. She re-shared a post calling for an end to the ongoing genocide by a page called Jewish Voice For Peace.

    She then shared a post by a Jewish American poet and activist Andrea Gibson who wrote a detailed account of how US plays an active role in the on-going genocide of the Palestinians.

    Aimee Lou Wood, the actress from Netflix’s popular series ‘Sex Education’ shared a series of posts spreading awareness about the on-going genocide in Palestine, and shared links to the UN Relief Agency collecting funds to provide humanitarian relief to those suffering.

    Rapper Macklemore shared a lengthy statement on his Instagram account where he called for a Free Palestine and an end to the genocide of all its people.