chazraps
Wade Wilson
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Post by chazraps on Jun 3, 2014 15:28:17 GMT -5
So, I interviewed Sage Francis for the Village Voice last week about his new album ( Copper Gone, which is out today and it's great) and he and I wound up discussing, among other things, his issues with the rise of Macklemore that he was a bit vocal about at his last New York show. The whole interview is here - blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2014/05/sage_francis_copper_gone_covers_houses_cats_fake_indie_artists_and_more.phpThat same day, someone drew my attention to Brother Ali's new acapella verse that he performed on Sway in the Morning which many are speculating is about Macklemore: What do you think about these criticisms? Think they're valid?
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BRV
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Post by BRV on Jun 3, 2014 15:41:05 GMT -5
Macklemore is the fakest person alive. There is nothing more grating than his incessant white knighting for causes that have almost universal support, as if he's the only rapper in history to care about gay marriage or bullying.
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Viva
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Post by Viva on Jun 3, 2014 16:01:43 GMT -5
Yes, I think they're valid. Brother Ali has been in this game forever. I think a little bit of it is saltiness, but the truth is that most popular artists swagger jack to some degree. Whether it be a cadence on a hit, their delivery, lyrics, etc. Macklemore was just the jackpot winner.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 16:04:00 GMT -5
I dunno if "Macklemore never gave us a shout out!" is a valid complaint.
It comes off as kind of bitter, tbh.
I like Macklemore and Sage Francis, Action Bronson, and 90% of what Rhymesayers put out, but I just think thats a very strange axe to grind with someone, especially if maybe he has said those things. I'd imagine the guy does a lot of interviews, but I dunno - like I said that's just a strange thing to say.
I mean, if his problem with Macklemore is that he's to poppy and not 100% hip hop, then yeah, you could make that arguement and I'm sure Macklemore would probably even agree with you.
Nice interview though, Sage kinda fell off my radar so I'm glad to see he's got a new album coming out.
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xCompackx
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Post by xCompackx on Jun 3, 2014 16:13:28 GMT -5
Macklemore is the fakest person alive. There is nothing more grating than his incessant white knighting for causes that have almost universal support, as if he's the only rapper in history to care about gay marriage or bullying. I don't personally see anything wrong with a rapper throwing his support out for a cause like gay marriage or bullying. Not exactly something you see too often, honestly. But yeah, I don't really get the hate for Macklemore in general. The guy's obviously talented and makes music that people like, what's the problem?
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Post by Pooh Carlson on Jun 3, 2014 16:16:39 GMT -5
You lucky sunamagun. I wish I could interview Sage Francis. Good read. I also love the line on the new record, "What's a phone book? Its like a black book for fat folks who don't cook." I don't know why but I was cracking up when I first heard it and its been stuck in my head ever since.
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BRV
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Post by BRV on Jun 3, 2014 16:29:55 GMT -5
Macklemore is the fakest person alive. There is nothing more grating than his incessant white knighting for causes that have almost universal support, as if he's the only rapper in history to care about gay marriage or bullying. I don't personally see anything wrong with a rapper throwing his support out for a cause like gay marriage or bullying. Not exactly something you see too often, honestly. But yeah, I don't really get the hate for Macklemore in general. The guy's obviously talented and makes music that people like, what's the problem? Look, I'm fine with someone supporting a cause, and yes, rap music is in a better place socially now than it was 10-15 years ago when DMX was rapping an entire verse about how much he wanted to kill gay people in "Where the Hood At" or Eminem was still arguing how "fag" was a term of endearment among he and his friends. My issue is with Macklemore being so over-the-top with it, as though he's the first person ever to discover that gay people are discriminated against. His pompous self-righteousness just rubs me the wrong way.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 16:47:53 GMT -5
I don't personally see anything wrong with a rapper throwing his support out for a cause like gay marriage or bullying. Not exactly something you see too often, honestly. But yeah, I don't really get the hate for Macklemore in general. The guy's obviously talented and makes music that people like, what's the problem? Look, I'm fine with someone supporting a cause, and yes, rap music is in a better place socially now than it was 10-15 years ago when DMX was rapping an entire verse about how much he wanted to kill gay people in "Where the Hood At" or Eminem was still arguing how "fag" was a term of endearment among he and his friends. My issue is with Macklemore being so over-the-top with it, as though he's the first person ever to discover that gay people are discriminated against. His pompous self-righteousness just rubs me the wrong way. I havent' seen a lot of interviews with him. What about him makes him come across self-righteous?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 17:09:12 GMT -5
I like Macklemore And Ryan Lewis. I feel like Macklemore tries a bit too hard to be humble and show that he's humble. It's like the guy who feels like he doesn't belong at the party, so he laughs extra hard at everyone's jokes and really tries hard to be liked. Just relax and do your thing.
And this thread is the best place to post this video from The Tonight Show.
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Post by darbus alan on Jun 3, 2014 17:19:59 GMT -5
I lost any respect I had for Macklemoore's "social justice" bent when he dressed up as a stereotypical Jew (complete with obnoxiously big fake nose) when he performed Thrift Shop and didn't even try to accept responsibility or own up to it.
Stuff like that has pretty malicious and antisemitic roots to it, practically equivalent to how Blackface was used.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 17:32:20 GMT -5
I lost any respect I had for Macklemoore's "social justice" bent when he dressed up as a stereotypical Jew (complete with obnoxiously big fake nose) when he performed Thrift Shop and didn't even try to accept responsibility or own up to it. Stuff like that has pretty malicious and antisemitic roots to it, practically equivalent to how Blackface was used. I had to look this up because I missed that one completely and maybe I'm missing something, but aside from the witch's nose I don't really see the "stereotypical jewish person" look to it. I can understand how people could see it that way though, but if he wanted to go out of his way to dress like a jewish guy on stage he should have had the payot or tallit or a yarmulka at best. Apparently he did apologize if he offended anyone, but yeah - he didn't cop to it being a jewish dig, but maybe it was or maybe it wasn't.
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chazraps
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Post by chazraps on Jun 3, 2014 17:52:22 GMT -5
Macklemore is the fakest person alive. There is nothing more grating than his incessant white knighting for causes that have almost universal support, as if he's the only rapper in history to care about gay marriage or bullying. Gay marriage does not have almost universal support.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 18:41:44 GMT -5
It looks like Brother Ali was pissed about his whole dressing up like a "Jewish" stereotype.
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AFN: Judge Shred
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Post by AFN: Judge Shred on Jun 3, 2014 18:55:39 GMT -5
I love Sage and he is one smart mofo, but it seems a bit petty and even a bit out of character.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 18:59:13 GMT -5
I used to be a big fan of Sage, but the way he interacted with his fans on his forum really rubbed me the wrong way.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 19:12:53 GMT -5
First off, congratulations to chazraps for getting this interview done, it definitely was an interesting read, and I do hope for success on Sage's new album. I am a big fan of Li(f)e, and hope when I hear this one that it is amazing (Side question to Chaz, what do you think of the Stepbrothers album that came out earlier this year?) Now, for the main reason I am posting: Macklemore I am actually going to go on record by defending him, and of course this will bring out people from everywhere, all I ask is 2 simple things: If I am wrong about a fact, please correct me by citing something. I do not mind admitting I am wrong about something, but I would at least like some sort of evidence so I can know better for the future (Knowledge is power folks). Secondly and Lastly, THIS IS JUST AN OPINION. A minority opinion, but an opinion nonetheless, I am not calling anyone out by saying that by not liking Macklemore you are automatically wrong, in fact I do see why some people do not like him, I would just like my opinion known in a nice and calm way. With that said: My Thoughts. Back when "Thrift Shop" first came out, I didn't know who this guy was, hell I don't think most anyone knew who Macklemore was at the time except for local Seattle radio, because that is where the dude comes from. When I heard what I liked, which was his follow up hit "Can't Hold Us", I knew that this guy was something else, so I legitimately bought The Heist and popped it in and had a listen, and I will be the first to admit there is a certain point where towards the end, I lose interest, however from "Ten Thousand Hours" up until "Gold", which is Track 13, I was hooked. No current hip hop album has been able to hold my attention without hitting repetition, and it actually hit me what was happening: This guy, mainly with the help of Ryan Lewis, knew what kind of album he wanted when he was making this shit. Even with songs where we get the same message that others have conveyed such as "Jimmy Iovine" and "Wing$", he found a way to make it where it was something completely new and completely unique to the casual listener, and not just any specific group of hip hop fans (Aka the ones looking for one specific key element and bases all opinions on one element on it's own). The issue on "Same Love", believe it or not, I actually agree on, but for reasons most people would not think of. Some such as BRV bring up an excellent point in that instead of treating Gay marriage as the issue it should be treated as, it just seems like an over the top product to seem "hip", and that is a very good point, but there are 2 counter arguments 1. Maybe some people in this world need some lessons to either be over the top or simply subtle, for example as me and pegasuswarrior talked about in a previous FAN Idol contest (sorry for tagging you so much bro), talked about how a simple song such as "I Can" from Nas or even "Best of Times" from our very own Sage Francis could come off as a bit preachy. Which I disagreed with, but I see where he is coming from. Point being, if you are trying to send a message, some people respond if it's straight up in their face, while others can only respond if it is over the top, you can not blame an artist for delivery. 2. The thing about Macklemore's delivery is one that other artists' have used before: Take a song, make it sound like every other song, but yet make it your own. A perfect example is "White Walls", as most if not everyone believes that this song is just another get rich and get a car song, when the song is really about what Macklemore's goals were and how he felt once he finally made it. Granted, the Schoolboy Q verse doesn't help, but my point still stands. Going on another point that someone brought up, specifically @ricrocket, is how after everything he has accomplished, he is still attempting to be humble. I completely agree with you on this, as after a certain amount of success, all your previous moods seem to fade away, but I see what Macklemore is going for, and it certainly is working, at least to a certain extent. I mean, how many people do you know gets success in their debut albums only for it to be their last hurrah (Jay Sean, Colby o Donis, and Iyaz to name a few)? If Macklemore is indeed the luckiest man of 2013, then by all means he is going to enjoy this shit, because if his second album comes out to hype and ends up a flop, then it's over, and he knows this. That's all I can really say on the subject, besides the fact that I do agree that MAAD City should have won over The Heist, despite me hating the last song, "Compton"
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AFN: Judge Shred
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Post by AFN: Judge Shred on Jun 3, 2014 19:20:39 GMT -5
That's all I can really say on the subject, besides the fact that I do agree that MAAD City should have won over The Heist, despite me hating the last song, "Compton" But MAAD City also had Drake on it and therefore a lot of good is undone.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 19:24:43 GMT -5
That's all I can really say on the subject, besides the fact that I do agree that MAAD City should have won over The Heist, despite me hating the last song, "Compton" But MAAD City also had Drake on it and therefore a lot of good is undone. Truthfully, Poetic Justice could have been a better song, but with songs like "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "The Art of Peer Pressure", and "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst", I can't be mad
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AFN: Judge Shred
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Post by AFN: Judge Shred on Jun 3, 2014 19:26:46 GMT -5
But MAAD City also had Drake on it and therefore a lot of good is undone. Truthfully, Poetic Justice could have been a better song, but with songs like "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "The Art of Peer Pressure", and "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst", I can't be mad For sure. It has some outstanding verses, but it has some whack beats and production too, Kendrick deserved a better sound for his words. And Drake is just unforgivable.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 19:31:37 GMT -5
Truthfully, Poetic Justice could have been a better song, but with songs like "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "The Art of Peer Pressure", and "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst", I can't be mad For sure. It has some outstanding verses, but it has some whack beats and production too, Kendrick deserved a better sound for his words. And Drake is just unforgivable. Yeah, but truthfully for what it's worth, it's some of the best mainstream instrumentals I have heard in a while I am going to get bood for this but the one album I am disappointed in when it came to instrumentals was Marshall Mathers LP2. Such great songs, but such weak beats.
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