Tom Morello praises Macklemore for defiant political song
In times of hardship and divisiveness, music has always stood up to bring a voice to the masses. Many songs have been a rallying cry for a movement, and Macklemore may have just created another with the track ‘HIND’s HALL’.
A steady hip-hop beat ushers in the track, one old school in its delivery but incredibly modern in the theme it provides a backdrop to. From there, the rapper wastes no time getting straight to the heart of what he wants to talk about: the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the need for an immediate ceasefire.
“The problem isn’t the protests, it’s what they’re protesting, it goes against what our country is funding,” he says in the opening few bars over a video of protestors getting arrested and pepper-sprayed on the streets. Throughout the track, he criticises politicians, police and even the music industry.
“Yet the music industry’s quiet, complicit in their platform of silence, what happened to the artist? What you gotta say? If I was on a label you could drop me today and be fine with it ‘cause the heart fed my page, I want a ceasefire, fuck a response from Drake,” he raps.
There is no denying this is an excellent song; the beat is harrowing but also danceable, and the way that Macklemore delivers his message is clear but filled with artistry. His pen game is on point throughout, not overbearing the listener with information but quickly getting to his point. He also has an immaculate flow that allows him to scurry through his sentiment sweetly.
Macklemore has received a lot of praise for the track, with one of the highest compliments coming from Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. Morello and Co have been responsible in the past for some of the most politically driven music out there, constantly trying to stick to their message while delivering stellar songs, and it seems Macklemore is now going in a similar direction.
“Honestly @Macklemore’s ‘Hind’s Hall’ is the most Rage Against The Machine song since Rage Against The Machine,” he said in the recent tweet.
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