Artist Analysis- Macklemore

Macklemore-

Macklemore is an unsigned white rapper which gives him his own unique image. The fact that he is a white rapper gives him his own image as there is not many successful ones about, the only other one that springs to mind would be Eminem. However the thing that gives him his own image when compared to Eminem is he was not signed by a very big record label (Dr.Dre) also, his style of music may be rap but Eminem tends to rap about things in his past, about all the bad things which have happened to him where as Macklemore seems to fight for things and inspire. For example this video here...

Same Love-

This video here is fighting for gay rights, something that not many singers would do. The lyrics for this video fit in very well with the actual visual side of the video, for instance when it says 'and I can't change' the boy is crying becausse of the fact he cannot change and thinks that he is some kind of abomination for being the way he is, and this is all because of the way america is built and people are raised to believe gay is not the right way. They make it out to be some kind of choice and that you can be cured, well it's not a choice and there is nothing to be cured and this is what this video is trying to get across. Another point that fits with the viual side of the video is when the song goes 'she keeps me warm' and it's looking at him at a party standing all by him self, kind of a to show a sort of reverse field how there is noone to keep him warm because he is scared of telling his friends how he truely friends because then he knows he will find out if they really are his friends. This video also links back to history linking being black with being gay because there are still things that are cause wars as petty as being gay, however Macklemore is trying to make a difference starting with this video. He also does not care what anyone else thinks about how he sees the world, or how he dresses for example he did a music video called thrift shop showing various kinds of different styles. Here are some of the different outfits he has worn.

 These are two different outfits worn by Macklemore himself, it shows that he will wear whatever he pleases which is inspiring other people to do the same. This is why I think he is so good because he does just care about the money or how many he has sold otherwise he would be signed, instead he is an independant artist trying to make a difference.

Macklemore only recently became well known from his song 'Thrift Shop' which was in the top of the charts for a few weeks. A very catchy song with a good beat to it so everyone enjoyed it, it even inspired to the older generation because it has a 90's styled hint about it.

Macklemores real name is Ben Haggerty, he is a musician/rapper living in america. He was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He was 14 when he first started writing lyrics and first started independent music in 2000. He was born on June 19th, 1983 and is now 30 years old and is still making influencial music.

JTN