Dear Macklemore, Sorry not Sorry

Macklemore,

Tough at the top, huh?

I know it’s difficult, finding yourself on the receiving end of virtually everyone, so I’m here to lessen the load a bit. I have the perfect role model for you to take solace in now and moving forward in this “difficult” time. He’s an artist whose selfless act spoke loudly in an almost exactly similar situation as the one you found yourself in at the Grammys on Sunday.

Macklemore, I present one, Kanye West. You may have heard of him.

No, not that Kanye West. This one:

Here’s the thing Macklemore, no one’s mad at you. Never have been. “The Heist” is a solid body of work. Those singles were bonafide hits that supplemented a decent album, denying so is haterism. I applaud “Same Love” in all its courageous smarminess — it’s kind of more about you than same-sex marriage, but you gave space to an issue that hip hop is sadly behind on and afraid of, and that’s to be appreciated.

So no, the majority of the culture and I, we’re not angry with you. We are, however, annoyed with you. We’re annoyed, Macklemore, because you played the “Man I know the system sucks and works in my favor, wish I could change it, but I can’t; sucks for you” card. We’re annoyed because, regardless of what you would want us to believe, you put yourself in front of the more important, bigger picture.

Basically Macklemore, we’re annoyed because you fake care.

That Instagram post of your “I robbed you” text to Kendrick was pathetic and mawkish. I can imagine it now, you writing that banal apology thinking “can’t wait for the world to see I’m not the bad guy!”

EYE. ROLL.

You took the stage four times Sunday night. Why, Macklemore, did you not take the time to say what you did in that text, then?

Oh yea, you were going to, but “the music started playing and [you] froze.” Boy. If I’d known all it took was a little wrap-it-up music to completely shut down your thought processes during your overblown speeches I would’ve written to the powers that be months ago.

You didn’t freeze, Macklemore. Not because of the hurry-up music, at least. You froze because the prospect of denouncing white privilege and throwing the middle finger to a clearly clueless voting academy, was just too daunting and authentic a moment for you to convey in your faux sympathetic state.

You froze because sharing the biggest moment of your life, even when you knew it was one you did not deserve, was just too much. But let’s keep it trill. I wouldn’t have faulted you for that. Eye rolled, yes, but not faulted. You didn’t vote, and technically it was your moment. This only became an issue when, after the mic was turned off, the lights went down, millions changed the channel, and no one was looking, you suddenly found the courage to address the prejudiced elephant in the room.

Music, specifically hip-hop, has always been about making the oppressors and powerful uncomfortable. It doesn’t worry about trying to be politically correct, or about how it will be perceived. The spirit of hip-hop doesn’t wait for the appropriate time to present itself. Any time is the appropriate time, and the bigger the stage the better.

Imagine what your perception would be, and how you would be remembered now and throughout history, if you had called Kendrick on stage, like Kanye did to Lil Wayne, to accept the award? Or, let’s not even shoot for the fence, if you had used your international platform in that moment to denounce white privilege and acknowledge its role in you winning Best Rap Album when you arguably shouldn’t have even been nominated in the first place. Imagine the statement it would have been to tell an Academy who saw fit to give you a Grammy before these guys, that it was time to pull their heads out their asses.

You would have become an indelible moment and figure in music, pop culture, and racial history. You would have gained the respect and adulation of thousands. Now, you’re just another bullet point in a long list.

Sunday was a chance for you to champion a version of equality not far from that which you preached (to superstardom, no less). It was a golden opportunity for you to showcase the true maverick spirit and unifying power of the genre you so earnestly want respect from.

You had a chance to stand up and act. Last thing we wanted, was ya picture snapped.

That was so wack.

Sorry, (but not really)

• Aaron Ronel