Macklemore and Ryan Lewis want to talk to you about white privilege.
The duo released a new single -- "White Privilege II," featuring Jamila Woods -- on Friday. The track will be featured on the upcoming album The Unruly Mess I've Made. It's a sequel of sorts to Macklemore's 2005 "White Privilege" song, which also grappled with issues of racism.
"You're Miley, you're Elvis, you're Iggy Azalea/Fake and so plastic, you've heisted the magic/You've taken the drums and the accent you rapped in/You're branded 'hip-hop,' it's so fascist and backwards," Macklemore raps.
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The song also directly references police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, weaving in snippets of audio from protests and interviews with people discussing the importance of the movement.
The duo also made a website for the song, WhitePrivilege2.com, that plays the track and displays a short message:
"This song is the outcome of an ongoing dialogue with musicians, activists, and teachers within our community in Seattle and beyond. Their work and engagement was essential to the creative process."
Many have voiced their opinions about the new song on Twitter, with reactions ranging from thoughtful to snarky. Iggy Azalea has also weighed in on his diss lyrics.
Macklemore is not a hero, a savior, or a prophet for discussing white privilege. & he is not saying he is. & you shouldn't either.— deray mckesson (@deray) January 22, 2016
Shoutout to @macklemore. White Privilege II is a solid track. I'm here for it. Completely.— Suburban Rih (@s_mas12) January 22, 2016
Macklemore is the Anti Iggy Azalea. Macklemore screams out "IM PRODUCT OF WHITE PRIVILEGE..HOW CAN WE CHANGE IT" Iggy is like "Im talented"— DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) January 22, 2016
Caught between Macklemore being well intentioned in White Privilege II or using Black Lives Matter to make himself relevant again.— Evan Lepp (@evanlepp) January 22, 2016
end racism so that Macklemore stops making songs about it— Devon (@leathershirts) January 22, 2016
the Macklemore White Privilege II song is making me want to throw my computer out the window I never want to hear music again— Calvin Radin Mo (@calvinmo) January 22, 2016
Ice T really liked it.
So NEEDED: White Privilage 2 https://t.co/6Eqrl6wvRJ ‘Macklemore’ Must Listen.— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) January 22, 2016
Iggy Azalea also responded to Macklemore's diss in two separate tweets.
hmmm... bitchy, bitchy. pic.twitter.com/nkKuYRJH2s— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) January 22, 2016
@lggysBae he shouldnt have spent the last 3 yrs having friendly convos and taking pictures together at events etc if those were his feelings— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) January 22, 2016