{"id":3117,"date":"2016-03-04T16:38:36","date_gmt":"2016-03-05T00:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/westernjournal\/?p=3117"},"modified":"2016-03-04T16:38:36","modified_gmt":"2016-03-05T00:38:36","slug":"mack-strikes-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/mack-strikes-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Mack strikes back"},"content":{"rendered":"
By: Conner Williams\r\nEditor-in-Chief<\/pre>\n
Alright, thrift shoppers, if you\u2019re like me, then you stayed up late and waited until \u201cThis Unruly Mess I\u2019ve Made\u201d dropped and then proceeded to listen to it on repeat for the next week.<\/p>\n
Hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released their debut album \u201cThe Heist\u201d back in 2012 when I was a pipsqueak freshman, and their follow-up came out just in time to take its place as the anthem of my senior year.<\/p>\n
Without further adieu, I have decided to list out each track into specified categories that I think make most sense. It should be noted, however, that I have only heard the standard version of the album and not the full deluxe version, so the list below is missing the two extra tracks on the deluxe version.<\/p>\n
Certified Bangers<\/strong><\/p>\n
With tracks like \u201cCan\u2019t Hold Us,\u201d \u201cWhite Walls,\u201d and \u201cJimmy Iovine,\u201d producer Ryan Lewis has proven that he is one of the best in the business at mixing up beats that bang. TUMIM is a bit more mellow, but it still has a few certified bangers.<\/p>\n
\u201cDowntown\u201d: This track was released as a single back in August, and became an instant hit. The best part? It\u2019s a song about mopeds. \u201cChromed out mirror, I don\u2019t need a windshield; banana seat, a canopy on two wheels; eight hundred cash that\u2019s a hell of a deal!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLight Tunnels\u201d: As the opening track, this song sets the tone for the album, and it does just that. Macklemore calls out celebrities as he recounts his experience at the Grammy\u2019s when he won album of the year and details what it\u2019s been like facing the pressure of living up to the success of \u201cThe Heist.\u201d \u201cWatch celebrities take selfies with celebrities; it feels so make believe; they want the gossip, they want the drama; they want Britney Spears to make out with Madonna.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrad Pitt\u2019s Cousin\u201d: There\u2019s no doubt that Macklemore has an interesting sense of humor. With the chorus chanting \u201cWhen you see me in the club; Brad Pitt, that\u2019s my cousin; Angelina show me love,\u201d the song still leaves me a bit confused as to where to draw the parallel between the two men (despite them both being incredibly attractive). But who cares, the song still bangs. \u201cEvery white dude in America went to the barbershop like \u2018Give me that Macklemore haircut!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDance Off\u201d: Featuring a celebrity appearance by Idris Elba (\u201cThor,\u201d \u201cBeasts of No Nation\u201d) on the hook, this song is another Macklemore great that details just how much he loves to dance. And the bass is killer too. \u201cI grab my ankle and pull it up; and do that thing where I move my butt; I got the juice motherfucker don\u2019t use it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Social Justice Issues:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Macklemore is fairly well-known for being a present voice of many social justice issues; \u201cSame Love\u201d advocated for marriage equality and became a huge hit that inspired millions around the country, and \u201cWings\u201d detailed the culture around Jordan shoes and how people literally kill for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhite Privilege II\u201d: This track is a nine-minute-long slap to the face for white Americans. Macklemore discusses his conflicted thoughts of taking part in a Black Lives Matter protest as he feels like he should be doing something while simultaneously feeling out of place, as well as how he used the hip-hop genre that arose from black culture to further his own agenda. \u201cWant people to like you, want to be accepted; that\u2019s probably why you are out here protesting; don\u2019t think for a second you don\u2019t have incentive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s Eat\u201d: This track is all about positive body image. The message: quit worrying about eating that slice of cake. Go for it. \u201cSupposed to be on a diet; I wanna be like Ryan; he lost 30 pounds on that paleo; but fuck it man I love fried shit!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKevin\u201d: Macklemore premiered this song at the AMAs, and it sure had an impact. A huge shot at the prescription drug industry, it discusses how Rx\u2019s have harmed people by getting them addicted and, in some cases, killing them, all while robbing them blind. \u201cGot anxiety, better go and give him a Xanax; focus, give him Adderall; sleep, give him Ambien; \u2018til he\u2019s walking \u2018round the city looking like a mannequin!\u201d<\/p>\n
(Potential) Cult Hits:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Tracks like \u201cThrift Shop\u201d and \u201cCan\u2019t Hold Us\u201d became iconic pop anthems that have a special place in everyone\u2019s musical repertoire. Let\u2019s be honest, who doesn\u2019t know where the line \u201cI\u2019m gonna pop some tags\u201d comes from?<\/p>\n
\u201cBuckshot\u201d: I honestly don\u2019t know what it is about this track, but it\u2019s got me bobbing my head and dancing around my apartment like I\u2019m possessed. There\u2019s just something behind a song about graffiti that I find intriguing. \u201cThey hella mad, say my art is really bad for business; but I\u2019mma paint a better world until the cans are empty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeed to Know\u201d: Featuring a fantastic hook and verse by the increasingly popular Chance The Rapper, this track gives off a vibe of a lazy Sunday afternoon coffee shop. Gentle piano and horns serve as the background beat and almost supersede the fact that this track is about bending the truth and only revealing what one truly needs to know. Macklemore believes he is living a life that is a lie and really just looks better on the surface. \u201cI\u2019m really good at telling the half truth but usually only when I have to; the money doesn\u2019t work, the chain doesn\u2019t work; something broken in my brain got me praying in the dirt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowkey Jams:<\/strong><\/p>\n
In the midst of his speedy verses and eccentric dance themes, Macklemore likes to take it easy with a few slow jams as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing Up\u201d: Featuring an appearance by Ed Sheeran on the hook, this track is simply a heartfelt love letter from Macklemore to his unborn daughter. This really is a fantastic song and shows the rapper\u2019s emotional side. \u201cI\u2019m gonna be there for your first breath; I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll be there for your first step; I can promise you I\u2019ll try to work less.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSt. Ides\u201d: While the title is a referenece to the malt liquor, it\u2019s really about Macklemore appreciating the \u201cnon-commercial greatness of life,\u201d as Genius.com put it. \u201cRollin\u2019 round, we know where to go; argue with the homies over who\u2019s gonna roll; bumpin\u2019 Goodie Mob, have some food for the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBolo Tie\u201d: This track shows Macklemore’s frustration with originally trying to get his music out there, and then people harassing him for new content after the hype of \u201cThe Heist\u201d had ended. He didn\u2019t want to put out music just for the sake of it; he wants it to be real. \u201cMotherfucker you ain\u2019t my accountant; you don\u2019t know what I\u2019m doing; focusing on what I\u2019m giving back; man, make better music.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Train\u201d: As the final track on the album, it explores the rapper\u2019s feelings of detachment and that he feels like he\u2019s departing somewhere, like he\u2019s on a train to nowhere. \u201cWatchin\u2019 the trees pass by at a tempo; got a round trip ticket out to limbo; and I\u2019m getting close to my kinfolk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalEIC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Alright, thrift shoppers, if you\u2019re like me, then you stayed up late and waited until \u201cThis Unruly Mess I\u2019ve Made\u201d dropped and then proceeded to listen to it on repeat for the next week. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":825,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment"],"modified_by":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/825"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}