Macklemore is as soon as once more criticizing america authorities, this time taking President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to job in a scorching new protest tune titled “F–ked Up.”
Within the monitor posted to his YouTube channel Wednesday (Feb. 12), the rapper weaves his manner by means of verses connecting racial injustice in America to the twice-impeached POTUS’ administration, which now contains the Tesla billionaire. Macklemore additionally calls out america’ monetary assist of Israel all through the nation’s ongoing warfare in opposition to Hamas, a battle that has killed a minimum of 45,000 Palestinians between the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assaults — which left greater than 1,200 Israelis lifeless and about 240 individuals taken hostage — and the short-term ceasefire the 2 sides reached in January.
“New period ushered, however white supremacy continues to be in cost/ Speaking colonizing Gaza from the White Home garden/ However the individuals mobbing, and we ain’t backing off/ Lastly see the oligarchy and the lads that management us all,” the Washington native spits over a darkish, intense beat. “Tax breaks for the elite after which they taxing y’all/ Killing Palestinian youngsters and we getting hit with the associated fee.”
Macklemore paired the tune with a video compiling footage of American and Palestinian protestors, together with a clip of the rogue dancer who waved a mix Palestine-Sudan flag throughout Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present Sunday (Feb. 9). It additionally exhibits quite a few clips of Trump, Musk and fellow billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos corresponding with lyrics about wealthy males in energy suppressing the American individuals.
One clip the music video repeatedly comes again to is of the X CEO doing a Nazi-like salute at one in every of Trump’s inauguration occasions in January. “They bought us f–ked up,” Macklemore rages within the tune’s refrain. “And Elon, we all know precisely what that was, bruh.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for the White Home, Musk, Zuckerberg and Bezos for remark.
“F–ked Up” is simply the most recent protest tune the hip-hop star — who has been vocal in each his assist of Palestine and his disappointment within the U.S. authorities — has launched up to now yr. In Could 2024, he ripped into then-president Joe Biden whereas advocating for Gaza on a monitor titled “Hind’s Corridor,” the proceeds of which went to the United Nations Aid and Works Company’s help and safety packages for Palestinian refugees. The next September, he dropped a sequel to the tune with assists from Gazan rapper MC Abdul and Palestinian-American singer Anees, that includes the mantra, “From the river to the ocean/ Palestine will likely be free.” (The American Jewish Committee has deemed the phrase antisemitic.)
When Macklemore carried out “Hind’s Corridor 2” that month at Seattle’s Palestine Will Reside Eternally Pageant, he additionally led the gang in a “F–okay America” chant, after which Las Vegas’ 2024 Neon Metropolis Pageant dropped him from its lineup. Later, the “Thrift Store” hitmaker stated in a press release, “My ideas and emotions aren’t at all times expressed completely or politely. Typically I slip up and get caught within the second.”
“I’ve slipped in entrance of the world earlier than,” he continued on the time. “I’m positive I’ll do it once more. However they won’t silence my voice, and they won’t shut my coronary heart. I’ve misplaced endorsements, I’ve misplaced exhibits, I’ve misplaced enterprise ties. I’m nonetheless right here, unwavering in my assist for a Free Palestine.”
