Macklemore shares his thoughts on hip-hop, faith and Zumba with The Beacon before his performance at Rock the Bluff
Hip-hop artist Macklemore said faith is a key part of how he stays centered while working in the music industry. (Monica McAllister | The Beacon)
By Will Lyons, Staff Writer -- lyons14@up.edu
Q: What is the major difference between Northwest hip-hop and LA and NYC?
A: I try not to put our sound in a box because it's diverse, it's difficult to describe. But I think we're influenced by the weather and a series of excellent musicians that have come out of Seattle. In terms of the sound I can't put it into words, but we have definitely grown over the years.
Q: What were you like while you were in college?
A: I was very focused on music, but I didn't have good SAT scores and I wasn't able to get into the music program at College of Santa Fe. I couldn't declare music as my major, which is funny now because now I have a career as a musician.
Q: If you could go back in time and talk to yourself in college, how would your past self react to your career now?
A: I think I would be open to what myself now would say. A lot of what I've learned I learned at a young age. I knew back then that drugs and alcohol were not going to help me in any capacity, especially on a career path. I ended up here for a reason and the music I've written since being sober is about an experience with drugs and alcohol and a struggle.
Q: You say that hip-hop saved your life on a lot of your songs. What do you mean by that?
A: Hip-hop gave me a passion; it gave me a reason to just exist. I mean, that was the thing that made me realize my full potential, it was the thing that was a direct reflection on where I was at in life. It's my voice, I'm talking to myself so much when I rap, and I'm trying to find inherent truths about myself and the universe and figure out what this whole thing is and how to be a better person. The way that I write is a scalpel trying to dig beneath the surface and get to that truth, and without it, I wouldn't have a lot to live for. I mean I would, I would have family and friends and a different career, but I definitely would've still struggled with substances if I didn't have music in my life.
Q: Was your struggle with drug and alcohol abuse a catalyst for your career?
A: No, but I would say it gave me a unique perspective to speak from. I think you have a lot of musicians who glorify the use of drugs and alcohol, and I was able to speak from a different point of view that a lot of people don't speak from or can't speak from.
Q: What do you think about the democratization of music? Is the fact that there's a high volume of music a good or bad thing?
A: There were years where I thought that it was a bad thing. There were so many rappers and they were all trying to be heard. Now, that I'm coming from a place where I want to be in my career and making progress, I think it's great.
Q: What do you think is the role of the musician in the 21st century? Is it about selling an image or is it still about the music?
A: I think it's both, I think it's always been both. At the end of the day though, if you don't have good music and the music isn't connecting with people on some level, you could be the most beautiful girl or handsome dude with all the best clothes and it doesn't matter.
Q: What is the role of faith in your life?
A: Faith is everything to me. It's what keeps me centered, it's what gives me my core beliefs in life. It's my compass when I feel like I'm off track, and this is an industry where it's extremely easy to lose sight of yourself. You get caught up in the rat race of trying to be famous and get more fans and more money and bigger shows, but in the end if you don't have faith and you don't have that reference point it's very easy to get distracted. I don't subscribe to any religious belief myself, but I respect all religions. My religious belief comes from a lot of different religions, it's kind of a hodge-podge of them all and it's something that I've formed trial and error throughout my life. But it's what keeps me grounded and it's the foundation of everything.
Q: How do you feel about students making up choreography to your songs for Zumba class at UP?
A: I think it's messed up. I think that it takes away from the culture of Zumba. No, I'm just kidding. I would actually like to take a Zumba class the next time I come here if possible.
