Macklemore, who has struggled with substance abuse issues in the past, recently spoke about how music influenced his life during an interview which was part of mtvU’s “The Other Side” initiative launched by MTV and The Jed Foundation’s “Half of Us” campaign.
“I know how much artists influenced my life,” Macklemore says in the interview. “Growing up, listening to Blackalicious, the words of Gift of Gab really put me on a certain path. It brought me closer to God. It was a means of…It was my means…What I didn’t get from church or what I didn’t get through organized religion, I got through music. I know that power. And if I have a gift, in any capacity, with words, and I don’t use that power or utilize that power, then I’m not doing my job. You can call that a responsibility. Call it whatever you want, but I know my truth.”
Blackalicious, which consists of emcee Gift of Gab and deejay/producer Chief Xcel, released its debut album, Nia, in 1999. The duo released two full-length follow-up albums, Blazing Arrow in 2002 and The Craft in 2005. Blazing Arrow received a 3.5 X rating by HipHopDX and The Craft earned a 4 X rating in its HipHopDX review.
In 2012, Macklemore spoke with HipHopDX about his early experiences in Hip Hop.
“I was really just infatuated with Hip Hop and always wanted to be on a stage,” Macklemore said at the time. “So by the time I got to 14, 15 years old, slam poetry and open mics were really big at the time. That was part of my first initial upbringing, along with freestyling. There was a lot of writing raps, but there were also a lot of freestyle sessions in school and skipping class and going out and freestyling. That was a part of who I was, and that was the beginning of my artistic career.”
Get More: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, MTV Shows
RELATED: Macklemore Chronicles Recent Successes, Work On New Album With Ryan Lewis
Who REALLY should have won the rap categories this year http://sofa-kinghiphop.tumblr.com/post/75056575223/who-should-have-won-the-grammys-for-rap
homie knows more about hip-hop than most the kids hating on him
This dude loves penis so much
so much that hes engaged to a woman with a vagina
u ever heard of closet gays? Id put my car up that macklemore sucked a dick in his lifetime ..no mo
i put my house up that lil wayne took it in the booty at least 3 times from birdman
Remember when you all accused of wayne being gay even though that kiss is what any father and son would do? He’s a lot more gay than him.
Ive never seen Macklemore kiss any dudes on the mouth. Ive also never seen him wear leopard print girls pants 6 sizes too small. Macklemore also didn’t pierce his lip like a homo or wear tight pink t-shirts like Weezy.
Just face it, Lil Wayne is the gayest rapper alive.
What grown man kisses his father on the lips?
This guy has a very bad ego problem.
How do you figure that?
Macklemore is better than Tech N9ne
he is the king of independent hip hop
men lie, women lie, numbers don’t
King Macklemore
the Heist best album forever
this wigger knows his underground hip hop GOOD, cool to see newer mainstream artists bringing attention to ughh now, since these guys like bada$$ and tyler grew up listening to ug shit like doom. but gab is like 10x more underground lol, good shit. mack knows his hiphop even though he’s nothing special on the mic
and LOL @ blazing arrow getting 3.5 from hhdx while shit albums get 4’s. that’s why hhdx is considered a joke when it comes to reviews
i wouldnt call him a wigger, he doesnt try to dress or talk like a thugged out black guy
How to earn 300 us dollar per day its unbelievable but its work Hope to see you around here more often.== > http://www.tec70.Com
until I saw the draft which was of $4634 , I didn’t believe …that…my neighbours mother was like realie bringing home money in there spare time on their apple laptop. . there uncles cousin has been doing this less than twenty two months and just took care of the debts on their apartment and got a new Audi Quattro . view website… http://www.Fb39.COm
Funny how we’re the so called editors getting paid a great salary and you’re still a lowly, minimum wage drone.
“Ive never seen Macklemore kiss any dudes on the mouth. Ive also never seen him wear leopard print girls pants 6 sizes too small. Macklemore also didn’t pierce his lip like a homo or wear tight pink t-shirts like Weezy. Just face it, Lil Wayne is the gayest rapper alive.
I’ve seen Macklemore and ryan lewis kiss outside of the ellen show set. They spoke openly of sex outside. Wayne kissing birdman is only a father son moment. HIm wearing t shirts and shoes is also being a great role model for his daughter. He at least isn’t abusive like eminem and 50 cent.
we dont believe you dentalgirl
MACKLEMORE IS THE BEST RAPPER EVER
HE SOLD MORE THAN YOUR FAVORITE MAINSTREAM RAPPER
HE IS INDEPENDENT AND HIS ALBUM IS PLATINUM
FANS AND CRITICS LOVED THE HEIST
PLATINUM ALBUM INDEPENDENTLY!
7X PLATINUM SINGLE!
4X PLATINUM SINGLE!
4 GRAMMY AWARDS!!!!
BEST RAPPER!
pop bullshit
wtf does blackalicious mean?
black and delicious…
How do u not know Blackalicious?
see what i mean. white boy knows more about hip-hop than the cats hating
whose hating I asked a ?
and I guess im lost at what blackalicious hasto do with bringing u closer to god lol
tbh I got more 2 do than watch a 17 min video to explain 1 answer I figured some other lame would have enough time to watch it and when I checkd back I would have an answer.. lol
Gotchu, for real though, pm me later, I wanna see what time we meeting for the Grizzlies game
FUCK YOUZ
I love all my gay fans
me too dawg, me too
I used to ROCK with Blackalicious so I think it’s DOPE that Macklemore is paying homage to some underrated Bay Area Hip Hop, but the choices Macklemore made to launch his career did happen and I can’t respect this dude anymore .. He has single handedly turned Music .. Hip Hop more so .. into TMZ
“He has single handedly turned Music .. Hip Hop more so .. into TMZ”
How do you figure?
the the dude is MADD talented… i hope to hear more from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis! Keep hip-hop alive.. keep doin music from the heart not the wallet