Macklemore Talks White Privilege, Eminem, & More in New Billboard Interview

This week, Billboard spoke to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis about the controversies surrounding their recently released sophomore album, This Unruly Mess I've Made.

The rapper/producer duo from Seattle, Washington have recently come under fire for their nine-minute single, "White Privilege II." The song discusses the hot topic of whether white people are born with an advantage over other races in today's social atmosphere, specifically looking at hip-hop culture. In the song, Macklemore name drops Iggy Azalea as he raps on how white privilege has benefited himself and white artists alike. Azalea did not take to this kindly, tweeting some harsh words for Macklemore soon after:

@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

Macklemore responded, opening up about everything that went down with the release of "White Privilege II," how that situation is now, and what he thinks about white privilege in the music industry.

“I don’t think people understood that I’m in my own head [saying], ‘You’re Miley, you’re Elvis, you’re Iggy Azalea’ -- I’m talking about myself.”, Macklemore says to Billboard. “Iggy and I came up together,” he says. “We were on the XXL ‘Freshmen’ cover together. There’s enough of a relationship that I should have let her know beforehand. And I didn’t do that."

When asked if he had spoken to her recently, Macklemore quietly said "I haven't talked to her."

When the discussion turned toward other white rappers, Billboard asked if he would include Eminem in the Elvis, Iggy and Miley group. Macklemore responded:

“He’s a white person who raps. I think regardless of where you come from or how amazing you are, you’re still a white person appropriating a black art form.”

Despite the controversy, the single seems to have had a positive influence as well.

Billboard reports that Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson, who is now running for mayor of Baltimore in Maryland "heard the song and immediately wanted to talk to Macklemore about it".