this unruly mess I've made
Macklemore - this unruly mess I've made

What Will be on Macklemore’s ‘This Unruly Mess I’ve Made’ ?

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis announced the follow-up to their debut studio album The Heist. The sophomore album is titled This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, and is scheduled for release Feburary 26. Two singles have been released from the upcoming album with the Ed Sheeran assisted Growing and the comedic Downtown. These two records sum up Macklemore’s claim to fame thus far: funny and real. Since the early days and Language of My World (2005), Macklemore hasn’t changed up his style and musical depth.

However, on Language of My World Macklemore openly discussed white privilege and the conflict of being a white hip-hop artist. Many of us found it out that once he was catapulted into success, these topics seemed to diminish in his music as he prophesied his future. Some local artists have gone as far to mentioning this on wax, others have mentioned it in passing. I for one noticed as well. Being familiar with Macklemore’s music for the last decade, I wondered if he would touch on this topic or continue to avoid it on This Unruly Mess I’ve Made.

EDIT: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have since released ‘White Privilege 2’ and just as I discussed earlier in the post, racial topics have been touched on. In a major way! Our prayers may be answered as Macklemore makes an album that represents the city as a whole through the perspective of a white hip-hop artist. Matter of fact, no longer speaking for just Seattle. Macklemore now has the power and opportunity to speak about white privilege to the nation. People may be confused: “…isn’t this guy a Macklemore hater?” While I’ve never hated Macklemore, I have publicly announced I am not a fan of the joke records. The Macklemore we see on his recently released track “White Privilege 2” is something I am a huge fan of.

Once I saw his new album title I immediately thought this subject will be a main topic. Like most overnight celebrities, success can take a crazy hold of yourself and Macklemore had previously discussed a relapse in trying to deal with new found fame and fortune.

I believe ‘This Unruly Mess I’ve Made’ will be about white privilege in hip-hop and life (with things going on), dealing with fame and things changing, getting love and hate in his own region, with a dash of comedic relief.

I have pondered if Macklemore would be a mainstream one-hit-wonder like many speculated after Thrift Shop, or if his days ruling pop charts aren’t over yet. The one thing many haters have yet to take into consideration is Macklemores lyrical depth. Outside of the funny records, Macklemore has always had incredibly deep music. People are touched by this type of music and die hard fans are born from this type of music. Hes been able to have both mass and hardcore connected fans that won’t switch up as soon as TMZ starts covering a new artist on the rise.

So far Macklemore is on par to deliver another solid album as a whole and I predict he uses his new found fame as a platform to speak about something much bigger than himself. We’re right behind you Ben, tell the world your story (just keep the jokes to a minimum!).

What do you think we will hear on Macklemore’s This Unruly Mess I’ve Made?