Hind's Hall
"Hind's Hall" | |
---|---|
Song by Macklemore | |
Released | May 6, 2024 |
Recorded | 2024 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:49 |
Songwriter(s) | Macklemore |
"Hind's Hall" is a protest song by American rapper Macklemore. The song was released as a single on May 7, 2024. Macklemore announced that once the song was available on streaming services, all proceeds made would be donated to UNRWA.[1][2]
The song supports the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses and calls for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war. The song's title is a reference to the barricading of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University by students and their renaming of it to Hind's Hall in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza City.[3][4]
Music and lyrics
In his lyrics, Macklemore is critical of the US funding the Israeli military and the acceptance by US politicians of financial resources from pro-Israel lobbying organisations such as Christians United for Israel and AIPAC. The song also denounces Congress' banning of TikTok, the white supremacy apparent in policing and policy decisions, and the conflation of anti-semitism with anti-Zionism. "Hind's Hall" also makes reference to genocide, the ongoing Nakba and the killing of Palestinian men, women and children in the Gaza Strip.[5]
Additionally, Macklemore declares President Joe Biden to be complicit in the killing of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure; because of this, Macklemore stated that he will not be voting for Biden in the 2024 United States presidential election. Macklemore is also an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, featuring in a 2016 song entitled "FDT (Fuck Donald Trump), Pt. 2".[6] Macklemore also condemns the music industry for not using their platform to address the Israeli government's mass murder of civilians in Gaza.[5]
"Hind's Hall" samples the tune "Ana La Habibi" by Lebanese singer Fairuz, and quotes the main lyrics from the 1988 song "Fuck tha Police" by hip hop group N.W.A.[5]
Accusation of censorship
The video has been widely shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, gaining millions of views, but on YouTube it has been age-restricted, significantly lowering its outreach. YouTube has been accused by social media users of censorship and limiting the song's outreach.[7]
Reception
Guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine tweeted:
Honestly @macklemore’s “Hind’s Hall” is the most Rage Against The Machine song since Rage Against The Machine.[8]
Jill Stein, the Green Party's presidential candidate in 2024, publicly thanked Macklemore for making the song.[9]
See also
- List of anti-war songs
- Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song), a protest song in reaction to the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970
References
- ^ Robledo, Anthony (March 8, 2024). "Super Tuesday results: How did 'uncommitted' perform on ballots across the country?". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ Singh, Karan (May 6, 2024). "Macklemore To Donate All Earnings From New Song To Palestinian Relief Amid College Protests". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (May 7, 2024). "'Blood is on your hands, Biden': US rapper Macklemore gives support to Palestine and campus protests". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ "'Hind Hall': How Columbia's Hamilton Hall became its signature protest hub". Al Jazeera. May 1, 2024. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Staff, The New Arab (May 7, 2024). "US rapper Macklemore releases pro-Gaza track Hind's Hall". The New Arab. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ "Macklemore Drops 'Trump's Over Freestyle'". Rap-Up. January 10, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Culture, Billie Schwab Dunn Pop; Reporter, Entertainment (May 8, 2024). "YouTube accused of censoring Macklemore's "Hind's Hall"". Newsweek. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ "Macklemore Dares Others to Stand Up for Palestine". The Nation. May 7, 2024. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024.
- ^ "Macklemore Debuts Campus Protest Solidarity Song". TIME. May 7, 2024. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
External links
- Official video on YouTube
- VIDEO:Hind's Hall by Macklemore, The Independent (May 2024)
- Official video on Twitter