Dear, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
I am writing because I trust these words will not fall on deaf ears. However, this letter merits no written response or acknowledgement. My hope is that you gentlemen will become an example of the grass roots movement respect for political compromise.
The events that caused certain African Americans to create the Hip Hop art form in the 1970’s are still hyper sensitive subjects, today. This fact is evidenced by the latest surge of nationwide protest coined Black Lives Matter. Like most things that were created out of survival needs by desperate people, this art form is considered by the world as creative genius.
Many years ago, Hip-Hop turned the corner from a culture survival behavior to a world renowned commodity. Like a diamond in many ways. Like a blood diamond in ways that causes for pause in a moment of consideration for the painful plight of others.
This cultural commodity is now used by those with a cultural linage to it for trade. Like many cities of which people travel to as tourist for the purpose of experiencing the culture. Chinatown lays claim to their culture commodities and they sell that culture to tourist everyday in cities across the nation. It would be ridiculous for a Black person to sell Chinese food or other Chinese cultural treasures on a worlds stage.
The plight of Black people is the poor mans copyright (no pun intended) to the genius art form known as Hip-Hop. When someone infringes on copyrights of another in this litigious land either a demand to cease and desist or a negotiated settlement is in order.
In this case, allow me to offer a solution to the issue of infringement at-hand. The only amicable and morally responsible action is for the responsible parties to publicly donate a percentage of the (ill-gotten) gains to those having the claim of birthright on the commodity known as Hip-Hop.
Anything else would literally be consider a Heist.
- Related Link: Hot 97 Interview December 2015 for context.
- Related Link: The Breakfast Club Power 105.1 (1/22/2015)
Respectfully,
Bello Bey
Author of Driving While Black – The Manifesto
Founder of www.operatingwhileblack.com
Connect: www.bellobey.com