Macklemore has enlisted a handful of Palestinian artists and poets for the sequel to his pro-Palestine protest song, “Hind’s Hall.”
“Hind’s Hall 2,” which arrived on Saturday, features contributions from Palestinian-American singer Anees, the Gaza-born rapper MC Abdul, and Palestinian-American comedian and author Amer Zahr (who both sings and plays oud). The song also boasts choir vocals from the LA Palestinian Kids Choir, Lifted! Youth Gospel Choir, Tiffany Wilson, and Friends.
“I’ve seen massacres, I’m grateful to be alive/You appreciate life when you survive a genocide,” MC Abdul rhymes on his verse. “Look in my eyes and tell me what you see/Ran out of tears to cry, rap til Palestine is free.”
Later in the song, Macklemore directs a line at Kamala Harris and nods to the Uncommitted movement — an ongoing effort to stop U.S. arms shipments to Israel, curtail the country’s indiscriminate tactics in Gaza, and end the war. “Hey Kamala, I don’t know if you’re listening,” Macklemore says, “But stop sending money and weapons or you ain’t winning Michigan/We uncommitted, and hell no we ain’t switching positions.”
Macklemore also performed “Hind’s Hall 2” at a concert in his hometown of Seattle over the weekend, dropping a vociferous “Fuck America,” during his performance, as well.
Macklemore released the original “Hind’s Hall” back in May amid the widespread campus protests calling for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. The song’s title was a reference to the new name protesters at Columbia University gave to Hamilton Hall when they occupied it earlier this year; they re-named it Hind’s Hall after Hind Raja, a six-year-old killed by the Israeli military in February.
Just like the first song, Macklemore will be donating the proceeds from “Hind’s Hall 2” to UNRWA USA, a non-profit that helps Palestinian refugees.
