With his most recent song Hind’s Hall, rapper, Macklemore has once again entered the political sphere, endorsing rallies by American college students in favour of Gaza. The Seattle native shared the explosive song on social media and pledged to donate all streaming service profits to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees.

Previously, the song was not available on big platforms like YouTube and Spotify but is now streaming on all platforms, ironically, with a warning that it may be inappropriate for some users. However, the description highlights that all the proceeds will go to the UN agency for relief work in Gaza.

The song’s title originates from Columbia University student protestors who changed Hamilton Hall’s name to Hind’s Hall in honour of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was cruelly slain by Israeli forces in Gaza. The song’s images combine video of police aggression against student demonstrators with tragic blasts in Gaza, a moving show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

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He said, “When I was seven, I learned a lesson from Cube and Eazy-E. What was it again? Oh yeah, f**k the police.”


The musician continues, criticising US diplomatic backing for Israel and President Joe Biden. He also states that he will not be voting for the incumbent in the next election.
“Where do you draw the line for genocide? Destroying every college in Gaza and every mosque,” as well as “Forcing everyone into Rafah and dropping bombs.”
He squarely blames Biden for the bloodshed, stating, “The blood is on your hands, Biden, we can see it all.”
With over 2,000 students detained nationwide during a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including over 100 at Columbia University alone, the song’s release coincides with the protests. Last week, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over a Columbia University building, intensifying a conflict with authorities who have started penalising students for failing to take down tents erected on the New York campus.

One protestor screamed from within, “This building is liberated in honor of Hind, a six-year-old Palestinian child murdered in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces funded by Columbia University,” and others outside repeated him.
Minutes after the protesters gained access to the building, New York City police officers arrived outside the school gates in unmarked cars, the Columbia Spectator newspaper reported. It said police told the paper they would only enter school grounds if someone was injured.