Macklemore enlisted a group of Palestinian artists and poets to complete his pro-Palestine protest song, “Hind Hall.”
“Hind’s Hall 2,” which arrived Saturday, features contributions from Palestinian-American singer Anees, Gaza-born rapper MC Abdul, and Palestinian-American comedian and author Amer Zahr (who sings and plays the oud). The song also features choral vocals from the Palestine Children’s Choir of Los Angeles, the Youth Gospel Choir Lifted!, Tiffany Wilson, and friends.
“I’ve seen massacres, and I’m grateful to be alive/You appreciate life when you survive genocide,” MC Abdul raps in his verse. “Look into my eyes and tell me what you see/I’m out of tears from crying, and I’ll rap until Palestine is free.”
Later in the song, Macklemore addresses Kamala Harris and references the “uncommitted” movement—an ongoing effort to stop U.S. arms shipments to Israel, curb the country’s indiscriminate tactics in Gaza, and end the war. “Kamala, I don’t know if you’re listening, but stop sending money and guns or you’re not going to win Michigan / We’re uncommitted, we can’t change sides,” Macklemore says.
Macklemore also performed “Hind's Hall 2” at a concert in his hometown of Seattle over the weekend, belting out “Fuck America” loudly during his performance as well.
Macklemore released the original song “Hind’s Hall” last May amid widespread campus protests calling for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. The song’s title was a reference to the new name Columbia University protesters gave Hamilton Hall when they occupied it earlier this year; they renamed it Hind Hall, after Hind Raja, a six-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces in February.
As with the first single, Macklemore will donate proceeds from “Hind's Hall 2” to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) USA, a non-profit organization that helps Palestinian refugees.
