White Privilege Lyrics - The Language Of My World - Macklemore

Now nod your head and wake up 

I see so many people lost who really try to pretend 

But am I just another white boy who has caught on to the trend 

When I take a step to the mic is Hip-Hop closer to the end? 

'Cause when I go to shows the majority have white skin 

They marketed the windmill, the air flair and head spin 

And white rappers albums really get the most spins 

The face of hip hop has changed a lot since Eminem 

And if he's taking away black artists' profits I look just like him 

Claimed a culture that wasn't mine, the way of the american 

Hip-Hop is gentrified and where will all the people live 

It's like the Central District, Beacon Hill to the South End 

Being pushed farther away because of what white people did, now 

Where's my place in a music that's been taken by my race 

Cultural appropriated by the white face and we don't want to admit that this is existing 

So scared to acknowledge the benefits of our white privilege 

'Cause it's human nature to want to be part of something different 

Especially when your ancestors are european christians 

And most whites don't want to acknowledge this is occurring 

'Cause we got the best deal, the music without the burden 

Of being black in a system that really wants you to rock 

'Cause all you need is a program and you can go and make Hip-Hop 

And we hate the mainstream cause we're the ones that took it 

Now we listen to Aesop Rock and wear t-shirts that say Brooklyn 

But it's not about black and white, right? 

I mean, good music is good music regardless of what you look like 

But when you don't give them props isn't that selfish? 

That's like saying rock was actually started by Elvis 

So where does this leave me? 

I feel like I pay dues but I'll always be a white MC 

I give everything I have when I write a rhyme 

But that doesn't change the fact that this culture's not mine 

But I'm gonna be me so please be who you are 

This is something that's effortless and shouldn't be hard 

I said I'm gonna be me, so please be who you are 

But we still owe 'em 40 acres now we've stolen their 16 bars 

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Hip-Hop started off in a block that I've never been to 

To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through 

If I think I understand just because I flow too 

That means I'm not keeping it true, nope 

Hip-Hop started off in a block that I've never been to 

To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through 

if I think I understand just because I flow too 

That means I'm not keeping it true, I'm not keeping it true 

Now I don't rap about guns, so they label me conscious 

But I don't rap about guns 'cause I wasn't forced into the projects 

See, I was put in the position where I could chose my options 

Blessed with the privilege that my parent's could send me to college 

Now, who's going to shows? 

The kids on the block starving? 

Or the white people with dough that can relate to my content? 

Marketed the music now adapted to the lifestyle 

What happened to jazz and rock 'n' roll is happening right now 

Photos 

Where's my place in the music that's been taken by the media 

With white corperations controlling what their feeding ya 

I brought up Aesop Rock but I'm not even dissing dude 

We love Hip-Hop and what do you think caucasians are listening to? 

And I speak freely when I write this 

If a black emcee examined race there goes half their fan base, white kids 

And this is so true 

And we didn't even have to fight the system, we just went and picked up the microphone too 

And we got good at it so we should be rapping 

But only supporting them is like burning Jimmy and buying Clapton, now 

Clapton's incredible but no Jimmy no foundation 

So here comes history and the cultural appropriation 

White kids with do rags trying to practice their accents 

From the suburbs to the upperclass mastering a language 

But Hip-Hop is not just memorizing words 

It's rooted in authenticity something you literally can't learn 

But I'm gonna be me so please be who you are 

It's something that's effortless and shouldn't be hard 

I said, I'm gonna be me so please be who you are 

But as I'm blessed with the privilege, they're still left with the scars 

Come on 

Hip-Hop started off in a block that I've never been to 

To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through 

If I think I understand just because I flow too 

That means I'm not keeping it true, nope 

Hip-Hop started off in a block that ive never been to 

To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through 

If I think I understand just because I flow too 

That means I'm not keeping it true, I'm not keeping it true