Macklemore's latest song demonstrates his unwavering support for Palestine and students across the United States protesting against Israel's war on Gaza.
In his song titled 'Hind's Hall', the Grammy-award-winning rapper admonishes the US government, telling President Joe Biden "blood is on your hands" and declaring that he will not vote for him in the upcoming November election.
Macklemore, best known for 2010s hits such as 2012's 'Thrift Shop' and 'Can't Hold Us', has previously released socially aware music, supporting LGBTQ+ rights while also criticizing ills including poverty and consumerism.
His latest track, currently available only on social media, strongly reiterates his support for Palestinian rights since the start of the conflict on 7 October .
The New Arab looks at the significance behind the' title of Macklemore's anthem for Gaza:
The meaning behind 'Hind's Hall'
The song is named after the building at Columbia University that students recently occupied and renamed after Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
Dozens of protesters took over Hamilton Hall on April 30 within Columbia's campus, barricading entrances and hanging a Free Palestine banner from a window as administrators warn that they would face expulsion for doing so.
Protesters insisted they would remain at the hall until the university agreed to three demands: divestment from Israel and companies supporting the war in Gaza, financial transparency and amnesty for protesters.
Hours later, New York City police carrying riot shields stormed the building and cleared dozens of people from it, sweeping the encampment on the campus as well.
The action from city police came at the request of the university, according to a police statement.
The police response is referenced in the song, with Macklemore rapping:
"If students in tents posted on the lawn / Occupying the quad is really against the law / And a reason to call in the police and their squad / Where does genocide land in your definition, huh?"
University students have been mobilising for weeks on campuses over Israel's deadly offensive and its backing by the US, with police forcibly clearing protest camps in a manner similar to what occurred at Columbia, with 2,000 people arrested nationwide.
Columbia students are credited for being the driving force behind protests on college campuses across the country and worldwide.
What happened to Little Hind?
Hind Rajab, who was honoured by Columbia's student activists by renaming the occupied university building after her, was killed by Israeli forces in January.
Hind and five of her relatives were ambushed by Israeli shelling in a car in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood,, according to reports.
Twelve days later, after making a distress call while trapped in the car and injured, Hind and her family members were found dead in the vehicle.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Youssef Zaino and Ahmed Al-Madhoun, the two paramedics sent to rescue Hind and her family, were also killed by Israel, having lost contact since the attack.
Following a comprehensive investigation, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor later concluded that Hind and her relatives were killed in a "planned execution carried out by the Israeli army … in broad daylight."
According to Euro-Med’s report in February, Hind, alongside her uncle, aunt and three of her cousins, were killed by gunfire and shrapnel from tank shells while fleeing the neighbourhood, which Israel had instructed them to do.
Hind's story has become symbolic of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, where entire families have been massacred without any sign of Tel Aviv reducing civilian casualties.
Agencies contributed to this report.