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With success comes hate, and sometimes "sellout" accusations by fans. Just ask rising independent emcee, Macklemore.
Over the weekend, the Seattle rapper appeared in a commercial for the 2013 NBA All-Star game, performing his song "Wings" ... and received a bit of criticism for it. So, Macklemore took to his official website to release an open letter in response... titled "Wings, The NBA All-Star Game, & Selling Out," where he explains the focus on the song while offering his thoughts on being labeled a "sellout."
"The song 'Wings' is about the pursuit of identity through the means of consumerism," Macklemore wrote. "The attempt is to dissect our infatuation and attachment to logos, labels, brands and the fleeting happiness that is intrinsically linked to the almighty power of the purchase. The subject I use in the song is shoes, but its aim is to paint a broader picture of being a consumer and tracing the lineage back to my first memory of retail infused desire.
"In my stripped down definition, selling out is compromising your artistic integrity for money/fame," he adds. "In my heart I can tell you that my personal artistic integrity remained completely intact over the weekend. TNT used our song. They're still my words."
