Macklemore, right, and his producer Ryan Lewis pose for a portrait at Irving Plaza in New York in January 2014. Image: Carlo Allegri/Associated Press Rapper Macklemore preached the virtues of tolerance and acceptance during a rowdy concert Wednesday night in New York City, where he decided not to dwell on the controversy surrounding his outfit choice during a performance in Seattle on Friday. This week, headlines centered on uproar from people who thought Macklemore’s wig, fake beard and fake nose were culturally insensitive toward Jewish people. But on Wednesday, the 30-year-old rapper kept the focus on the music and the empowering messages behind each song. “We believe in love and equality for all people in the world, so now put your hand up like this,” Macklemore screamed, forming a peace sign with two fingers during the same-sex anthem “Same Love” with Ryan Lewis. Macklemore, born Ben Haggerty, publicly apologized online on Monday. “I’ve always loved dressing up and have been doing so my entire career,” he wrote on his blog. “The character I dressed up as on Friday had no intended cultural identity or background. I wasn’t attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one. A ‘Jewish stereotype’ never crossed my mind.” A costumed Macklemore performs on May 16 in Seattle. Macklemore reiterated his love of costumes at Wednesday’s show, telling fans a story about himself at 17, when he would buy “weird outfits” from thrift stores and walk the streets of New York City as “Professor Macklemore.” The anecdote fittingly introduced the duo’s smash hit “Thrift Shop.” The show, which was the first for the American Express Membership Experiences Concert Series, wouldn’t be a Macklemore concert without a transformation into his British alter ego Raven Bowie for “And We Danced.” Raven Bowie debuted in 2011 in this sex-fueled video. So at the end of the day, fans anticipating a Macklemore costume did indeed see one — just not the controversial one consuming the celebrity scandal mill. BONUS: Surprise! 12 Musicians Who Ignore Traditional Publicity Surprising Musician Promotions 1. Beyoncé Years from now, people will remember where they were when Beyoncé dropped her surprise, self-titled album in December 2013. For two years, the pop artist was quiet on the album front, though she was still a major player in the industry (performing the Super Bowl halftime show, singing the National Anthem at the presidential inauguration, you get the drift). But on Dec. 12, she surprised fans and uploaded a brand new album on iTunes, complete with 17 music videos. And it really, really worked. Video: YouTube, Beyonce 2. Kid Cudi The rapper (real name Scott Mescudi) has been on an experimental spree. After releasing two well-received albums, he spaced out, dropping material that ran far away from traditional hip-hop. On Feb. 24, he surprised fans with Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon on iTunes, notifying audiences only two hours beforehand via Twitter. Image: Flickr, Laurence Barnes 3. Death Grips Before Beyoncé and Kid Cudi, there were Death Grips. The […]
Before finishing their college degree, approximately one in five women will be subject to some level of sexual assault. The volume of violence against young women seems impossible to ignore — and yet, more often than not, that’s exactly what happens. But…what if it was a bear? What if a giant, hungry, angry bear was pounding down your door. For some women, that’s exactly what it feels like just walking to class. This video may seem silly, but its message is important for everyone to hear. Not the greatest odds, huh? It’s time for us all to stand up and make a difference in the safety of young women and girls everywhere. Visit It’s On Us for more information and to see how you can help spread the message and save lives. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/sexual-assault-vs-bears/
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DTBT_ATF’); }); Okay, okay, soda might not be great for you, but you can’t deny that it’s delicious, right? Sitting out by the pool with an ice-cold glass of fizzy goodness is basically the definition of refreshing. Speaking of foods that aren’t really healthy but taste way too good, let’s talk about cake for a second. Actually, let’s talk about soda and cake. If these two treats are high on your “gotta have this right now” list, this amazing recipe is the one for you. I really need to learn how to bake, because this is just too good to miss. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/7-up-cake/
When a child makes a promise to their parents, usually they are full of good intentions, even if they know they can’t fulfill said promise. This man was only 8 years-old when he promised to do something for his father. Now, years later, he ensured that he made good on what he said when he was a little boy. Years ago, he said he was going to give his father a ’57 Chevy Bel-Air on his 57th birthday. Decades passed and most people forgot about that adorable promise the little boy made to his daddy. The son, however, remembered. There was a surprise waiting for this dad on his birthday… You have to watch this father’s reaction for yourself. It’s so sweet and genuine, the months of hard work that this son had to put in to surprise his dad with this gift would have been so worth it. It wasn’t an easy task, but he found a way to make sure his father received that car on his birthday. It meant so much to his father to receive it, but it was also very important for this son to give it to him. “I was pulling 60 hour work weeks over 6 days a week for a few months so I could buy this for him.” Someone give this man a Son Of The Year award. As a thank you for years of love, support and guidance, he gave his father this car. His reaction makes it all worth it. Source: Reddit We only are lucky enough to get one family in this life. They come in all shapes and sizes, but we should love them all the same. What this son did for his dad is absolutely unbelievable. The love that they share is so touching; click below and share it with your own loved ones. Read more: http://viralnova.com/57-chevy-surprise/
When traveling, it’s best not to keep valuable items in a locked suitcase. Your passport, credit cards, cash, and other important items should stay on your person (or at least close by). Some people believe that locking them in a suitcase is a safe alternative…but it isn’t. Even if you have a strong lock, the suitcase can be breached with relative ease. Your locked suitcase isn’t as safe as you think. Yet another example of how quickly a zip breach can occur: Expensive new luggage and gear may offer safer alternatives…but it’s best to not take anything for granted (especially if you’re traveling overseas). Traveler beware! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/break-into-suitcase/
Richard Feynman’s four-step method for mastering any subject is so simple that it just might work… Read more: http://www.wimp.com/how-to-master-any-subject-in-4-easy-steps/
A group of brave YouTube pioneers decided to do an experiment that’d test the endurance of a favorite household appliance: the washing machine. They wanted to know just how far one of these puppies would go if you put it under some serious stress. The answer? Not that far. They put a small piece of metal, like what you’d find in a normal combustion engine, into the machine. Then, they started a cycle. At first, it seemed like the machine could handle it. But then, the wheels really came off of the whole operation when the machine tried to kick into a normal cycle. Check out the full carnage in the video: It’s just … So… violent. (H/T BuzzFeed) The next time you do a load of laundry, make sure to check your pants and bed sheets for any wrenches, engine parts or random hunks of metal. We all know how common it is to be carrying around a smelted brick of iron ore. If you thought that losing some change in the washing machine was loud and annoying, having this happen would break you (and the washing machine). Read more: http://viralnova.com/washing-machine-destruction/
