Thrift Shop Review

Sound: 5/5

Lyrics: 4/5

Instrumental: 4/5

Idea: 4/5

Flow/Energy: 4/5

Music Video: 3/5

Other: 4/5

For the 2011 Freshman cover magazine, one of the rappers was none other than Macklemore, one of many independent rappers in the game. And like most of the others, I quickly put him into the back of my mind. But since then, a song called Thrift Shop has trolled its way through the charts, making billboard its bitch. Yes, by an independent rapper. And why? So as dozens of low quality rappers are trying to chart worth shit to pay off their record labels in songs where they brag about their cash flow and girls, Macklemore has mad MORE money RAPPING ABOUT SHOPPING AT A FUCKIN’ GOOD WILL. And guess what, not a dime went to a record deal. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and whoever the hell Wanz is kept it all. And I think that’s the best back story to a song ever. The fact that an independent rapper made it with this, a song about his shitty clothes, it gives hope. Now to the actual song. The first time I watched the song, before I knew anything, I wanted to hate it. I was this ready to dislike the video, but by the end I was at a neutral stand point. And that fucking additive shit came on, and over and over again it played. And somehow, it’s not repetitive. It got more and more enjoyable, and although it’s flaws are apparent, a song that dominated the radio I actually enjoyed. For once. And he’s not a one hit wonder either, I’ve seen two other songs already that he’s made it with. Okay, let’s dive into the lyrics. The first line is I walk into the club like "yo’ I got a big cock.” And soon after that he’s pretty much like no, I was just fucking with you. Then he proceeds to talk about his thrift shop clothes, and then poking fun at how they smell like R. Kelly’s sheets, which you know, like piss. And that reference is so outdated that the majority of kids watching it won’t get it. And then the proceeds to brag about his fuckin’ shitty clothes. If you don’t see where this is going, the lyrics are kind of just a big troll. They’re almost a joke, making fun of themselves, and has this Slim Shady I’m making a joke, but this is still the song vibe to it. It’s obviously having fun with hit, so I can more easily excuse some corny lines. And the lyrics are mostly just dumb fun. Who raps about buying a broken keyboard? No, who raps about buying a blanket either has "skeet” on it, or he’s about to use it to jack off? And this song made it to the top of the charts? Where’s the repetitive techno beat, the five artists featuring on it, the chicks with giant asses, the stupid dance that goes along with it, the part where they’re desperately trying the make the video go viral? Oh yeah, they don’t exist. And you can see a lot of people probably wouldn’t like this guy for trolling through the charts with his "skeet blanket.” After that the hook hits, and we’ll get to it after the verses. The next verse hits, and it’s more about rapping about thrift shop clothes, including wearing a footy pajamas… like I said a troll of a song. And there is a good amount of cursing, so I’m glad although a radio song, there is cursing up the ass, and no stupid "explicit” version by Vevo. Although those mothafucka’ lines can get under you skin after awhile. But then the best part of the song hits. It goes even farther by making the people who spend so much money on clothes look like idiots. And in a genre where the opposite seems like a flag waving in our face of what the genre is, I like that. And it says if you actually think your getting girls from your clothes your not, and that’s it. It might as well say your getting the girls because of who you are, which is a compliment, or your getting them because they’re idiots, which is an insult, or the neutral route where they aren’t getting them, and it’s not because they aren’t dressing as nice. Hell, it’s not even dressing nice, it’s dressing in expensive clothing. And the bridge closes it off with this Wanz guy saying how fucking awesome it is that he’s wearing your granddad’s clothes. So lyrics, they’re not novel by any means. Many of the lines would be very stretching to say they even lines, and lyrically skilled Macklemore isn’t exactly that great. But the song is funny, the very corny lines oddly just fit, and the message about his take on clothes is just extremely refreshing, even if not this great masterpiece. The hook is very addictive, and not the soon to get repetitive kind either. And don’t overlook the song because it plays on the radio, or has a bunch of idiots listening to it. Macklemore has been respected by a good amount of rap communities, but many don’t let him in because he’s too corny, too pop, and maybe that’s understandable. I don’t exactly like the guy, but I respect what he’s done, and I love the fact that he’s up there, that being said there are greatly a number of independent rappers who deserve his spot. And a lot of people who don’t like rap, like this song, and for me that’s a win. They’re listening to a song I think universally is a good song, and if it’s too corny, and too much, I get it. It’s a stupid radio song that’s having so much fun with itself, and normally that sounds pretty bad, but for once there is no bullshit involved, and that goes a long way.

Thrift Shop gets a 4/5