Macklemore thinks his skin colour has helped him gain mainstream success

Macklemore believes his white skin colour has given him an unfair advantage in some circles.

The issue of race in rap and hip/hop was raised recently after Azealia Banks attacked Australian Iggy Azalea.

Speaking to Hot 97, 'Thrift Shop' star Macklemore said be he thinks being white has encouraged some people to think more appreciatively of him.

When asked if his skin colour has helped him attain success, the rapper said:

"Yes, absolutely. Why am I safe? Why can I cuss on a record, have a parental advisory sticker on the cover of my album, yet parents are still like, 'You're the only rap I let my kids listen to'.

"If I was black, what would my drug addiction look like? It would be twisted into something else versus maybe, 'Get back on your feet!' The privilege that exists in the music industry is just a greater symptom of the privilege that exists in America.

"There's no difference...I got put in that 'hero' box and I think that when that happens, it's because of white privilege."

Watch Macklemore in action below: