History
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were an influential American hip-hop duo from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 2008, the group consisted of rapper Ben Haggerty, known as Macklemore, and DJ, record producer, and photographer Ryan Lewis. The pair gained international fame for their ability to achieve massive commercial success as an independent act, navigating the music industry with a unique distribution model that allowed them to maintain creative control.
Early Collaborations and The VS. EP
The duo first met in 2006 when Lewis began working as a photographer for Macklemore’s promotion. Their professional relationship evolved into a musical partnership, with Lewis producing Macklemore’s 2008 mixtape, The Unplanned Mixtape. By 2009, they formalized their status as a duo and released their debut collaborative project, The VS. EP. This was followed in 2010 by VS. Redux, which featured the critically acclaimed track "Otherside." The song, which sampled the Red Hot Chili Peppers, explored Macklemore’s personal struggles with substance abuse and helped establish their reputation for socially conscious lyricism.
During this period, the duo built a strong local following in the Pacific Northwest. In 2011, they released "My Oh My" as a tribute to the late Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, which they performed at the Mariners' Opening Day. Other early singles like "Wings" and "Can't Hold Us" began to generate significant buzz, leading to performances at major festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Sasquatch.
Global Breakthrough with The Heist
On October 9, 2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released their debut studio album, The Heist. The album was a massive commercial success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200. Its breakout single, "Thrift Shop," became a global phenomenon, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. The track was notable for being the first song since 1994 to top the chart without the backing of a major record label, though the duo utilized a specialized contract with Warner Bros. Records to handle radio promotion.
Their follow-up single, "Can't Hold Us," also reached the top of the Hot 100, making Macklemore & Ryan Lewis the first duo in music history to have their first two singles both reach number one. Another significant track from the album, "Same Love," became an anthem for LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality, peaking at number 11 on the US charts and receiving widespread critical praise.
Grammy Success and Controversy
At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014, the duo won four awards:
This Unruly Mess I've Made and Hiatus
After several years of touring, the duo returned in 2015 with the single "Downtown," featuring hip-hop pioneers Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz. Their second studio album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016. The project debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and included the promotional singles "White Privilege II" and "Kevin."
In June 2017, Macklemore announced via social media that the duo was going on an indefinite hiatus. Since then, Macklemore has focused on his solo career, while Ryan Lewis has continued to work as a producer and creative director. Despite the hiatus, the duo remains recognized for their significant impact on independent music and their record-breaking chart performance during the early 2010s.
