Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
| Company type | Independent hip hop duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Key people | Macklemore (rapper), Ryan Lewis (producer) |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were a hip hop duo originating from Seattle, Washington, established in 2009 by rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis. Their initial release was the EP VS. EP (2009), succeeded by VS. Redux (2010), the Grammy-winning album The Heist (2012), and later This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016).
Their track "Thrift Shop" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013, marking the first time since 1994 that an independent release topped the chart without major label support, although they did pay a small fee for radio promotion through Warner Bros. Records. The subsequent single, "Can't Hold Us", also secured the number one spot, making them the first duo to have their first two singles achieve this feat. The Heist entered the Billboard 200 at number 2 upon release.
At the 2014 Grammy Awards, they earned four accolades: Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for The Heist, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance for "Thrift Shop". Their sophomore album was launched in February 2016.
On June 15, 2017, Macklemore declared an indefinite pause for the duo.
2006–2010: Early career and The VS.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis crossed paths in 2006 when Lewis was engaged as a photographer to assist with Macklemore's promotional efforts, quickly developing a productive collaboration.[1] Lewis handled production for Macklemore's 2008 mixtape The Unplanned.[2] Together, they appeared at various festivals such as Bumbershoot, Sasquatch Music Festival, and Outside Lands Music Festival.[3] In 2009, they officially formed Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and released their debut EP titled The VS. EP, which climbed to No. 7 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart. The single "Irish Celebration" was issued in December 2009 prior to the EP's release.[4] March 2010 saw them offer "Stay At Home Dad" as a free download, a track not featured on VS..[5] Later that year, in October, they released the VS. Redux EP. Drawing on personal struggles with addiction, they crafted "Otherside", a critically praised song sampling the Red Hot Chili Peppers' original.
2011–14: Rise to prominence with The Heist
In 2011, they unveiled "My Oh My", a homage to the late Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, which garnered considerable attention within local media.[6] The duo performed this tribute during the Mariners' Opening Day in April before an audience of nearly 48,000.[7] On January 21, 2011, they released "Wings", which reached number 12 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. This was followed by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton on August 16, 2011; the song eventually claimed number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2013 and maintained that position for five consecutive weeks.
February 2011 marked the start of a multi-city tour beginning in Pullman, Washington, including three sold-out performances at Seattle's Showbox at the Market.[8] That same year, Macklemore appeared at major U.S. music festivals such as Bumbershoot, Outside Lands, Lollapalooza, Rock the Bells, SoundSet, Sasquatch! Music Festival, and Bonnaroo. Their album The Heist was released in October 2012 and included singles like "My Oh My," "Wings," "Can't Hold Us," and "Make the Money." Notably, "Can't Hold Us" featured in a Miller beer advertisement aired in the UK and Ireland in June 2012, enhancing their recognition overseas.
Released on July 18, 2012, "Same Love" achieved a peak position of number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other notable tracks from the album included "White Walls" with guest vocals from ScHoolboy Q and "Jimmy Iovine" featuring Ab-Soul. On August 27, "Thrift Shop" was launched and quickly topped charts internationally, including six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100—their first US chart-topping single.
The Heist debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart dated October 27, 2012, selling over 78,000 copies during its initial week. They supported their singles with performances on shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The "The Heist World Tour" commenced in August of that year.[9] On October 8, 2013, they released "White Walls" as the final single from the album; it peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100.
On January 26, 2014, their performance of "Same Love" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards featured officiant Queen Latifah conducting marriage ceremonies for couples attending.[10] Madonna also performed "Open Your Heart" during this event.[10]
2015–2017: This Unruly Mess I've Made and break
In January 2015, Macklemore shared on Twitter that the duo's sophomore studio album was scheduled for release during the latter half of that year. On August 5, 2015, "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)" featuring Ed Sheeran was made available as a complimentary download. The lead single from the album, "Downtown," dropped on August 27, 2015, and was performed live at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards; it peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later, on November 22, 2015, they introduced the track "Kevin" alongside Leon Bridges at the American Music Awards.
The second promotional single from This Unruly Mess I've Made, titled "White Privilege II," was released on January 22, 2016. Following this, "Spoons" was issued as the third promotional single on February 14, though it was excluded from the final album tracklist. On February 23, both "Buckshot" and "Kevin" were unveiled as the fourth and fifth promotional singles respectively. The album’s second official single, "Dance Off," came out on February 25. The full album launched on February 26, 2016, entering the Billboard 200 chart at number four.
On June 15, 2017, Macklemore announced via Instagram that the duo would be taking a hiatus.
Public image
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis first gained notable attention in 2012 when featured in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype section and subsequently appeared on the cover of XXL as part of that year’s Freshman Class. Rolling Stone characterized their journey as an "indie rags-to-riches story." Their hit "Thrift Shop" secured the top spot in Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2012, while "Same Love" placed fifteenth. This Hottest 100 poll is recognized as the largest music voting event worldwide, drawing over one million votes internationally. Additionally, a three-page article highlighting their career was published in the February 2013 edition of ESPN the Magazine.
At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, they received seven nominations including Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Song of the Year for "Same Love," and Best Music Video for "Can't Hold Us." On January 26, 2014, they secured four Grammy wins: Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (for The Heist), Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance (both for "Thrift Shop"). Some critics questioned their victory over Kendrick Lamar for Best Rap Album; Macklemore himself acknowledged Lamar’s superior album and recognized the hip hop community’s valid concerns during an interview with The Source.
Discography
- The Heist (2012)
- This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016)
Tours
- The Heist Tour (2012–13)
- The Fall Tour (2013–14)
- This Unruly Mess I've Made Tour (2016)
See also
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2013
- Hip hop music in the Pacific Northwest
- Grammy Award for Best New Artist