Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Biography
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis was an American hip-hop duo formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2009. The duo consisted of Ben Haggerty, a rapper known as Macklemore, and Ryan Lewis, a producer, DJ, and photographer. They met in 2006, and Lewis initially worked on Macklemore's promotion as a photographer before they began collaborating musically.
Career Beginnings
Before forming the duo, Macklemore had released a solo EP, "Open Your Eyes," in 2000 and a debut album, "The Language of My World," in 2005. In 2009, they formalized their partnership as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and released their debut EP, "The VS. EP," which reached No. 7 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart. This was followed by the "VS. Redux EP" in 2010.
Breakthrough with The Heist
The duo achieved major commercial success with their debut studio album, "The Heist," released in October 2012. The album debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It featured the hit singles "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us." "Thrift Shop" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a significant achievement for an independent artist without the backing of a major record label. "Can't Hold Us" also topped the Hot 100, making them the first duo in the chart's history to have their first two singles reach the number one position.
At the 2014 Grammy Awards, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won four awards: Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for "The Heist," Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance for "Thrift Shop." The album also included the socially conscious song "Same Love," which advocated for LGBTQIA+ rights.
This Unruly Mess I've Made and Hiatus
Their second album, "This Unruly Mess I've Made," was released in February 2016 and debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The album included the single "Downtown," featuring hip-hop pioneers Grandmaster Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz. In June 2017, Macklemore announced that the duo was going on an indefinite hiatus. He explained that the decision was made out of love and a need for creative space after working together intensively for nine years.
Solo Careers
Following the hiatus, both artists have pursued solo projects. In 2017, Macklemore released his solo album "Gemini." Ryan Lewis has worked as a producer and co-writer for other artists, including Kesha and Hobo Johnson. Despite the hiatus, they have collaborated on a song called "Next Year" in 2021.