Macklemore is an American rapper who began building his fanbase online from the year 2000 onwards. It wasn’t until twelve years later that he released the album The Heist together with producer Ryan Lewis. The album produced major hit singles such as “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us.”
Ben “Macklemore” Haggerty started writing lyrics at the age of 14. His friends gave him the name Macklemore, and he initially performed under the name Professor Macklemore before quickly dropping the “Professor.”
In 2000, Macklemore released his first EP, Open Your Eyes, and continued to grow his reputation mainly online. Six years later, producer Ryan Lewis added him on MySpace — and the rest is history.
The debut album by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, The Heist, was released in March 2013 in the Netherlands and became a global success, producing several international hits. With the song “Same Love,” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis spoke out in support of LGBTQ+ equality. The track addresses the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States and the fight against homophobia. Singer Mary Lambert also contributed to the song, performing the chorus as a tribute to her girlfriend. “Same Love” reached number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
