Macklemore, born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, is an American rapper and musician with a net worth of $25 million. He is renowned for his unique approach to success, having achieved fame without the backing of a major record label. Instead, Macklemore partnered with Warner Bros. Records in a promotional capacity, paying a small fee to have his music played on the radio. Much of his success has been in collaboration with producer Ryan Lewis, and together, they have released some of his most iconic songs.
Early Life and Influences
Macklemore was born on June 19, 1983, in Seattle, Washington. From a young age, he had a passion for music, specifically rap. One of his earliest influences was the hip-hop group Digital Underground, which he discovered at the age of six. As he grew older, he began listening to more artists, such as Mobb Deep, Nas, and the Wu-Tang Clan. By the time he was 15, Macklemore was writing his own raps, drawing inspiration from the music of these artists.
He adopted the stage name “Professor Macklemore” during high school, which he later shortened to simply “Macklemore.” Around this time, he also started working on his first mixtape. His high school experience played a pivotal role in shaping his future career. Macklemore was also part of the hip-hop group Elevated Elements, which he formed with other students. Together, they released one album before Macklemore graduated from high school and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to attend the College of Santa Fe.
Although Macklemore wasn’t accepted into the music program, his time in Santa Fe still had a positive impact on his music career. He continued to hone his craft and returned to Seattle, where he later earned a bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College in 2009.
Early Music Career
Macklemore’s first mixtape, Open Your Eyes, was released in 2000 under his stage name at the time, Professor Macklemore. The mixtape laid the foundation for his music career. In 2005, he released his first full-length album, The Language of My World, under the shortened name Macklemore. This album featured lyrics that reflected his thoughts on race, cultural appropriation, and other pressing social issues, setting the tone for his future work.
Despite not gaining widespread recognition early in his career, Macklemore remained dedicated to his craft. He kept releasing music, including a second mixtape in 2009 titled The Unplanned Mixtape, which featured songs like “The Town” and “We Danced.” The mixtape reached the number 7 spot on the iTunes Hip-Hop Chart, showing that his work was starting to catch on with a broader audience.
Collaboration with Ryan Lewis
Macklemore first met producer Ryan Lewis in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2009 that they began collaborating professionally. Their partnership was a game-changer for Macklemore. Ryan Lewis, who handled production and musical arrangement, brought a polished and vibrant sound to Macklemore’s raps, making their music appealing to both mainstream audiences and the underground hip-hop community.
In 2011, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis began selling out shows across the United States, setting the stage for their breakout album The Heist. Released in 2012, The Heist was a massive success, debuting at number two on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. The album sold 78,000 copies in its first week, and its leading single, “Thrift Shop,” became an international hit.
“Thrift Shop” made history by reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart without support from a major record label—a feat not achieved since 1994. The song was celebrated for its commentary on materialism within hip-hop culture. Another single from The Heist, “Can’t Hold Us,” also topped the Billboard Hot 100, solidifying Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s place in music history.
Breakthrough and Success
Following the success of The Heist, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis continued to collaborate with prominent artists such as Ed Sheeran and 2 Chainz. Their success extended to the Grammy Awards in 2014, where they won four Grammys, including Best Rap Album for The Heist. Despite some controversy about Macklemore winning the Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar, the awards solidified his mainstream success.
After a period of collaboration, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took a break from working together in 2017. That year, Macklemore released his first solo album in over a decade, Gemini. The album represented a departure from his previous work with Ryan Lewis and featured collaborations with artists like Skylar Grey, Lil Yachty, and Kesha. Songs like “Glorious” and “Good Old Days” demonstrated Macklemore’s ability to continue producing hits even without his longtime collaborator.
Social Commentary and Musical Style
Throughout his career, Macklemore has been known for addressing social and political issues in his lyrics. One of his most well-known tracks, “Same Love,” was a powerful statement in favor of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights. Other songs, like “White Privilege II,” addressed issues related to the Black Lives Matter movement, while “Thrift Shop” critiqued consumerism and materialism.
Macklemore’s music has often been described as both socially conscious and self-aware. He has openly acknowledged the complexities of being a white rapper in a predominantly Black genre, often discussing his own privilege and the impact of cultural appropriation. His willingness to tackle these difficult subjects has earned him a reputation as one of the more introspective artists in mainstream hip-hop.
Personal Life and Struggles
Macklemore has been open about his struggles with drug addiction. After battling addiction for many years, he entered rehab in 2008 and remained clean for several years. However, he relapsed in 2011, a challenge that he later addressed in his music. His journey toward sobriety has been a central theme in some of his songs, offering fans an honest look at the difficulties of addiction and recovery.
In 2015, Macklemore married his longtime girlfriend, Tricia Davis, after seven years of dating. The couple has two daughters, born in 2015 and 2017. Macklemore has also expressed pride in his community, becoming a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders, a Major League Soccer team.
Awards and Legacy
Over the years, Macklemore has received numerous accolades for his contributions to music. In addition to his Grammy Awards, he has won multiple MTV Video Music Awards. His music, which blends humor, social commentary, and introspection, has had a lasting impact on the hip-hop genre.
While Macklemore and Ryan Lewis may have taken a step back from their collaboration, the legacy of their work together remains strong. The Heist is still considered one of the most successful independent albums in recent memory, and Macklemore continues to be a prominent voice in the music industry, both as a solo artist and a social commentator.
