Before assuming the alias Macklemore, as a child Haggerty took an interest in hip-hop at six years old listening to the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and Talib Kwali on the radio. Stepping up to the plate at 14, Haggerty began writing his own rap material largely influenced by the East Coast underground hip-hop scene emergent in the 90’s. With his eyes set on using his music to help forge relationships with younger communities, Haggerty became involved with music workshops for the project “Gateways for Incarcerated Youth”.
Initially performing under the moniker Professor Macklemore, he released his debut EP “Open Your Eyes” in 2000. Five years later and now simply now as Macklemore, he released his debut full length “The Language of My World”. Things all changed when Macklemore met producer Ryan Lewis a year later, who initially worked as Macklemore’s photographer. Forging a strong friendship, it wasn’t long before Lewis turned to producing a couple of Macklemore’s tracks. In 2009 the duo made the collaboration more of a permanent fixture, now known as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis they went on to release the “VS” EP later that year and the “The VS. Redux” (2010) which went straight to number seven on the iTunes hip-hop chart.
It was the 2012 “The Heist” album from the duo which truly sent them into the stratosphere, debuting at number two in the US charts, certifying platinum and clinching the top five chart positions in: Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The album featured the number one singles “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us Down” commandeering charts all over the globe and turning them into a worldwide sensation. Later that year, the pair embarked on “The Heist World Tour”.
At the 2014 Grammys, the duo cleaned up taking four awards including: Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap song. There’s no stopping Macklemore as he and Ryan Lewis are set upon taking over the globe with a legion of fans providing the ultimate backbone.
LIVE REVIEW Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, 2 pieces that fit perfectly together,2 pieces that make awesome music, good beats and amazing lyrics. Terrible leopard print fur-lined coats and black Spanish cowboys hats were everywhere. Young or old, they entertain their audience of all ages. Macklemore, aka Ben Haggerty, was born to be on stage. He was born to share his story of getting off drugs and alcohol and learning to respect that gay or not , we all deserve some respect for who we are and what we do. In between some songs, he had the time to tell and teach us about the important things in life, not like most other rappers, who preach about marijuana legalization. During songs like 'Thrift shop', 'Can't hold us' or 'white walls' everybody literally got crazy! The energy he has to perform those songs and to sing them with such an enthousiasm was unbelievable. With a spectacular concert like 'The Heist' you wont get the chance to sit down and check your facebook. You have to listen to the powerfull words that can mean the world to some people. If you want to go to a concert that tells a story or if you want to listen to music that can make you change your opinion about stuff such as alcohol, money or gay marriage, Macklemore tells his story to everybody through his awesome music.
pauline-de-naeyer
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