Macklemore & Ryan Lewis hold a singular place in both the Pacific Northwest and beyond, emerging as a premier national hip-hop group with numerous career highlights to their name. A genuine lyricist and an electrifying live performer, Macklemore, with his producer Ryan Lewis, have garnered critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. The duo has generated undeniable momentum with Macklemore’s feature on the cover of XXL’s Freshman Class of 2012, along with a highly anticipated full-length album and accompanying world tour. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ music is distinct for channeling cultural moments and refreshingly self-aware testimony through candid lyricism and expertly crafted production. Their body of work demonstrates an impressive variety of musical influence, experience and subject matter, all in a voice unmistakably their own.
Macklemore’s 2005 release Language of My World was well received by circles who noted his fresh perspective and a striking balance of insight and levity. After several subsequent years of artistic stagnation and frustration due to substance abuse, Macklemore made a commitment to sobriety with a newfound, more intrinsic dedication to his music. The catalyst to this change was establishing a partnership and on-going collaboration with Ryan Lewis, an accomplished artist in design, photography, video and musical production, who also acts as Macklemore’s touring DJ. They released the VS EP in 2009 & VS Redux in 2010, the latter reaching #7 on the iTunes Hip Hop charts.
Throughout 2011 they released four highly successful singles, all accompanied by undeniable music videos. As an independent group with no current association with an outside record label, the duo has built their brand from the ground up since day one and continue to be completely in-house with their music, design, photography, merchandise and all other platforms of their artistry. In 2011, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis sold-out two national tours packing houses in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and a three-night run at Seattle’s Showbox venue where 3,600 tickets sold out in less than 48 hours. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will release their highly anticipated first full-length album in fall 2012 that promises to be their greatest showcase of musical versatility and best work to date. With a 65+ city world tour to support the release, the duo is set for remarkable new heights.
