Macklemore | |
|---|---|
 Macklemore in 2022 | |
| Born | Benjamin Hammond Haggerty June 19, 1983 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Other names | Professor Macklemore |
| Education | College of Santa Fe Evergreen State College (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse |
Tricia Davis (m. 2015) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis |
| Website | macklemore |
| Signature | |
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Benjamin Hammond Haggerty[2] (born June 19, 1983), better known by his stage name Macklemore (/ˈmækləmɔːr/ MAK-lə-mor;[3][4] formerly Professor Macklemore), is an American rapper. A native of Seattle, Washington, he started his career in 2000 as an independent artist releasing: Open Your Eyes (2000), The Language of My World (2005), and The Unplanned Mixtape (2009). He rose to international success collaborating with producer Ryan Lewis as the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2009–2016).
Macklemore's and Lewis's single "Thrift Shop" (featuring Wanz) reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2013.[5] The single was dubbed by Billboard as the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label; however Macklemore, in a slightly unusual recording contract, pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. Records's radio promotion department to push his singles.[6][7] Their second single, "Can't Hold Us", also peaked at number one on the Hot 100 chart, making Macklemore and Lewis the first duo in the chart's history to have their first two singles both reach the peak position.[8] Their debut studio album The Heist was released on October 9, 2012, and charted at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The duo won four Grammy Awards at the 2014 ceremony, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (The Heist), Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance ("Thrift Shop"). The pair's second album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016.
In June 2017, Macklemore released "Glorious", a single featuring Skylar Grey, which marked his return to the music industry as well as his first major single produced without Lewis since his mainstream breakthrough. Macklemore released a second solo studio album, Gemini, in September of that year. On February 24, 2023, he released a follow-up album entitled Ben.
- ^ "Macklemore Makes Formative Return with 'Gemini' Album - XXL". September 29, 2017.
- ^ Gamp, Joe (July 7, 2017). "Watch Macklemore surprise his grandmother on her 100th birthday in heartwarming Glorious video". Metro. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ Scott, Chey (February 22, 2013). "How to pronounce rapper Macklemore's name". The Pacific Northwest Inlander. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^ "We are MACKLEMORE, RYAN LEWIS and FENCES. Ask us anything". Reddit. August 7, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
Mack-La-More is how it's pronounced. Should have picked an easier name to say.
- ^ "Thrift Shop, Macklemore". Billboard.
- ^ "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Crash Radio With 'Thrift Shop'". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ Feeney, Nolan (January 25, 2013). "Macklemore's 'Thrift Shop' Is First Indie Hit to Top Charts in Nearly Two Decades". Time. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Can't Hold Us" Makes Hot 100 History". Billboard.