Macklemore

Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, known professionally as Macklemore, was born in Seattle, Washington, on June 19, 1983. He began his music career as an independent artist in 2000, releasing his first mixtape, “Open Your Eyes,” under the name Professor Macklemore. Early in his career, he focused on developing his songwriting skills, influenced by East Coast underground hip hop artists. Macklemore also worked with the ‘Gateways for Incarcerated Youth’ program, facilitating music workshops, an experience that later influenced his lyrical content.

Macklemore rose to international prominence through his collaboration with producer Ryan Lewis from 2009 to 2016. Their 2012 single “Thrift Shop” achieved number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time since 1994 that an independently released song topped the chart. Their follow-up single, “Can’t Hold Us,” also reached number one, making them the first duo in the chart’s history to have their first two singles hit the top spot. The duo’s debut studio album, “The Heist,” released in 2012, peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. This era culminated in four Grammy Awards at the 2014 ceremony, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for “The Heist,” and Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Thrift Shop.”

Following the duo’s hiatus in 2017, Macklemore continued his solo career, releasing his second solo studio album, “Gemini,” in September 2017, which featured the single “Glorious.” This album was followed by “Ben” in 2023. Throughout his career, Macklemore has addressed various social issues, including LGBTQ+ rights with “Same Love,” addiction awareness, consumerism, and racial injustice. His commitment to independent artistry and socially conscious themes has defined his journey in the music industry.