Macklemore: Difference between revisions

Macklemore
Macklemore performing at XOYO, London, October 18th 2011
Background information
Birth name	Ben Haggerty
Born	(1983-06-18) 18 June 1983 (age 41) Seattle, Washington, United States
Origin	Seattle, Washington
Genres	Hip Hop Northwest hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer, MC, Songwriter
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Macklemore Sub Pop Records
Website	Official Blog Official Facebook Official Website

Ben Haggerty, (born June 18, 1983 in Seattle, Washington) better known by his stage name Macklemore, is an American artist. Macklemore works with Ryan Lewis (producer), Andrew Joslyn (violin), Owour Arunga (trumpet), Zach Fleury (drums, guitar, bass), and Noah Goldberg (piano). Macklemore has been popular in his hometown of Seattle since the beginning of his musical career at Garfield High School,^[1] often performing at the famous Capitol Hill Block Party. In 2008, 2009, and 2011, Macklemore performed at Bumbershoot, a major arts and music festival in Seattle. In 2011, he also performed at the Sasquatch Music Festival in the Washington gorge and at the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco, CA.^[2][3] Macklemore released his debut album titled 'The Heist' on October 9th 2012, which reached #1 on iTunes.^[4]

Growing up in Seattle, Washington, Macklemore attended Garfield and Edward Murrow High Schools, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at The Evergreen State College. His best friend went by the name of Lucas Dickens. Interested in reaching a younger generation through his music, he took a job at a juvenile-detention facility. There, he was a part of a program called “Gateways,” which was organized around rap.^[5]

Macklemore recorded an EP titled Open Your Eyes in 2000 under the name Professor Macklemore, which he distributed himself. Macklemore dropped "Professor" from his name, and released his first official full-length album, The Language of My World in January 2005. In September 2009, he released The Unplanned Mixtape. In October 2010, he teamed up with DJ Ryan Lewis to create the VS. Redux EP. Macklemore used his experience with substance abuse to create the mixtape's critically acclaimed song "Otherside," which samples the Red Hot Chili Peppers song of the same name.^[6]

Since then, Macklemore has been picked up by The Agency Group,^[7] an international booking company who has represented such well-known groups as 3OH!3, A Tribe Called Quest, and Finger Eleven, as well as others.^[8]

In 2005, Abyssinian Creole collaborated with Macklemore on the latter's track "Claiming the City."

In the past, Macklemore has struggled with substance abuse problems, including OxyContin. He considers this the reason for his lack of production between 2005 and 2009. But, after cleaning himself up in 2008, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis became a collaborative and creative unit.^[9] He celebrated two years of sobriety in early August 2010, as stated during his performance at Capitol Hill Block Party 2010. In late April 2010, he performed an impromptu set at a house party at Colorado College. The set consisted of his track "And We Danced", two consecutive times in front of over two hundred fans.^[10] In December 2010, he released a tribute song named "My Oh My" for then recently deceased Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, which has received extensive coverage in Seattle media sources.^{[11][12][13][14]} Macklemore performed the song at the 2011 Mariner's Opening Day on April 8.

Macklemore gives back to his fans with an annual pizza party. Fans get the chance to prove their love of music and get a ticket to go to the party by showing off their creativity in a contest. Fans have had to sing, paint, draw, and play to get a chance to meet and watch a performance by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The idea to have these fan appreciation parties was started in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

"Can't Hold Us" was used as soundtrack for Miller beer ad in UK and Ireland, June 2012, increasing Macklemore recognition in Europe.

In July 2012, Haggerty and Lewis announced that their debut full-length album, The Heist LP, will be released on October 9, 2012 as well as a subsequent world tour to promote the release.^[15] Previously released singles "Can't Hold Us" and "Make the Money" will be included on the album. On July 18, 2012, the duo released the Mary Lambert-assisted "Same Love" in support of Washington State's Referendum 74 regarding gay marriage.^[16] They also announced that the song will be included on the album. In an interview with The Sermon's Domain, Macklemore confirmed a collaboration with ScHoolboy Q on a song about Cadillacs called "White Walls". Ab-Soul is also confirmed on a song called "Jimmy Iovine".^[17] On September 4th, 2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released a video promoting the deluxe edition of The Heist, showing it as a box made out of faux-gator skin.

In September 2012, Macklemore made an appearance on BET in the freestyle segment The Backroom of 106 & Park.^[18] On October 7th, 2012 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed a surprise show at Neumos in Seattle, WA in front of a sold out crowd of 600. The show was sponsored by Vitamin Water. The Heist, Macklemore's debut full album, reached #1 on iTunes within hours of being released on October 9th, 2012.

Macklemore was the Unsigned Hype in The Source Magazine in early 2012 and was also on the cover of XXL Magazine as part of the Freshman Class of 2012. The Heist reached #1 on iTunes.

Macklemore did not grow up in a musical family. However, both of his parents were supportive of his musical ventures. He has one sibling, a brother named Tim Haggerty, who is an English teacher.^[5] Macklemore's support of the legalization of gay marriage is explicitly expressed in Macklemore's single entitled "Same Love".

In February 2011, Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis kicked off a multi-city tour in Pullman, Washington, which included three sold-out shows at Showbox at the Market, a Seattle music venue.^[19]

Starting on September 17th, 2011, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis started the "fall tour" across the UK, Ireland and throughout North America. They kicked off their tour in America on October 4. This tour included guests Champagne Champagne and Xperience. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis sold out 18 of their 27 venues in the U.S. including the Bowery Ballroom and Troubadour. Their tour ended on December 17 with their final show at The Depot in Salt Lake City.

Macklemore will kick off his worldwide "The Heist" tour which is set to begin Fall 2012. This promoting the release of his first full length album, The Heist which was released October 9, 2012.

Studio albums

• The Language of My World (2005)
• The Heist (2012) (with Ryan Lewis)

Mixtapes

• The Unplanned Mixtape (2009)

EPs

• Open Your Eyes (2000) (as Professor Macklemore)
• The VS. EP (2009) (with Ryan Lewis)
• The VS. Redux (2010) (with Ryan Lewis)

• The Town
• Otherside (Remix)
• My Oh My
• Irish Celebration
• Wings
• And We Danced

• Thrift Shop

• 2009: "The Town"
• 2011: "My Oh My"
• 2011: "Irish Celebration"
• 2011: "Wings"^[20]
• 2011: "Otherside Remix"
• 2011: "And We Danced"
• 2012: "Victory Lap"
• 2012: "Thrift Shop"
• 2012: "Same Love"

• Interview with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Template:Persondata