Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were an American hip-hop duo from Seattle, Washingt… Read Full Bio ↴Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were an American hip-hop duo from Seattle, Washington, formed in the winter of 2008 by rapper Macklemore and DJ and record producer Ryan Lewis. In 2009, they released their first collaborative effort, an EP titled The VS. EP. They later followed up with VS. Redux, the Grammy Award-winning album The Heist, and This Unruly Mess I've Made.
Macklemore and Lewis's single "Thrift Shop" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. The single was soon dubbed the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label by Billboard, although Macklemore, in a slightly unusual recording contract, pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. Records' radio promotion department to push his singles. 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. Macklemore and Lewis released their debut studio album, The Heist, on October 9, 2012, which charted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200. The pair 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"). Their second album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016.
On June 15, 2017, Macklemore announced via his official Instagram that the duo were on hiatus.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis met in 2006 when Lewis worked on Macklemore's promotion as a photographer, and they soon became good friends. Lewis produced Macklemore's mixtape The Unplanned, in 2008. They performed together for the first time at Bumbershoot, at the Sasquatch Music Festival in The Gorge Amphitheatre, and at the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco. In 2009 they formalized the duo as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and released the debut extended play, The VS. EP. The latter reached No. 7 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart. They also released "Irish Celebration" in December 2009 in anticipation of the release of The VS. EP. In March 2010, the duo released a free download, "Stay At Home Dad", a track that didn't quite make VS. In October 2010, they released the VS. Redux EP. Macklemore and Lewis used his experience with substance abuse as the inspiration for the mixtape's critically acclaimed song "Otherside", which samples the Red Hot Chili Peppers song of the same title.
In 2011, they released the single "My Oh My" as a tribute to recently deceased Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, which received extensive coverage in Seattle media. On April 8, 2011, they performed the song at the 2011 Mariners Opening Day to a sold-out crowd of nearly 48,000 attendees. "Wings" was released on January 21, 2011, and charted on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at number 12, and was followed by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton on August 16, 2011. "Can't Hold Us" eventually became the duo's second number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 2013, and stayed there for 5 weeks. In February 2011, they kicked off a multi-city tour in Pullman, Washington, which included three sold-out shows at Showbox at the Market, a Seattle music venue. That same year, the rapper appeared at several U.S. music festivals including Bumbershoot, Outside Lands, Lollapalooza, Rock the Bells, SoundSet, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo. His album The Heist was released in October 2012. Previously released singles "My Oh My", "Wings", and "Can't Hold Us" were announced to be included on the album – as was the song "Make the Money". "Can't Hold Us" was used as the soundtrack for a Miller beer ad in the UK and Ireland in June 2012, increasing Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's recognition in Europe.
"Same Love" was released on July 18, 2012, and later peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs "White Walls" featuring ScHoolboy Q and "Jimmy Iovine" featuring Ab-Soul were confirmed to be included on the album. "Thrift Shop" was released on August 27, 2012, and charted at number 1 on 24 charts worldwide, including topping the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, giving them their first number 1 hit in the US. The Heist debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 2 of the week dated October 27, 2012, selling over 78,000 copies. On October 30, 2012, Macklemore and Lewis appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show performing their single "Same Love" and then again on January 18, 2013, performing their single "Thrift Shop", which they had sung previously on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on December 11, 2012. "The Heist World Tour" began in August 2012 to promote The Heist. On October 8, 2013, they released their fifth and final single from The Heist, "White Walls", which charted at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. On January 26, 2014, they performed "Same Love" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, where Queen Latifah read marriage vows for 33 couples who lined the aisles. "This is a love song, not for some of us but for all of us," she said, followed by an appearance from Madonna singing "Open Your Heart".
In January 2015, Macklemore announced via Twitter that the duo's second studio album would be released sometime in the second half of the year. On August 5, 2015, Macklemore released a song as a free download, titled "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)", which featured Ed Sheeran. On August 27, 2015, the duo released "Downtown", the first single of their second studio album, which they performed at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30. It charted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. On November 22, 2015, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis debuted the song "Kevin" at the American Music Awards with Leon Bridges. On January 22, 2016, the duo released "White Privilege II", the second promotional single on This Unruly Mess I've Made. "Spoons" was released as the third promotional single on February 14, 2016, but did not appear on the final album. "Buckshot" & "Kevin" were released as the fourth and fifth promotional singles on February 23, 2016. "Dance Off" was released as the second single from the album on February 25, 2016. Their album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016. It charted at number 4 on the Billboard 200.
The duo was in the Unsigned Hype in The Source in early 2012 and was also on the cover of XXL Magazine as part of the Freshman Class of 2012. Rolling Stone called Macklemore and Ryan Lewis an "indie rags-to-riches story". "Thrift Shop" was voted #1 in Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2012. Their song "Same Love" also featured highly, coming in at #15 in the countdown. The Hottest 100 is the world's largest music poll held every year on Australia Day and currently attracts over one million votes from within Australia and around the world. There was a three-page article on Macklemore and Lewis's career in the February 8, 2013, issue of ESPN the Magazine.
They received seven Grammy award nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, which included Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Song of the Year ("Same Love"), and Best Music Video ("Can't Hold Us"). On January 26, 2014, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won four Grammy awards including those for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (The Heist), Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance ("Thrift Shop"). Some rap critics took issue with Macklemore's win over Kendrick Lamar for Best Rap Album. In an interview with The Source, Macklemore said that Lamar had a better rap album, and acknowledged that the hip-hop community would be justified in feeling that Kendrick was robbed that year.
Macklemore and Lewis's single "Thrift Shop" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. The single was soon dubbed the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label by Billboard, although Macklemore, in a slightly unusual recording contract, pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. Records' radio promotion department to push his singles. 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. Macklemore and Lewis released their debut studio album, The Heist, on October 9, 2012, which charted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200. The pair 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"). Their second album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016.
On June 15, 2017, Macklemore announced via his official Instagram that the duo were on hiatus.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis met in 2006 when Lewis worked on Macklemore's promotion as a photographer, and they soon became good friends. Lewis produced Macklemore's mixtape The Unplanned, in 2008. They performed together for the first time at Bumbershoot, at the Sasquatch Music Festival in The Gorge Amphitheatre, and at the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco. In 2009 they formalized the duo as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and released the debut extended play, The VS. EP. The latter reached No. 7 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart. They also released "Irish Celebration" in December 2009 in anticipation of the release of The VS. EP. In March 2010, the duo released a free download, "Stay At Home Dad", a track that didn't quite make VS. In October 2010, they released the VS. Redux EP. Macklemore and Lewis used his experience with substance abuse as the inspiration for the mixtape's critically acclaimed song "Otherside", which samples the Red Hot Chili Peppers song of the same title.
In 2011, they released the single "My Oh My" as a tribute to recently deceased Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, which received extensive coverage in Seattle media. On April 8, 2011, they performed the song at the 2011 Mariners Opening Day to a sold-out crowd of nearly 48,000 attendees. "Wings" was released on January 21, 2011, and charted on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at number 12, and was followed by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton on August 16, 2011. "Can't Hold Us" eventually became the duo's second number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 2013, and stayed there for 5 weeks. In February 2011, they kicked off a multi-city tour in Pullman, Washington, which included three sold-out shows at Showbox at the Market, a Seattle music venue. That same year, the rapper appeared at several U.S. music festivals including Bumbershoot, Outside Lands, Lollapalooza, Rock the Bells, SoundSet, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo. His album The Heist was released in October 2012. Previously released singles "My Oh My", "Wings", and "Can't Hold Us" were announced to be included on the album – as was the song "Make the Money". "Can't Hold Us" was used as the soundtrack for a Miller beer ad in the UK and Ireland in June 2012, increasing Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's recognition in Europe.
"Same Love" was released on July 18, 2012, and later peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs "White Walls" featuring ScHoolboy Q and "Jimmy Iovine" featuring Ab-Soul were confirmed to be included on the album. "Thrift Shop" was released on August 27, 2012, and charted at number 1 on 24 charts worldwide, including topping the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, giving them their first number 1 hit in the US. The Heist debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 2 of the week dated October 27, 2012, selling over 78,000 copies. On October 30, 2012, Macklemore and Lewis appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show performing their single "Same Love" and then again on January 18, 2013, performing their single "Thrift Shop", which they had sung previously on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on December 11, 2012. "The Heist World Tour" began in August 2012 to promote The Heist. On October 8, 2013, they released their fifth and final single from The Heist, "White Walls", which charted at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. On January 26, 2014, they performed "Same Love" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, where Queen Latifah read marriage vows for 33 couples who lined the aisles. "This is a love song, not for some of us but for all of us," she said, followed by an appearance from Madonna singing "Open Your Heart".
In January 2015, Macklemore announced via Twitter that the duo's second studio album would be released sometime in the second half of the year. On August 5, 2015, Macklemore released a song as a free download, titled "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)", which featured Ed Sheeran. On August 27, 2015, the duo released "Downtown", the first single of their second studio album, which they performed at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30. It charted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. On November 22, 2015, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis debuted the song "Kevin" at the American Music Awards with Leon Bridges. On January 22, 2016, the duo released "White Privilege II", the second promotional single on This Unruly Mess I've Made. "Spoons" was released as the third promotional single on February 14, 2016, but did not appear on the final album. "Buckshot" & "Kevin" were released as the fourth and fifth promotional singles on February 23, 2016. "Dance Off" was released as the second single from the album on February 25, 2016. Their album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016. It charted at number 4 on the Billboard 200.
The duo was in the Unsigned Hype in The Source in early 2012 and was also on the cover of XXL Magazine as part of the Freshman Class of 2012. Rolling Stone called Macklemore and Ryan Lewis an "indie rags-to-riches story". "Thrift Shop" was voted #1 in Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2012. Their song "Same Love" also featured highly, coming in at #15 in the countdown. The Hottest 100 is the world's largest music poll held every year on Australia Day and currently attracts over one million votes from within Australia and around the world. There was a three-page article on Macklemore and Lewis's career in the February 8, 2013, issue of ESPN the Magazine.
They received seven Grammy award nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, which included Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Song of the Year ("Same Love"), and Best Music Video ("Can't Hold Us"). On January 26, 2014, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won four Grammy awards including those for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (The Heist), Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance ("Thrift Shop"). Some rap critics took issue with Macklemore's win over Kendrick Lamar for Best Rap Album. In an interview with The Source, Macklemore said that Lamar had a better rap album, and acknowledged that the hip-hop community would be justified in feeling that Kendrick was robbed that year.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Lyrics
A Wake I need love You need love Give me love And I'll give you…
And WE danced Ooh, leah, ooh, leah, ooh, leah And we danced And we cried A…
Arrows My old man He kicked me out He kicked me out When I…
Bolo Tie I never won the spelling bee I could read people's energy Li…
Brad Pitt's Cousin Slick shit man that's all we do hoe That little homie…
Buckshot I used to work at Subway Seven bucks an hour wasn’t…
Can't Hold Us Ayy, ayy, ayy Good to see you, c'mon, dude, let's go Yeah,…
Can't Hold Us feat. Ryan Dalton Return of the Mac, get em What it is What it does What…
Can't+Hold+Us+ Ey ey, ey Good to see you, c'mon let's go Yeah, let's…
can´t hold us Ayy, ayy, ayy Good to see you, c'mon, dude, let's go Yeah,…
Can´t hold us Return of the Mac, get em What it is What it does What…
Can’t Hold Us Ayy, ayy, ayy Good to see you, c'mon, dude, let's go Yeah,…
Castle Unicorns and wizard sleeves Hammer pants and make believe Pi…
City Can't Hold Us Ayy, ayy, ayy Good to see you, c'mon, dude, let's go Yeah,…
Cowboy Boots And we drink and get older And some of us even…
Crew Cuts (i'm fresh...) (yeah, ryan lewis...) If it ain't fresh t…
Dance Off I challenge you to a dance off Hands off, no trash…
Downtown I went to the Moped store, said fuck it Salesman's like…
Downtown (feat. Eric Nally Melle Mel I went to the moped store with shoppers Salesman like "What…
Fake Empire We're half awake, in a fake empire We're half awake, in…
Gold Everything is gold, everything is equal Posted on the porch …
Growing Up They say boys don't cry But your dad has shed a…
Irish Celebration I'm an Irishman Leather weathered Irish skin Beard orange …
Jimmy Iovine I put my life on the line I roll them dice…
Kevin Okay, okay Yeah And we live tonight Check it, now I seen pa…
Kings [Hook] In the darkest of days Men become kings and still d…
Let's Eat I woke up, threw some sweat pants on Then I fed…
Life is Cinema I don't know why But it's like I can't stay quiet This…
Light Tunnels Last night the skies turned purple And past lives in light…
Make the Money Now, this is my job, I will not quit it Pulled…
My Oh My I used to sit with my dad in the garage That…
Need To Know Washing out cigarettes in the bathroom Should probably only…
Neon Cathedral Aha Uhm 1, 2, now Round here they sing broken hymns The pra…
Otherside Oh girl, this boat is sinking, There's no sea left for…
Same Love When I was in the third grade, I thought that…
Same Love Ft Mary Lambert When I was in the 3rd grade I thought that…
St. Ides I think happiness went the other way Sometimes you just have…
Starting Over One, two, now Those 3 plus years, I was so proud…
Ten Thousand Hours Uh, I hope that God decides to talk through him That…
The End Came in together, but you held me.. The process walking rig…
The Town Now when I say 2-0, you say Nah, you know the…
The Train Pretty face tryna chase the train And I could look the…
Thin Line And on on, and on, and on we go And on…
Thrift Shop Hey, Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping? What-what, what,…
Thrift Shop feat Wanz Hey Macklemore? Can we go thrift shopping? What, what, what…
Thrift Shop feat. Wanz Hey, Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping? What-what, what,…
Thrift-Shop Hey Macklemore? can we go thrift shopping? What, what, wh…
Victory Lap And they say, "Don't forget where you come from Don't die…
Vipassana Yesterday, forget it Tomorrow is nada The present is right…
White Privilege II Pulled into the parking lot, parked it Zipped up my parka,…
White Wall I wanna be free I wanna just live Inside my Cadillac, that…
Wing$ I was seven years old, when I got my first…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Macklemore:
"THE TOWN" Now when I say 2-0, you say Nah, you know the…
Ain't Gonna Die Tonight I ain't gonna die tonight You can't kill me, not my…
American How y'all doing there, folks? My name is Aberdeen Washingto…
And We Danced Ooh, leah, ooh, leah, ooh, leah And we danced And we cried A…
As Soon As I Wake Up As soon as I wake up I'm going to change my…
At The Party ???? *doorbell ring* Walked in with the pinstripes, w…
B-Boy Ladies and gentlemen This an ode to the B-boys, B-girls Th…
Bush Song [Intro] Hello Americans My name is George Bush, and I'm go…
Can Return of the Mac, get em What it is What it does What…
Can't Hold Us Ayy, ayy, ayy Good to see you, c'mon, dude, let's go Yeah,…
Can't Hold Us feat. Ray Dalton Return of the Mac, get em What it is What it does What…
Church Moms and pops, they used to take us to Church Saying,…
Church (feat. Geo of Blue Schola... (Jim Valvano speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards) Time, time is…
City Don't Sleep Now everyday that I walk outta my building, I see homeless…
City Dont Sleep Now every day that I walk out of my building I…
Claiming the City Life moves pretty fast, You don't stop and look around once…
Contradiction The other day, me 'n' XP opened for Souls Mischief I'm…
Corner Store Corner store, 2 AM Got some mango Hi-Chews, a bag of…
Crew Cuts (i'm fresh...) (yeah, ryan lewis...) If it ain't fresh t…
Dance Off I challenge you to a dance off Hands off, no trash…
Downtown I went to the Moped store, said fuck it Salesman's like…
Drug Dealer Oooh Oooh Oooh Oooh, oooh, oooh They said it wasn't a gatew…
Earthlings Out of the womb i slipped Between two vaginal lips Pushed to…
Ego (Speaking) Intro: Ladies and gentlemen Second Thoughts on …
Excavate Fill my lungs up, pour my heart out, peel my…
FAITHFUL Feel like I'm runnin' out of time, know the sun…
Fake ID When I was 17 I was staying in NYC And my…
Fallin I swear I've been here before, there's a war in…
Firebreather Got a Guns N Roses t-shirt, and never listened to…
Glorious You know I'm back like I never left (I never…
Gold Everything is gold, everything is equal Posted on the porch …
Good for You Now you know what's good for you Got that, and I'm…
Good Old Days I wish somebody would have told me babe Some day, these…
Growing Up They say boys don't cry But your dad has shed a…
Hold Your Head Up Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky I…
How to Play the Flute Don't nobody give a damn what all that shit talking…
I KNOW I know, my mama always told me I should drive…
i need I need two bad bitches and a bag of good…
I Said Hey Yo, the first time I heard Digital Underground I was…
Inhale Yeah, uh Bring my drums in, Bring my drums in I…
Intentions I wanna be sober, but I love getting high Wanna give…
Jimmy Iovine I put my life on the line I roll them dice…
Keep Marching Still trying to figure out what I find comfortin' And who's…
Kings [Hook] In the darkest of days Men become kings and still d…
Letterhead Yo I've been obsessed with words ever since I was a…
Levitate I said, woo, don't make me Break out the velour suit…
Love Song Yo, I'm gettin older now 23 years old and half of me…
Make the Money Now, this is my job, I will not quit it Pulled…
MANIAC I don't wanna dance with a maniac 'Cause the moment we…
Marmalade Can't nobody get up in my car today Back seat feeling…
Miracle My troubles test me on the daily They say that only…
My Language this is my language check it out, ya the risk of blund…
My Oh My I used to sit with my dad in the garage That…
Need to Know Washing out cigarettes in the bathroom Should probably only …
Neon Cathedral Aha Uhm 1, 2, now Round here they sing broken hymns The pra…
Next Year Next year's gonna be better than this year Next year's gonna…
NO BAD DAYS No bad days, yeah I think that I'm lucky, I don't…
Otherside Oh girl, this boat is sinking, There's no sea left for…
Otherside ft. Fences Oh girl this boat is sinking There's no sea left for…
Over It We got that bad love, but it taste like medicine I…
Penis Song Ladies and gentlemen Introducing The penis song (Oh no he d…
Privileges Pulled into the parking lot, parked it Zipped up my parka,…
Remember High School Yo, remember High School? With that dude who thought he was…
Same Love When I was in the 3rd grade I thought that…
Shadow Got me straight up drinkin' from the barrel I've been losin'…
St. Ides I think happiness went the other way Sometimes you just have…
Ten Million I paid my dues, now I'm really on Prince of the…
Ten Thousand Hours Uh, I hope that God decides to talk through him That…
The Almighty Kingdom Hey, how you doing? Man, I'm loving life right now I'm just…
The End ft. Ryan Lewis Came in together, but you held me.. The process walking rig…
The Magic And then I remembered the magic, forgot that you can't plan…
The Town Now when I say 2-0, you say Nah, you know the…
Thin Line And on on, and on, and on we go And on…
Thrift Shop Hey, Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping? What-what, what,…
Wake Up So I was relaxing at the spot, And some dude came…
Wednesday Morning Bad taste, bad taste in my mouth Flag wavin', flag wavin'…
Welcome to the Culture In life, seven going symphony I orchestrate my music willing…
White Privilege Now nod your head and wake up. I see so many…
White Walls I wanna be free I wanna just live Inside my Cadillac, that…
Willy Wonka RIP Willy Wonka, watch the roof come off I pull up…
Wing$ I was seven years old, when I got my first…
Zara I know you're troubled, girl, I seen you on Tumblr February,…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ryan Lewis:
Can't hold us Ayy, ayy, ayy Good to see you, c'mon, dude, let's go Yeah,…
Downtown I went to the Moped store, said fuck it Salesman's like…
Make the Money Now, this is my job, I will not quit it Pulled…
Neon Cathedral Aha Uhm 1, 2, now Round here they sing broken hymns The pra…
One I couldn't escape I'd been escaping the whole time I had to…
Same Love When I was in the third grade, I thought that…
Thrift Shop Hey Macklemore? can we go thrift shopping? What, what, wh…
White Walls I wanna be free I wanna just live Inside my Cadillac, that…