Macklemore Details
About
Known by his stage name, Macklemore, Benjamin Hammond Haggerty was born in the state of Washington and has risen to great fame in the music industry. Infatuated with all things hip-hop as a kid, Macklemore performed as a child and took his inspiration from Michael Jackson. Macklemore attended Garfield High School in Seattle, where the likes of Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix graduated from as well.
However, it was in high school that Macklemore became involved in using drugs and alcohol. Three years after releasing his full-length debut, “The Language of My World”, under the name,“Professor Macklemore”, he entered rehab. Once out of rehab and back on the right track, Macklemore dropped the “Professor” and quickly became a household name.
Macklemore and his producer, Ryan Lewis, released their debut album, “The Heist”, in 2012. With hit singles including, "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us," the pair sold millions of copies. In fact, the music video for "Thrift Shop" soon become a phenomenon, garnering tens of millions of YouTube views.
The year 2014 proved to be a big one for this Washington native. Macklemore was nominated for four Grammys, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video. He took home the award for Best Rap Song (for “Thrift Shop”). Fans rally behind Macklemore because his lyrics are relevant and meaningful. In his song, “Same Love”, he celebrates same-sex unions and the beauty of all love in the world – no matter who you are or where you’re from.
Macklemore stays in touch with his loving fanbase through Instagram and Twitter; he has a combined following of over 6 million people. In addition to maintaining his larger than life career, Macklemore is a husband to his wife, Tricia Davis, and a father to his daughter, Sloane Ava. He often posts photos of his family to his social media accounts.
Macklemore has worked with a number of artists including Kesha, Skylar Grey, and Otieno Terry.
Macklemore’s Setlist
Since arriving on the musical scene, Macklemore has created a variety of songs that folks around the world love. His most popular and well-known songs include:
- "Same Love"
- "Thrift Shop"
- "Glorious"
- "Corner Store"
- "Marmalade"
- "Good Old Days"
- "And We Danced"
Macklemore connects with his fans through his lyrics, like this line from his hit collaboration, “Glorious”, with Skylar Grey: “I heard you die twice, once when they bury you in the grave / And the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name / So when I leave here on this earth, did I take more than I gave? / Did I look out for the people or did I do it all for fame?”
Of course, his words from “Thrift Shop” made name brands look totally lame! In fact, he says, “Trying to get girls from a brand? Then you hella won’t, then you hella won’t.”
Macklemore’s Concert
So, what’s it like to see this talented rapper in concert? It’s energetic, fun, and personal. Macklemore makes a point to talk the crowd and often makes jokes to keep the mood light and carefree. Occasionally, he’ll bring fans up on stage – especially during his song, “Dance Off”. Macklemore’s shows are like giant dance parties in and of themselves – he knows how to deliver and leave his audience feeling great.