Believe it or not, Macklemore hasn’t always been, well, Macklemore. The four-time Grammy winner and “Thrift Shop” star wasn’t born into fame; he worked for it.
His story starts in 1983 Seattle, Washington. Born as Ben Haggerty, he grew up showing interest in music at an early age. It wasn’t until Haggerty attended Evergreen State College that the stage name “Macklemore” was coined, and he was officially born into the music industry.
Macklemore released his first single in 2000 and, years later in 2005, he released his first full-length debut album. Soon after the release, he had a fast rise to stardom.
However, this quick rise took Macklemore down a dark path. Caught up in his newfound fame, he was wrapped up in the world of power, which led to an addiction and abusive relationship with alcohol and drugs. He quickly learned the negative aspects of the industry.
He may have gone down a rough path, but it brought him to where he is today. After he began his recovery, Macklemore immersed himself back into music and found himself a new business partner, Ryan Lewis. It wasn’t until Macklemore found DJ Ryan Lewis that his career really boomed to the top of the charts with their album “The Heist.” When listening to his music, you can tell it’s different than most others in the rap genre.
When he released “Thrift Shop,” it was a fun, up-beat tune. Sadly, as Ryan Lewis and Macklemore rose to the top again in 2014, Macklemore found himself falling back into the same habits of his earlier days in the industry.
Being surrounded by people who cared like his wife, Tricia Davis, he began the uphill fight toward sobriety once again. In an interview with USA Today, he explained that the sobriety was the wake-up call he needed, and it helped him rediscover his passion for music.
Now, Macklemore is working to make a difference in the world by discussing social issues within his music. Sure, he has some other great dance hits like the “Can’t Hold Us” and “Downtown,” but he is someone who is working to inspire and reach out to fans on a personal level. It shows his understanding of real problems that plague young adults.
As of today, Macklemore remains sober, with the help of his new daughter to inspire him. With Lewis’ assistance, Macklemore has helped raise money for their charity, “The 30/30 Project,” which supports families who are in need of affordable healthcare. With each ticket purchased for the concert at BU, a dollar went toward the charity.
Mixing philanthropy and playlists is a sure-fire way to have fun and feel good while doing it.
