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A grassroots success, Seattle producer Ryan Lewis not only climbed to number two on the Billboard 200 album charts, but with little mainstream help, his 2012 sophomore release with rapper Macklemore debuted with only Mumford & Sons in his way for the number one spot.
Born in Spokane, Washington, Lewis' creative interests went from guitar to audio production to photography as he went from his teens to his twenties. A photo session with rapper Macklemore got Lewis thinking about production once again, so the duo hit the studio, releasing the Vs. Redux EP in 2010 along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers-sampling hit "Otherside." With Macklemore's wit meeting Lewis' inventive production, further hits like "My Oh My" and "Can't Hold Us" were spread throughout social media and video-sharing sites, setting the stage for a successful sophomore release. That came in 2012 when The Heist dropped as a Macklemore & Ryan Lewis release, debuting at the number two spot on the Billboard 200. Its single "Thrift Shop" topped the Billboard Hot 100, and the album eventually reached platinum sales status. The duo performed another one of the album's singles, "Same Love," at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards during a marriage ceremony for over 30 couples. That night, the duo took the awards for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance.
In 2015, Macklemore & Lewis returned with "Downtown," the first single from their second collaborative effort, This Unruly Mess I've Made. The 2016 album also featured "Kevin," a song they debuted live at the 2015 American Music Awards with guest star Leon Bridges, along with the elaborate and politically charged second single "White Privilege II." ~ David Jeffries