Seattle-based indie rapper Ben Haggerty, known more commonly by his stage name Macklemore, topped the digital download, hip hop and pop charts with his undeniably catchy hit song “Thrift Shop,” and released his sophomore album The Heist in the fall of 2012. Find out more in his Kidzworld Bio!
Mini Macklemore
Ben Haggerty (Macklemore) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Although no one else in his family is musical, he took an interest in music from a young age, and started creating his own lyrics when he was just 14-years-old, his friends came up with the name “Mocklimore” and the name stuck. Macklemore has said that when he started out rapping he was heavily influenced by West Coast hip hop, and groups like A Tribe Called Quest and The Wu-Tang Clan. Even though music was his passion, he still managed to earn a degree from Evergreen State College and went through a program that focused on education and culture, where he used his musical skills to teach music workshops.
The Language of My World to The Heist
When first starting out he went by the name Professor Macklemore, his first EP was called Open Your Eyes and came out in 2000. By 2005 he had dropped the “professor” and he released his first full length album The Language of My World. Unfortunately he ran into problems with addiction and for four years didn’t make any music, but when he recovered he found the perfect musical partner in crime to help him with his comeback mixtape: producer Ryan Lewis. As a team Macklemore and Ryan put out The VS. EP and The Unplanned Mixtape in 2009. By 2010 the duo were starting to create local buzz, and it wasn’t long before their singles were creeping up in popularity digitally and they started booking festival dates. However it was the heartfelt single “Same Love,” about Macklemore’s belief that gay people deserve equal respect and rights, and his viral hit “Thrift Store” that made them shoot to the top of the charts. He and Ryan released the full album, The Heist, in October of 2012!
Macklemore Fun Facts!
- Macklemore has a brother, Tim, who is an English teacher
- He loves baseball and is a Seattle Mariners fan
- Macklemore hosts an annual fan appreciation pizza party! The party features drawing and singing contests where people can prove how much they love the music and win a chance to meet him and see him perform
- His song “Starting Over” is about his struggle with addiction
- When he was a kid he and his friends used to set up tents in the summer so they could listen hip hop and make mixtapes.
Check out "Thrift Shop" below!
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