Macklemore
Encyclopedia
Ben Haggerty, known by his stage name Macklemore, is a hip hop
artist based in Seattle, Washington. Macklemore works with Ryan Lewis (Producer) Andrew Joslyn (Violin), Owour Arunga (Trumpet), Zach Fleury (Drums, Guitar, Bass), and Noah Goldberg (Piano). Macklemore has been popular in his hometown of Seattle since the beginning of his musical career at Garfield High School
, often performing at the famous Capitol Hill Block Party
. In 2008, 2009, and 2011, Macklemore performed at Bumbershoot
, a major arts and music festival in Seattle . He has been described as a socially conscious rapper, with many of his songs addressing issues surrounding consumerism, race and drug addiction.
Macklemore recorded an EP titled Open Your Eyes in 2000 under the name Professor Macklemore, which he distributed himself. Macklemore dropped "Professor" from his name, and released his first official full-length album, The Language of My World in January 2005. In September 2009, he released The Unplanned Mixtape. In October 2010, he teamed up with DJ Ryan Lewis to create the VS. Redux EP. Macklemore used his experience with substance abuse (especially cough syrup) to create the mixtape's critically acclaimed song "Otherside," which samples the Red Hot Chilli Peppers song of the same name.
Since then, Macklemore has been picked up by The Agency Group, an international booking company who has represented such well-known groups as 3OH!3
, A Tribe Called Quest
, and Finger Eleven
, as well as others.
In 2005, Abyssinian Creole
collaborated with Macklemore on the latter's track "Claiming the City."
In the past, Macklemore has struggled with substance abuse problems, including OxyContinand marijuana. He considers this the reason for his lack of production between 2005 and 2009., But, after cleaning himself up in 2008, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis became a collaborative and creative unit.
He celebrated two years of sobriety in early August 2010, as stated during his performance at Capitol Hill Block Party 2010. In late April 2010, he performed an impromptu set at a house party at Colorado College. The set consisted of his track "And We Danced", two consecutive times to the ecstatic screams of over two hundred deeply devoted fans. In December 2010, he released a tribute song named "My Oh My" for then recently deceased Seattle Mariners
broadcaster Dave Niehaus
, which has received extensive coverage in Seattle media sources. Macklemore performed the song at the 2011 Mariner's Opening Day on April 8.
, which included three sold-out shows at Showbox at the Market
, a premier Seattle music venue.
Starting on October 18th, 2011, Macklemore started to tour across the UK, Ireland and throughout North America.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist based in Seattle, Washington. Macklemore works with Ryan Lewis (Producer) Andrew Joslyn (Violin), Owour Arunga (Trumpet), Zach Fleury (Drums, Guitar, Bass), and Noah Goldberg (Piano). Macklemore has been popular in his hometown of Seattle since the beginning of his musical career at Garfield High School
Garfield High School (Seattle, Washington)
James A. Garfield High School is a public high school in the Seattle Public Schools district of Seattle, Washington, USA.Located along 23rd Avenue between E. Alder and E. Jefferson Streets in Seattle's urban Central District, Garfield draws students from all over the city...
, often performing at the famous Capitol Hill Block Party
Capitol Hill Block Party
The Capitol Hill Block Party is an annual three-day music festival held each July in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. In the past, the festival has included various famous acts including Macklemore, Atmosphere, MGMT, Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, The Presidents of the United States of America, Blue...
. In 2008, 2009, and 2011, Macklemore performed at Bumbershoot
Bumbershoot
Bumbershoot is an annual international music and arts festival held in Seattle, Washington. One of North America's largest such festivals, it takes place every Labor Day weekend at the 74-acre Seattle Center, which was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Seattle Center includes indoor theaters,...
, a major arts and music festival in Seattle . He has been described as a socially conscious rapper, with many of his songs addressing issues surrounding consumerism, race and drug addiction.
History
Growing up on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington, Macklemore attended Garfield and Nathan Hale high schools, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Evergreen State College. Interested in reaching a younger generation through his music, he took a job at a juvenile-detention facility. There, he was a part of a program called “Gateways,” which was organized around rap.Macklemore recorded an EP titled Open Your Eyes in 2000 under the name Professor Macklemore, which he distributed himself. Macklemore dropped "Professor" from his name, and released his first official full-length album, The Language of My World in January 2005. In September 2009, he released The Unplanned Mixtape. In October 2010, he teamed up with DJ Ryan Lewis to create the VS. Redux EP. Macklemore used his experience with substance abuse (especially cough syrup) to create the mixtape's critically acclaimed song "Otherside," which samples the Red Hot Chilli Peppers song of the same name.
Since then, Macklemore has been picked up by The Agency Group, an international booking company who has represented such well-known groups as 3OH!3
3OH!3
3OH!3 is an American electro hop duo from Boulder, Colorado, made up of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte. They are best known for their single "Don't Trust Me" from their album Want, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100...
, A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
, and Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream...
, as well as others.
In 2005, Abyssinian Creole
Abyssinian Creole
Abyssinian Creole is a hip hop group based in Seattle, Washington. The group consists of MCs Gabriel Teodros and Khingz, DJ WD4D, and producer Kitone...
collaborated with Macklemore on the latter's track "Claiming the City."
In the past, Macklemore has struggled with substance abuse problems, including OxyContinand marijuana. He considers this the reason for his lack of production between 2005 and 2009., But, after cleaning himself up in 2008, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis became a collaborative and creative unit.
He celebrated two years of sobriety in early August 2010, as stated during his performance at Capitol Hill Block Party 2010. In late April 2010, he performed an impromptu set at a house party at Colorado College. The set consisted of his track "And We Danced", two consecutive times to the ecstatic screams of over two hundred deeply devoted fans. In December 2010, he released a tribute song named "My Oh My" for then recently deceased Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
broadcaster Dave Niehaus
Dave Niehaus
David Arnold Niehaus was an American sportscaster. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in until his death after the 2010 season. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with the Ford C. Frick Award, the...
, which has received extensive coverage in Seattle media sources. Macklemore performed the song at the 2011 Mariner's Opening Day on April 8.
Personal Life
Macklemore did not grow up in a musical family. However, both of his parents were supportive of his musical ventures. He has one sibling, a brother named Tim Haggerty who is an English teacher.Tours
In February 2011, Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis kicked off a multi-city tour in Pullman, WashingtonPullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
, which included three sold-out shows at Showbox at the Market
Showbox at the Market
The Showbox at the Market, or simply known as the Showbox, is a music venue located at 1426 1st Avenue, Seattle, Washington.-History and Usage:...
, a premier Seattle music venue.
Starting on October 18th, 2011, Macklemore started to tour across the UK, Ireland and throughout North America.
Discography
| Date | Album |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Open Your Eyes (under Professor Macklemore) |
| Jan 2005 | The Language of My World |
| Sept 2009 | The Unplanned Mixtape |
| Dec 2009 | The VS. EP |
| Oct 2010 | VS. Redux - EP |
| Late 2011/Early 2012 | Untitled LP |
Videography
- 2009: "The Town"
- 2011: "My Oh My"
- 2011: "Irish Celebration"
- 2011: "Wings"
- 2011: "Otherside Remix"
- 2011: "And We Danced"