You may not know the Macklemore name, but chances are it’s a catchy hit and a chart-topping thrift store is one of your favorites. From being fired from every high school job because of an attitude problem to being rejected by multiple colleges, the seemingly easy-going, easy-going rap star embraced his fame and success in the music world without waiting for someone to gift him.
Not only the award-winning rapper, he is changing the music scene with his lyrics and hopes to soon become a pop culture phenomenon. Aided by his tight-knit team, strong support network and ever-growing fanbase, here are lesser-known facts about Macklemore, whose success has undoubtedly stumped the major labels.
Biography, early life
The Seattle-based indie rapper was born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty on June 19, 1983 in Kent, Washington. Macklemore and his brother Tim were born to Bill Haggerty and Julie Schott. Ben had a flair for music from a young age. Heavily influenced by underground East Coast hip-hop, he was inspired to write his own lyrics by the age of 14.
He attended Nathan Hale High School, where he was part of a hip hop group called Raised Elements . Ben’s stage name can be traced back to his teenage years in high school, when he was commissioned to invent a superhero in a graphics class and “Professor Macklemore” was born, and the name eventually stuck. Although Ben initially used the name for his first tracks and mixtape, he eventually dropped “Professor”.
Macklemore later attended Evergreen State College, graduating in 2009. Yearning to reach out to the younger generation with his music, the rap star got involved in an educational and culture-focused project, using his musical skills to organize music workshops.
career breakthrough
It’s almost impossible to speak of Macklemore’s success without mentioning his right-hand man, Ryan Lewis. Macklemore and Ryan are a duo who have known each other since 2006 and later became future collaborators. In fact, the Macklemore music brand officially started out as “Macklemore and Ryan Lewis”. The duo met when Ryan was just a photographer assigned to photograph Macklemore. They collaborated on a few other projects, eventually becoming a producer and artist. They have continued to work together as a package and as a team ever since.
After several singles and EP, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released their debut album The Theft in 2012. Macklemore’s musical breakthrough undoubtedly reached his catchy 2013 hit Thrift Store that was literally everywhere. It not only peaked at number one on the Billboard charts, but also topped the digital downloads, hip-hop and pop charts. The song achieved near-impossible feats as it was released independently without any major record label backing, but still climbed to the top. The duo’s second album This unruly mess is what I madeThe release in 2016 was also a success. The next year, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis amicably went their separate ways. They are now both concentrating on their individual careers.
The talented artist is a multiple award winner, whose works have been appreciated by fans and critics alike. Out of 64 prestigious nominations, Macklemore has won 21 including 4 Grammys, 2 AMAs, 2 Billboard Music Awards, 5 MTV Awards, a BET Award and many more.
Wealth (income and earnings)
For an independent, unsigned, and self-made rapper, Macklemore makes a modest living for himself and has established his status as a successful star. With a couple of hits, two successful albums and several sold-out tours, the rapper has amassed a fortune of nearly $20 million. His current net worth is estimated at $18 million.
Macklemore wife, is he gay?
Given that Macklemore is also known as an outspoken supporter of LGBT rights, his sexuality has been questioned. However, his dating history should be a guide to the obvious. Through his rocky path to stardom, musical breakthroughs and multiple awards, Macklemore has had a backbone that has worked with him behind the scenes. Ben Haggerty’s wife Tricia Davis has been there for him for over ten years and is still counting. The couple, who began dating online via MySpace in 2006, and in January 2013, after 7 years of dating, popped the big question to Macklemore. The lovebirds courted until June 27, 2015, when they secretly tied the knot. They later revealed that the reason for their long journey to the altar was because they were waitingthe Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex couples.
Tricia has stuck with Macklemore through thick and thin, especially during his addictive days. What’s more, she was an important part of their career as she frequently directs his videos and does merchandising. The couple are happily married and together they have a daughter Sloane Ava Simone Haggerty, born May 29, 2015.
Here are facts you need to know
- Independent artist
Unlike most artists, Macklemore’s track record is different. He is a fully independent artist who has never been signed to a record label since beginning his music career. An artist who wants to be his own boss, Macklemore has his own record label – Macklemore LLC, which against all odds has led him to the top. Despite all the success, Macklemore and his entrepreneurial collaborator Ryan Lewis remain unsigned. In other words, they’re the first unsigned artists to reach #1 on the US Billboard chart in more than a decade.
- addiction battles
The rap star struggled with both drug addictions and alcoholism in his youth, especially when his career was just taking off. But in 2008 he checked into rehab following an intervention by his father, but dropped back in 2011 and has been sober since, though he admits it was quite difficult to maintain his sobriety given his current fame. If the signs are looking good, t the rapper hopes to keep walking the rocky road to stardom, staying sober, continuing to break down barriers, and changing the world rap by rap.
- spirituality
Macklemore loves to see himself as spiritually as religiously. Interestingly, the rapper discovered his spirituality through mushrooms when he was young. According to him, the discovery expanded his imagination, caused him to see the universe in a different way, and helped him realize he had a connection with a greater force.
- baseball fan
The rapper is a huge baseball fan and has a deep fondness for the Seattle Mariners, his hometown team. He even expressed his love for sports in one of his songs.
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