Macklemore is an American rapper and songwriter known for his introspective lyrics and socially conscious themes. He gained worldwide fame with "Thrift Shop" (2012), a humorous yet catchy song about secondhand fashion, and "Can't Hold Us", both of which topped the Billboard Hot 100. His collaboration with producer Ryan Lewis led to the massively successful album The Heist (2012), which won Best Rap Album at the Grammys, controversially beating Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city.

Macklemore is also known for his advocacy, addressing topics like LGBTQ+ rights in "Same Love", addiction in "Starting Over", and materialism in "WINGS". After parting ways with Ryan Lewis, he continued making music as a solo artist, releasing albums like Gemini (2017) and BEN (2023).