Ryan Lewis

2.1. Childhood and education

From an early age, Lewis developed a strong interest in music. He played guitar in rock bands with his childhood best friend, Ryan Sanson, and by the age of 15, he began nurturing a growing passion for music production. He attended Ferris High School in Spokane before graduating from Roosevelt High School in Seattle. Lewis furthered his education at the University of Washington, where he majored in Comparative History of Ideas.

3.1. Solo activities and early collaborations

Lewis initially established himself as a professional photographer and videographer. In 2008, he released his debut extended play, Instrumentals. This EP featured four alternative hip hop songs, showcasing his early production skills. In the same year, Lewis collaborated with Rhode Island-based emcee Symmetry on a self-titled LP, Symmetry and Ryan Lewis.

4.1. Formation and early releases

Ryan Lewis first encountered rapper Macklemore in 2006 through the social networking site Myspace. Their professional collaboration formalized in 2009, leading to the official formation of the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Their initial joint project was The VS. EP, released in 2009. Following this, Lewis produced the VS. Redux EP in October 2010. In December 2010, they released their debut collaborative single, "My Oh My." Subsequent singles included "Wings" on January 21, 2011, and "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton on August 16, 2011.

4.2. The Heist

The duo's breakthrough album, The Heist, was released in October 2012. The album incorporated previously released singles such as "My Oh My," "Wings," and "Can't Hold Us," as well as new tracks like "Make the Money." Other notable songs included "Same Love" (released July 18, 2012), "White Walls" featuring Schoolboy Q, and "Jimmy Iovine" featuring Ab-Soul. The Heist was a commercial success, debuting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The song "Can't Hold Us" was also featured as a soundtrack for a Miller beer advertisement in the UK and Ireland in June 2012.

4.3. This Unruly Mess I've Made

In January 2015, Ryan Lewis announced that the duo's third studio album would be released in the latter half of the year. On August 5, 2015, they offered a free download of the song "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)," which featured Ed Sheeran. This was followed by the release of "Downtown" on August 27, 2015, a track that included collaborations with Eric Nally, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, and Grandmaster Caz. The duo performed "Downtown" at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30. This single was part of their new album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, which officially debuted on February 26, 2016. On January 22, 2016, "White Privilege II" was released as the second single from This Unruly Mess I've Made.

4.4. Major singles and their impact

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis gained significant popularity through several hit singles, many of which also carried substantial socio-cultural messages. Their song "Thrift Shop" became a massive commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and becoming their first number-one hit in the United States. By January 2013, the single had accumulated over 2 million downloads. The song was performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in December 2012 and later on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January 2013.

"Same Love" became particularly impactful for its advocacy of LGBT rights and same-sex marriage. The duo performed "Same Love" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October 2012. A memorable performance occurred at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2014, where Queen Latifah officiated the marriage vows for 33 couples, both gay and straight, who were positioned throughout the aisles. Among the couples married was Ryan Lewis's sister, Laura, and her husband.

4.5. Music video direction

Beyond his roles as producer and musician, Ryan Lewis was also the primary director for many of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's music videos, contributing significantly to their visual storytelling and artistic expression. He directed a total of 12 videos for the duo, including "Same Love," "Thrift Shop," "And We Danced," "Otherside (Remix)," "Can't Hold Us," "Irish Celebration," "My Oh My," "Victory Lap," "Downtown," "Brad Pitt's Cousin," and "White Walls." Additionally, Lewis was responsible for designing the promotional graphics for their projects.

4.6. Tours and performances

To support their albums, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis embarked on extensive touring schedules. Their The Heist World Tour commenced in August 2012, promoting their breakthrough album. The duo also made numerous television appearances, including performances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. A highlight of their live performances was their appearance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, where they delivered a poignant performance of "Same Love."

4.7. Hiatus of the duo

On June 15, 2017, Macklemore publicly announced via his official Instagram account that the duo was going on hiatus. This marked a period where both artists would focus on individual projects after years of collaborative work.

5.1. Producing and songwriting for other artists

Lewis demonstrated his versatility as a producer and songwriter by working with other musicians. In July 2017, he co-wrote and produced "Praying" for the artist Kesha, which was a significant comeback single for her. Additionally, on August 19, 2019, Lewis co-wrote and produced the song "Subaru Crosstrek XV" for Hobo Johnson, further showcasing his broad influence in the music industry.

6.1. Studio albums