Macklemore Macklemore artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Macklemore

Saturday March 4, 2023

Music Interviews

Macklemore on the inspiration behind his new album 'Ben'

March 4, 2023 • NPR's Scott Simon speaks with rapper Macklemore about the triumphs, struggles and realizations that inspired his new album, "Ben."

Macklemore on the inspiration behind his new album 'Ben'

Listen · 9:30 9:30

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Monday October 28, 2019

Lady Gaga performs her song "Born This Way" during The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 13, 2011. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

The 2010s: Queer Goes Mainstream

October 28, 2019 • In the past decade, LGBTQ issues hit the mainstream in unprecedented ways, and music played a big part, with songs about queer love on the radio and anthems of allyship coming from all major genres.

The 2010s: Queer Goes Mainstream

Listen · 34:49 34:49

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Thursday June 15, 2017

Macklemore Goes Solo For 'Glorious' Return

Macklemore, "Glorious." Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Macklemore Goes Solo For 'Glorious' Return

June 15, 2017 • For more than half a decade Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have been an inseparable creative duo, racking up record sales and Grammy awards. Not anymore, for now at least.

Tuesday October 25, 2016

Watch Macklemore's Powerful New Video For 'Drug Dealer'

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs TV

Watch Macklemore's Powerful New Video For 'Drug Dealer'

October 25, 2016 • The Seattle rapper's newest single is an emotional, sometimes unsettling takedown of what he sees as a pandemic of drug addictions driven by doctors who overprescribe medicine.

Tuesday February 2, 2016

New Mix: Santigold, Macklemore, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, More

Clockwise from upper left: Macklemore and Jamila Woods, Santigold, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop and Josh Homme Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

New Mix: Santigold, Macklemore, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, More

February 2, 2016 • In this week's mix, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton showcase a number of artists who reflect on their past to make powerful new music.

New Mix: Santigold, Macklemore, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, More

Listen · 54:23 54:23

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Friday January 29, 2016

'This Song Is Uncomfortable': Macklemore And Jamila Woods On 'White Privilege'

Ben Haggerty, a.k.a. Macklemore, and Jamila Woods collaborated on the song "White Privilege II." Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption

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Ariel Zambelich/NPR

Music Interviews

'This Song Is Uncomfortable': Macklemore And Jamila Woods On 'White Privilege'

January 29, 2016 • The rapper says he knew that releasing a nine-minute song that called out his own privilege would — and should — be seen by some as an unwelcome co-opting of the Black Lives Matter movement.

'This Song Is Uncomfortable': Macklemore And Jamila Woods On 'White Privilege'

Listen · 8:16 8:16

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I Guess We Gotta Talk About Macklemore's 'White Privilege' Song

Macklemore performs onstage during the Capital One Orange Bowl Beach Bash in December in Miami Beach. Thaddaeus McAdams/WireImage hide caption

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Thaddaeus McAdams/WireImage

Code Switch

I Guess We Gotta Talk About Macklemore's 'White Privilege' Song

January 29, 2016 • You won't have any thoughts about the rapper's new song about racial inequality, and his place as a white dude in hip-hop, that you didn't have before, in part because he plays it so safe.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

New Mix: Missy Elliott, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, PWR BTTM And More

Clockwise from upper left: Missy Elliott, PWR BTTM, Macklemore and Leon Bridges, kristine leschper of the band Mothers. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

New Mix: Missy Elliott, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, PWR BTTM And More

November 24, 2015 • This week we have new music from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the glorious return of Missy Elliott, a cut from PWR BTTM and more songs that will make you smile.

New Mix: Missy Elliott, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, PWR BTTM And More

Listen · 38:21 38:21

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Monday November 23, 2015

Hear 'Kevin,' The New Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Song Featuring Leon Bridges

Macklemore (left) is joined by soul singer Leon Bridges on the song, "Kevin." Jason Koenig hide caption

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Jason Koenig

All Songs Considered

Hear 'Kevin,' The New Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Song Featuring Leon Bridges

November 23, 2015 • Macklemore's latest effort with producer Ryan Lewis is a funk-flavored tirade against the ravages of drug addiction.

Hear "Kevin" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, With Leon Bridges

4:39

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Wednesday August 5, 2015

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

August 5, 2015 • Platinum-selling Seattle duo return with a direct, emotive take on parenting and change.

Thursday January 30, 2014

Dave Brubeck received a posthumous tribute at the 2013 Grammy Awards. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

A Blog Supreme

Dave Brubeck Was The Macklemore Of 1954

January 30, 2014 • Sixty years ago, a jazz pianist found himself in much the same bittersweet position as a rapper did on Sunday night. Surely proud of their hard work, they also sensed that their privilege as white musicians had something to do with their new success.

Sunday November 10, 2013

Cumbia: The Music That Moves Latin America

Dancers move to cumbia during a Carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia in Feb. 2012. Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images

Music Lists

Cumbia: The Music That Moves Latin America

November 10, 2013 • The Alt.Latino crew stops by Weekend Edition Sunday to talk about one of Latin music's most pervasive rhythms.

Cumbia: The Music That Moves Latin America

Listen · 5:36 5:36

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Wednesday December 5, 2012

Nabil Elderkin/Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2012

The Year In Music, 2012

December 5, 2012 • On this episode of All Songs Considered, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are joined by Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson to talk about the year's biggest surprises, best new artists and more.

The Year In Music, 2012

Listen · 1:13:23 1:13:23

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Monday December 3, 2012

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Tiny Desk Concert Lauren Rock/NPR hide caption

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Lauren Rock/NPR

Tiny Desk

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Tiny Desk Concert

December 3, 2012 • In the span of about 15 minutes, the pair works through a moving message song ("Same Love"), a hilarious goof-off ("Thrift Shop") and a rousingly inspirational closer ("Can't Hold Us").

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 14:45 14:45

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