Macklemore was born on June 19, 1983 in Seattle, Washington, USA as Benjamin Haggerty. He has been married to Tricia Davis since June 27, 2015. They have one child.
I want to make music that I like; not something that I have to make because I think it's going to se...Show more »
I want to make music that I like; not something that I have to make because I think it's going to sell. Show less «
I think that civil rights issues take a lot of time to develop.
I think that civil rights issues take a lot of time to develop.
Consciousness rap - a term that I don't think exactly exists but gets thrown around a lot - is not e...Show more »
Consciousness rap - a term that I don't think exactly exists but gets thrown around a lot - is not exactly popular. Show less «
It's easy to view politicians as corrupt and voting essentially an act of picking the lesser of two ...Show more »
It's easy to view politicians as corrupt and voting essentially an act of picking the lesser of two evils. I understand that perspective and feel it's valid. Show less «
Bullying is a national epidemic.
Bullying is a national epidemic.
I put myself in the place of the listener when editing my writing. The last thing that I want to do ...Show more »
I put myself in the place of the listener when editing my writing. The last thing that I want to do is be preached at and told who to be or what to think when listening to an artist. However, I do want to be inspired. There's a fine line. Show less «
Thrift shopping is really just an extension of me being that same kid and going into a place that's ...Show more »
Thrift shopping is really just an extension of me being that same kid and going into a place that's completely unconventional that has really endless possibilities in terms of outfits that you can put together and really just expressing yourself. Show less «
'The more expensive the better' is kind of the American way, and if you spent $600 for a sweatshirt,...Show more »
'The more expensive the better' is kind of the American way, and if you spent $600 for a sweatshirt, then that makes it better. Show less «
Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls ...Show more »
Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls heart strings. It acts as medicine. Show less «
I'm a very conceptual writer.
I'm a very conceptual writer.
I think people are enticed by indie rap and every time you have a group going against the grain, the...Show more »
I think people are enticed by indie rap and every time you have a group going against the grain, they're gonna be like, 'Wow, you did it yourself in 2012, that's impressive - how did you do it? What're you doing that's different? And how can I be a part of it?' Show less «
Gay people and women are still the most oppressed people in hip-hop culture. You can only watch that...Show more »
Gay people and women are still the most oppressed people in hip-hop culture. You can only watch that for so long. I have gay family. I have gay friends. That's the beautiful thing about writing songs. You get to take on issues that you're passionate about. Show less «
I think music should be experienced by people all ages.
I think music should be experienced by people all ages.
You have major labels that are willing to take unconventional approaches because the old model is cr...Show more »
You have major labels that are willing to take unconventional approaches because the old model is crumbling in front of us. Show less «
I find that when I put my spiritual life first, the rest of my life is easy. When I put my career fi...Show more »
I find that when I put my spiritual life first, the rest of my life is easy. When I put my career first, that's when I have problems. Show less «
I'm not more or less conscious than any other rapper out there.
I'm not more or less conscious than any other rapper out there.
You need to get outside of your comfort zone to write songs that are interesting, songs that are com...Show more »
You need to get outside of your comfort zone to write songs that are interesting, songs that are compelling, songs that are different from what other people are writing. Show less «
I think what's wrong with the fashion world, particularly men's fashion, is the lack of creativity b...Show more »
I think what's wrong with the fashion world, particularly men's fashion, is the lack of creativity behind it. Show less «
I shop at thrift shops probably five times a week.
I shop at thrift shops probably five times a week.
My partner has to have good sized bones.
My partner has to have good sized bones.
'Vote Love' means vote equality. It means vote change. It means vote what's right for humanity.
'Vote Love' means vote equality. It means vote change. It means vote what's right for humanity.
I'm as honest as I can be.
I'm as honest as I can be.
You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. To speak out...Show more »
You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. To speak out against it. Show less «
I don't write a great song every day. I don't write a great song every couple weeks. It comes in suc...Show more »
I don't write a great song every day. I don't write a great song every couple weeks. It comes in such random times. Show less «
Reading a piece of poetry with no beat in front of 20 people is way more challenging than rocking fo...Show more »
Reading a piece of poetry with no beat in front of 20 people is way more challenging than rocking for 10,000 people. Show less «
I played baseball up until my freshman year of high school. That was my main sport. I played third b...Show more »
I played baseball up until my freshman year of high school. That was my main sport. I played third base. Show less «
I definitely use 'smiling while rapping' as a tool in the booth. I want to have fun while recording.
I definitely use 'smiling while rapping' as a tool in the booth. I want to have fun while recording.
When I write, I don't have any expectation of what kind of song it will become or who it might reach...Show more »
When I write, I don't have any expectation of what kind of song it will become or who it might reach. Show less «
I'm someone that examines culture and tries to break down why things are the way that they are wheth...Show more »
I'm someone that examines culture and tries to break down why things are the way that they are whether its hip-hop music, sex, race, or consumerism. I try to examine it and scrutinize it to the point where I can write a song. Show less «
I just want to give the people 100% of myself as an artist.
I just want to give the people 100% of myself as an artist.
[on his song 'Thrift Shop'] Commercial hip-hop tends to be about spending money or buying things. An...Show more »
[on his song 'Thrift Shop'] Commercial hip-hop tends to be about spending money or buying things. And I think that's gotten fairly boring. 'Thrift Shop' is the polar opposite. It's about saving money, finding bargains, bragging about the deals you're coming up with. Show less «
Sampling is kind of prehistoric, given the technology and the textures you can create.
Sampling is kind of prehistoric, given the technology and the textures you can create.
The fame and the money and all that stuff that comes along with it is all great, but that's not the ...Show more »
The fame and the money and all that stuff that comes along with it is all great, but that's not the sole purpose of why I make music. Show less «
I think that there will always be artists out there who think they need to sign a major label deal i...Show more »
I think that there will always be artists out there who think they need to sign a major label deal in order to be successful. And that machine is what is going to work for them - there's tons of examples of pop stars who need that machine. Show less «
