Macklemore has been in the spotlight due to his outspoken support for Palestine, a stance that cost him a place on Ed Sheeran's US tour but earned admiration from many. His visibility has prompted renewed curiosity about Ryan Lewis, the producer and musician who once shared the stage with him as one-half of the hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
The duo began working together in 2008 in Seattle, Washington and went on hiatus in 2017, according to AllMusic.com. The website described the band: 'An unlikely pairing of two Washington-bred musicians became a phenomenon in the early 2010s with their rousing blend of humorous hip-hop novelties, thoughtful social insight, and motivational anthems that would become staples at arenas, gyms, and dance floors across the country.'
Who Is Ryan Lewis?
Lewis was born in Spokane, Washington, on 25 March 1988, to Julie and Scott Lewis. He has two sisters, and grew up with a passion for music. He played the guitar in rock bands and realised he enjoyed music production when he was 15.
The now 38-year-old Lewis started his professional career in photography and videography but eventually returned to his first love: music. In 2008, he started producing and releasing music.
Meeting Macklemore
Lewis met Benjamin Hammond Haggerty—then professionally known as Professor Macklemore—in 2006 on the now-defunct MySpace. Macklemore had started rapping in 2000 and Lewis noted that he needed a professional visual consultant. Lewis stepped in as Macklemore's photographer, and the partnership quickly expanded into music.
By 2009, the duo were recording together and released their first EP. It was not until 2012 that the duo released its first studio album, 'The Heist,' which featured the hits 'Can't Hold Us' and 'Thrift Shop,' both of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Hiatus and Solo Work
Their second album, 'This Unruly Mess I've Made,' was released in 2016. The album was noted for the song 'White Privilege II,' where Macklemore examined his privilege as a white rapper in a Black-dominated genre.
On 15 June 2017, Macklemore announced on his official Instagram page that the duo were going on hiatus. They continued doing music individually, though Lewis chose a lower-profile path. Lewis co-wrote and co-produced 'The Greatest Show,' the opening track of 'The Greatest Showman's' soundtrack.
Where Is Ryan Lewis Now?
Since stepping back, Lewis has largely stayed out of the public eye. He does not appear to maintain an active public-facing social media presence. One of his more recent publicly documented projects was producing the theme music for the true-crime podcast 'The Deck' in 2022.
Macklemore has previously indicated there was no bad blood between the two former music partners. 'It was a decision that we both came to,' Macklemore said about the professional breakup. 'I think with the last album and how intense it was at times—particularly making "White Privilege II," that was an intense, as it should have been, song to write... I think it was really heavy to make a nine-minute song about race.'
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Shared Advocacy
Although Lewis has not spoken publicly about current political issues, the duo's past work suggests shared values. The United Nations designated the two musicians as Equality Champions in 2013, to promote greater respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
With Macklemore continuing to be very vocal about his humanitarian advocacy, particularly in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, curiosity about Lewis' views remains.
