Macklemore

Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, known by his stage name Macklemore, is an American rapper from Seattle, Washington. He has collaborated with producer Ryan Lewis as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Since 2000, he has independently released one mixtape, three EPs, and four albums.

Haggerty was born and raised in Seattle with his brother Tim. He developed a passion for hip hop at a young age and started writing lyrics when he was just 15 years old. Influenced by East Coast underground hip hop artists such as Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, he began to make music that resonated with younger generations.

In addition to his music career, Haggerty has been involved in educational programs focused on cultural identity. He facilitated music workshops through the "Gateways for Incarcerated Youth" program and attended Garfield High School and Nathan Hale High School. At Garfield, he formed a hip-hop group called Elevated Elements.