Query: Macklemore is not a hip hop artist.

Relevant passages:
The Heist (album) <=SEP=> The Heist is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis . It was released on October 9 , 2012 , by Macklemore LLC , distributed under the Alternative Distribution Alliance . The album was independently self-produced , self-recorded and self-released by the duo , with no mainstream promotion or support . After the album 's release , the duo hired Warner Music Group 's radio promotion department to help the push with their singles for a small percentage of the sales .   The album was recorded in Seattle , Washington between 2009 and 2012 . Within each series of singles were released , before the album release from 2010 and onwards ; the fourth single `` Thrift Shop '' , which was the most commercially successful -- peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 , number one in 17 other countries , including number one positions in New Zealand and Australia , as well as a successful run on the charts in many other countries . The album 's third single `` Ca n't Hold Us '' was also largely commercially successful , peaking at number one in the United States , Australia , and Sweden .   The album sold 78,000 copies in its first week , debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 , and at number one on the Billboard Top R&B / Hip-Hop Albums , while entering the Canadian Albums Chart at number four . The album received generally positive reviews from critics . On January 26 , 2014 , it won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album , where it was also nominated for Album of the Year and earned Macklemore and Ryan Lewis the award for Best New Artist . As of early 2016 , the album has sold 1,490,000 copies in the United States .

Macklemore <=SEP=> Benjamin Hammond Haggerty ( born June 19 , 1983 ) , known by his stage name Macklemore ( -LSB- ˈmæk.ləmɔr -RSB- ) and formerly Professor Mack Lemore , is an American hip hop recording artist from Kent , Washington . His stage name originated from his childhood ; it was the name of his made-up superhero . Since 2000 , he has independently released one mixtape , three EPs , and four albums . He has significantly collaborated with producer Ryan Lewis as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis .   Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 's single `` Thrift Shop '' reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 . The single was soon dubbed by Billboard as the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label , although Macklemore , in a slightly unusual recording contract , pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. . Records 's radio promotion department to push his singles . Their second single , `` Ca n't Hold Us '' , also peaked at number one of the Hot 100 Chart , making Macklemore and Lewis the first duo in the chart 's history to have their first two singles both reach the peak position . Macklemore and Lewis released their debut studio album The Heist on October 9 , 2012 , which charted at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 . The pair won four Grammy Awards at the 2014 ceremony , including Best New Artist , Best Rap Album ( The Heist ) , Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance ( `` Thrift Shop '' ) . Their second album , This Unruly Mess I 've Made , was released on February 26 , 2016 .

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis <=SEP=> Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are an American hip hop duo , formed in 2008 , from Seattle , Washington . The duo is composed of Ben Haggerty , a singer who goes by the stage name of Macklemore , and Ryan Lewis , a record producer , DJ , and professional photographer , who met the former at a photo shoot and they have significantly collaborated ever since . In 2009 , they released their first collaborative effort , an EP titled VS. EP . They have since followed up with VS. Redux ( 2010 ) , the Grammy Award-winning album The Heist ( 2012 ) and This Unruly Mess I 've Made ( 2016 ) .   Macklemore and Lewis ' single `` Thrift Shop '' reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 . The single was soon dubbed the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label by Billboard , although Macklemore , in a slightly unusual recording contract , pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. . Records ' radio promotion department to push his singles . Their second single , `` Ca n't Hold Us '' , also peaked at number one of the Hot 100 Chart , making Macklemore and Lewis the first duo in the chart 's history to have their first two singles both reach the peak position . Macklemore and Lewis released their debut studio album , The Heist , on October 9 , 2012 , which charted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 . The pair won four Grammy Awards at the 2014 ceremony , including Best New Artist , Best Rap Album ( The Heist ) , Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance ( `` Thrift Shop '' ) . Their second album , This Unruly Mess I 've Made , was released on February 26 , 2016 .

Thrift Shop <=SEP=> `` Thrift Shop '' is a song by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis . It was released on August 27 , 2012 as Macklemore 's eighth career single and the fourth single from their debut studio album , The Heist ( 2012 ) . It features vocals from Wanz . The song was composed to show Macklemore 's esteem for thrift shops and saving money , opposing the flaunting of expensive items many rappers display . Music reviewers praised the song for its humorous lyrics and social critique . It was released in the United Kingdom in January 2013 .   Despite being released on Macklemore 's independent label with distribution by the Alternative Distribution Alliance ( ADA ) , a Warner Music Group Company , the single was a sleeper hit . It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since sold over 7 million copies in the US alone . The song also reached number one in the United Kingdom , Ireland , Canada , France , Denmark , Netherlands , Australia and New Zealand . A music video was released to accompany the song 's release on August 29 , 2012 . The video has garnered more than 1.0 billion views on YouTube . In 2014 , the single won two Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song .