Seattle’s independent music scene brought Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to prominence. The indie rapper and his producer have been making music for years, but with the release of their debut album Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have shot to mainstream popularity. Not only is The Heist a great album, it is a triumph in the music industry, showing how far an artist’s following can go just through a grassroots movement without any professional record label involvement. The Heist will be remembered as a trendsetter in the music industry and will pave the way many new independent artists to organically get their own chance at fame.

First and foremost, the production on The Heist is top-notch. Lewis, half of the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis duo, solely produced every track on the album. Every single beat is unique and the instrumental accompaniments are perfectly in sync with a refreshing sound that hasn’t been heard in the hip hop genre. Macklemore glides over every beat with ease, yet he doesn’t come off as arrogant in any way, each song exhibiting lyricism that is both introspective and fun. The album covers topics that range from LGBT rights, materialism, conquering addiction, corporate greed, fame, and even buying used clothes. The Heist creates a perfect dichotomy between tracks that are fun and others that are sobering, one thing’s for sure, they are all certainly memorable.

While most rappers nowadays glorify drugs and women, Macklemore has found success by creating music that promotes positive values. Macklemore, who once suffered from drug addiction, is keen on speaking out against drug use and bringing to light his own vices and demons.  Macklemore unleashes the harsh truth of what happens to many children who aren’t given the proper outlet to do what they love and as a result take the wrong path, however in the midst of this Macklemore’s lyrics bring a ray of hope, encouraging his listeners to do what makes them happy.

Best Songs:

Make the Money, Same Love, Wing$, Neon Cathedral

Worst Song:

Thrift Shop (this song is in no way bad, it is just that due to its immense popularity many of the gems in this album are overlooked)

Other work by Macklemore:

The VS EP

The Unplanned Mixtape (this is a free album)

Rating:

4.5/5

Download The Heist for $9.99 on iTunes or $9.49 on Amazon.