In 2014, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took home four Grammys but this year their name was not on the nominee list. Many fans and others wonder why Macklemore and Ryan Lewis did not submit their album for nomination this year. While they did not walk away with a Grammy, they have been walking away with pure admiration from the people they have been helping.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are well-known for their Grammy-award winning independent album, The Heist, and their infectious #1 hit, “Thrift Shop”. But there’s a lot more to their story than a seemingly overnight rise to fame.
Most notably, back in 2014 as they were ascending to the top of the charts, Lewis founded the 30/30 Project. The HIV/AIDS charity was named in honor of his mother, Julie Lewis, who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion and has lived with the autoimmune disease for more than 30 years. The project focuses on bringing healthcare to impoverished areas around the globe. Within 24 hours of its launch, the 30/30 Project had raised more than $30,000.
Macklemore has become an outspoken advocate for prescription drug abuse. In early 2014, he was the face of a video campaign sponsored by the Jed Foundation and mtvU. The rapper drew from his personal experiences to help spread awareness about the consequences of misusing the drugs.
Together, the duo has participated in dozens of charity events. Over the years, they partnered with iHeartRadio for the #CheggMusic101 series. In the contest, high school and college students could vote for their school to win an exclusive on-campus classroom takeover from the hip hop stars. The winning school also received a $10,000 grant for their music department.
Even their song, “White Privilege II”, encourages conversation about civil rights.
Despite a relatively short time in the spotlight so far, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have wasted no time using their influence for good.