Ryan Lewis
Ryan Scott Lewis (born March 25, 1988) is an American record producer, DJ, musician, videographer, and photographer based in Seattle, Washington.[1][2] He is best known for his collaboration with rapper Macklemore as the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, which independently released the album The Heist in 2012, propelled by the chart-topping singles "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us," the latter certified diamond by the RIAA.[3] The duo's breakthrough demonstrated the viability of self-released music in achieving global commercial success without major label backing, selling millions of copies and streaming equivalents.[4] In 2014, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis received four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for The Heist, and Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for "Thrift Shop," marking a rare independent sweep in major categories.[5] Lewis contributed to production, instrumentation, and visual direction for the project, including music videos that garnered billions of views. The partnership went on indefinite hiatus after 2017, with Lewis pursuing solo production and creative endeavors.[5] Their work, including the track "Same Love" advocating for marriage equality, influenced cultural discussions on social issues within hip-hop.[3]Early life
Family background and upbringing
Ryan Lewis was born on March 25, 1988, to parents Julie and Scott Lewis, with two older sisters, Teresa (born circa 1984) and Laura (born circa 1986).[6][7] The family initially lived in the Seattle area before relocating to Spokane, Washington, as a toddler, where Lewis attended Ferris High School.[8] They later moved back to Seattle, and he graduated from Roosevelt High School there.[9] A significant aspect of the family's early dynamics involved Julie Lewis's HIV status. In 1984, following complications during Teresa's birth, she received a blood transfusion that transmitted HIV to her.[6][10] She was diagnosed on August 20, 1990, at age 32, and given a prognosis of mere months to live, leading the family—including husband Scott and children aged approximately 6 (Teresa), 4 (Laura), and 2 (Ryan)—to undergo testing; only Julie tested positive.[11][12] Despite medical predictions, she has survived over 35 years with the virus through treatment adherence, profoundly influencing family resilience and later advocacy efforts.[13] Lewis has reflected on the childhood fear of losing his mother, noting it instilled early awareness of health vulnerabilities.[14] No detailed public records exist on Scott Lewis's profession or the family's socioeconomic status, though the relocations suggest adaptability amid personal challenges.[9]Education and initial interests
Lewis was born in Plymouth, Washington, but his family relocated to Spokane when he was two years old.[15] He attended Ferris High School in Spokane during his early high school years before his family returned to the Seattle area midway through his sophomore year.[9] Lewis graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle.[16] From an early age, Lewis demonstrated a strong interest in music, playing guitar in heavy metal and rock bands during junior high and with childhood friend Ryan Sanson.[4] Around age 14, he began exploring music production, alongside pursuits in web design and photography.[17] At 16, he launched his own photography business, primarily documenting local bands, which deepened his ties to the Seattle music scene.[18] Lewis enrolled at the University of Washington, where he majored in the Comparative History of Ideas and graduated around 2009.[9] During his college years, he continued honing skills in visual media and music production, releasing his debut instrumental EP Instrumentals in 2008, which featured four alternative hip hop tracks.[4] These early endeavors reflected his interdisciplinary approach, blending creative production with analytical studies.[18]Career beginnings
Pre-Macklemore projects (2006–2008)
In 2006, Lewis, then a student at the University of Washington, began experimenting with music production and DJing alongside his work as a photographer and videographer in Seattle's local hip-hop community.[19] He connected with emerging artists through Myspace, honing his skills on beats and live performances in underground venues, though no major releases occurred during this initial phase.[17] By 2008, Lewis issued his debut extended play, Instrumentals, a beat tape comprising four alternative hip-hop tracks that showcased his production style rooted in sampled loops and electronic elements.[20] This self-released project marked his entry as a standalone producer, distributed primarily through local networks and online platforms. That year, he also teamed with Rhode Island-based rapper Symmetry for the collaborative album Symmetry and Ryan Lewis, an LP blending introspective lyrics with Lewis's layered instrumentation across multiple tracks.[21] These efforts established Lewis's versatility in beat-making and engineering before his formal partnership with Macklemore solidified.Entry into music production and DJing
Lewis first developed an interest in music production during middle school, where he experimented with pirated software to craft beats as a hobby.[17] Having played guitar since age 10 and performed in rock bands through his early teens, he shifted toward hip-hop production after graduating high school in 2005, valuing the genre's allowance for solo control over songwriting, arrangement, and mixing.[17] By 2007, Lewis was creating more structured beats, including the core drum and piano elements that would underpin the later track "Can't Hold Us."[19] His entry into DJing occurred in 2009, when he began performing live sets to guide show energy and mood, debuting at Macklemore's Bellingham performance prior to the release of their VS. EP.[19] This role expanded his production work into live curation, emphasizing seamless transitions and audience engagement over traditional scratching techniques.[19]Collaboration with Macklemore
Formation of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2009–2012)
Ryan Lewis initially connected with rapper Ben Haggerty, known as Macklemore, in 2006 through photography work for promotional materials.[22] This encounter laid the groundwork for their partnership, as Lewis, skilled in music production, DJing, and videography, began contributing beats and visuals to Haggerty's projects.[23] Their collaboration deepened over the following years, focusing on independent releases and live shows in the Seattle hip-hop scene. By 2009, Lewis and Haggerty formalized their act as the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, emphasizing a full-band live experience that included Lewis on production and turntables alongside additional musicians.[24] On November 27, 2009, they independently released their debut extended play, The VS. EP, featuring seven tracks that addressed themes like addiction in "Otherside" and personal growth.[25] The EP received local acclaim and peaked at No. 7 on iTunes Hip Hop charts, marking their first joint effort under the duo name.[26] In 2010, the duo expanded on this foundation with VS. Redux, released on October 20, which included remixes by producers like Jake One and new tracks such as "Crew Cuts."[27] This release refined their sound, blending hip-hop with live instrumentation, and supported a growing tour schedule across North America.[28] Throughout 2011 and into 2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis built momentum through singles like "Irish Celebration" and grassroots promotion, performing at festivals such as Sasquatch! and honing a DIY approach that avoided major label deals.[29] Their emphasis on visual storytelling, with Lewis directing music videos, further distinguished their independent rise.[30]The Heist era and mainstream breakthrough (2012–2015)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released their debut studio album The Heist on October 9, 2012, independently through Macklemore LLC under distribution by Alternative Distribution Alliance.[31] Ryan Lewis produced all tracks on the album, incorporating live instrumentation from a core band of local Seattle musicians and emphasizing a DIY approach without major label backing.[32] The project featured Lewis's beats, arrangements, and multi-instrumental contributions, alongside his role in directing accompanying music videos.[33] The Heist debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, moving 78,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan data.[31] Lead single "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz, released in August 2012, propelled the duo's visibility through viral online traction and radio play, achieving multi-platinum certification and topping charts internationally.[34] Follow-up "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton, issued in 2013, further amplified their reach with its anthemic production by Lewis, garnering billions of streams over time and peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] The album's commercial success included over 5 million units sold worldwide by later counts.[35] At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2014, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis secured four wins: Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for The Heist, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance for "Thrift Shop."[36] These accolades marked their mainstream breakthrough, following extensive touring that included arena shows and festival appearances from 2012 onward.[37] Lewis's production and live band setup contributed to high-energy performances, sustaining momentum through 2015 with appearances at events like the MTV Video Music Awards and American Music Awards.[38][39]