Ryan Lewis
{{short description|American musician and producer}}
{{for|the American football player|Ryan Lewis (American football)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ryan Lewis
| image = Ryan Lewis 2.jpg
| caption = Lewis performing in 2013
| alias = Duke Goobler
| birth_name = Ryan Scott Lewis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1988|3|25}}
| birth_place = Spokane, Washington, U.S.
| origin = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupations = {{flatlist|
- Record producer
- musician
- DJ
- rapper
- songwriter
}}
| instruments = {{flatlist|
- Keyboards
- guitar
- programming
- turntables
- vocals
}}
| past_member_of = Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
| website = {{URL|macklemore.com}}
| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Ryan Lewis signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png
}}
}}
Ryan Scott Lewis (born March 25, 1988) is an American musician and record producer based in Seattle, Washington. Along with producing his own album, Instrumentals, Lewis produced the albums The VS. EP (2009), The Heist (2012), and This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016) as part of the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. He also directed 12 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis videos.
In 2006, Lewis befriended rapper Macklemore on Myspace and soon after became his behind-the-scenes partner, producing, recording, engineering and mixing all of the duo's music and directing the music videos for "Same Love", "Thrift Shop", "And We Danced", "Otherside (Remix)", "Can't Hold Us", "Irish Celebration", "My Oh My", "Victory Lap", "Downtown", "Brad Pitt's Cousin" and "White Walls" and designing promotional graphics.
Early life
Lewis was born in Spokane, Washington,{{Cite web |title=Hiphop Star Ryan Lewis Delights Leadership Students |url=https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/2017/1/18/hiphop-star-ryan-lewis-delights-leadership-students |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.gonzaga.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-05-31 |title=Macklemore & Ryan Lewis found history-making global success |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/31/top-of-the-whirlwind/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Spokesman.com |language=en}} to Julie and Scott Lewis. Lewis has two sisters, Teresa and Laura, four years and two years older than he is, respectively.{{cite news|last=Sommerfeld|first=Seth|title=A Different Beat|url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/a-different-beat/Content?oid=2154475|access-date=January 30, 2014|newspaper=The Pacific Northwest Inlander|date=February 26, 2013}} At an early age, he played guitar in rock bands with his childhood best friend Ryan Sanson, and nursed a growing interest in music production around the age of 15. Lewis attended Ferris High School in Spokane and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle. He graduated from the University of Washington majoring in Comparative History of Ideas.{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/29/macklemore-ryan-lewis-interview/ |date=November 29, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |title=Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The stars align |author=Varga, George |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune}}
Career
=2006–2008: Career beginnings=
Lewis became a professional photographer and videographer. In 2008, he released his debut extended play, Instrumentals, with four alternative hip hop songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_7m5yLvlcJLK2nZVYKMSwUqroNjV3SWJ|title=Ryan Lewis 'Instrumentals'|publisher=Jeremy Timothy Brown|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=April 7, 2013}} In the same year, Lewis collaborated with Rhode Island–based emcee Symmetry in a self-titled work, released as an LP.{{cite web|url=http://www.audiomack.com/album/thatsthatishcom/symmetry-ryan-lewis-lp|title=Symmetry & Ryan Lewis LP|publisher=Audio Mack|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=April 7, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://thissongissick.com/blog/2010/real-sick-quality-rap-new-free-album-ryan-lewis-symmetry-lp/|title=Real Sick Quality Rap NEW FREE ALBUM – Ryan Lewis & Symmetry – LP|publisher=This is Song Sick|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=April 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511004233/http://thissongissick.com/blog/2010/real-sick-quality-rap-new-free-album-ryan-lewis-symmetry-lp/|archive-date=May 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}
=2009–2017: Career with Macklemore=
Image:Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at Sasquatch 2011.jpg, in 2012]]
Lewis first met Macklemore in 2006,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErUzr8GSvU Jabari Presents: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Documentary)]. YouTube. Retrieved on December 30, 2012. but only in 2009 did they formalize the collaboration as the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and release the EP The VS. EP.{{cite web|title=Macklemore – "Irish Celebration"|url=http://www.thatsthatish.com/2009/12/macklemore-irish-celebration.html|publisher=thatsthatish.com|access-date=May 6, 2013}}
In October 2010, Lewis produced the VS. Redux EP and, in December, their debut single, "My Oh My".{{cite news|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2010/12/23/seattle-rapper-macklemore-records-niehaus-tribute/ |title=Seattle rapper Macklemore records Niehaus tribute | Seattle Mariners blog - seattlepi.com |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=December 23, 2010 |access-date=July 20, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2013748701_new_song_about_dave_niehaus_by.html | work=The Seattle Times | first=Geoff | last=Baker | title=New song about Dave Niehaus by Seattle rapper Macklemore | date=December 23, 2010}} "Wings" was released on January 21, 2011, followed by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton on August 16, 2011.
Their album The Heist was released in October 2012.
Previously released singles "My Oh My", "Wings", and "Can't Hold Us" were announced to be included on the album – as was the song "Make the Money". "Can't Hold Us" was used as soundtrack for a Miller beer ad in UK and Ireland in June 2012. "Same Love" was released on July 18, 2012, and songs "White Walls" featuring Schoolboy Q and "Jimmy Iovine" featuring Ab-Soul were confirmed to be included on the album. The Heist debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 2.
On October 30, 2012, Lewis appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show performing their single "Same Love" and then again on January 18, 2013, performing their single "Thrift Shop", which they had sung previously on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on December 11, 2012. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, giving them their first number 1 hit in the US.
The Heist World Tour began in August 2012 to promote The Heist.{{cite web |last=Ryon |first=Sean |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.20434/title.macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist-album-stream |title=Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "The Heist" Album Stream |publisher=HipHop DX |date=October 6, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429111803/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.20434/title.macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist-album-stream |archive-date=April 29, 2015 |url-status=dead }}
On January 26, 2014, Macklemore performed "Same Love" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, where Queen Latifah read marriage vows for 33 couples who lined the aisles, including Lewis's sister, Laura, and her now husband.{{cite web|author=Dan Avery |url=http://www.newnownext.com/macklemore-madonna-queen-latifah-host-gay-straight-weddings-at-grammys/01/2014/ |title=Macklemore, Madonna, Queen Latifah Host Gay Weddings |publisher=newnownext.com |access-date=January 27, 2014}}
In January 2015, Lewis announced via Twitter that his third studio album would be released sometime in the second half of the year.{{cite magazine | url = http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/111648 | title = Macklemore Promises New Album Coming in 2015 | author = Jason Lipshutz | magazine = Billboard | date = January 2, 2015 | access-date = January 3, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150907195110/http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/111648 | archive-date = September 7, 2015 | url-status = dead }} On August 5, 2015, Macklemore released a song for free download titled "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)", which features Ed Sheeran.{{cite magazine|last1=Reed|first1=Ryan|title=Macklemore Returns to Celebrate Daughter's Birth With Joyous New Track|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/macklemore-returns-to-celebrate-daughters-birth-with-joyous-new-track-20150805|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 5, 2015}}
On August 27, 2015, the duo released "Downtown", featuring Eric Nally, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, and Grandmaster Caz; it was performed at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4013152/macklemore-downtown-ryan-lewis/|title=Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 'Downtown' – New Song|author=Nolan Feeney|date=August 27, 2015|magazine=Time|access-date=August 27, 2015}} "Downtown" is part of their new album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, which was released on February 26, 2016.
On January 22, 2016, the duo released "White Privilege II", the second single on "This Unruly Mess I've Made".{{cite magazine|last=Stuart |first=Tessa |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis-drop-black-lives-matter-inspired-white-privilege-ii-20160122 |title=Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Drop New Track 'White Privilege II' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 22, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016}} On June 15, 2017, Macklemore announced via his official Instagram that the duo were on hiatus.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2017/06/15/macklemore-ryan-lewis-announce-decision-part-ways/|title=Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Announce Decision to Part Ways|date=June 15, 2017|website=BallerStatus.com|access-date=July 3, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2017/06/15/macklemore-parts-ways-with-ryan-lewis-announces-solo-album/|title=Macklemore Parts Ways with Ryan Lewis, Announces Solo Album|date= June 15, 2017|website=Rap-Up|access-date=July 3, 2017}}
=Since 2017: Other works=
July 2017 saw the release of Kesha's song "Praying", which Lewis co-wrote and produced.{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2017/07/06/kesha-returns-triumphantly-with-new-single-praying/ | title=Kesha Returns Triumphantly With New Single 'Praying' | work=Forbes | date=July 6, 2017 | access-date=July 11, 2017 | last=McIntyre | first=Hugh}}
On August 19, 2019, Hobo Johnson's song "Subaru Crosstrek XV" was released, which Lewis co-wrote and produced.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.f7a1d120-c073-11e9-8121-2826f3a38eb9?app=music&ign-itsct=con_show_zanelowe_null&ign-itscg=80029|title=Zane Lowe and Hobo Johnson|date=August 16, 2019|work=Beats 1|access-date=August 28, 2019}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Discography
{{for|the discography with his duo|Macklemore & Ryan Lewis discography}}
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Symmetry and Ryan Lewis{{cite web|url=https://symmetrymusic.bandcamp.com/album/symmetry-and-ryan-lewis-free-download|title=Symmetry And Ryan Lewis (Free Download)|publisher=Symmetry Music|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=April 7, 2013}} (with Symmetry) |
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Instrumentals{{cite web|url=http://www.wantickets.com/Artists/ShowArtist.aspx?artistId=4011|title=Ryan Lewis producing his own album titled Instrumentals|publisher=Wantickts|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=April 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410172747/http://wantickets.com/Artists/ShowArtist.aspx?artistId=4011|archive-date=April 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}
| |
=Remixes=
- "Vipassana (Ryan Lewis Remix)" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; from the VS. Redux EP
- "Otherside (Ryan Lewis Remix)" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Fences; from VS. Redux
See also
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{official website}}
{{Macklemore & Ryan Lewis}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Ryan Lewis
|list =
{{BET Award for Best Group}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Song}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Ryan}}
Category:American male rappers
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music
Category:MTV Video Music Award winners
Category:Musicians from Seattle
Category:University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences alumni
Category:Musicians from Spokane, Washington
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians