MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS
Current Rank: 17
Previous Rank: –
Macklemore storms his way onto the list of the elite after a historic year for the independent artist. With his producer Ryan Lewis, there’s no question that his placement is cemented on this year’s Power 30. When The Heist made its premiere, Macklemore and Lewis’ debut landed at No.2 on the Billboard charts with 78,000 units and now stands at 843,000 units sold. The near-platinum album spawned Macklemore’s anthem “Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz, which currently sits at six-times platinum and counting. Not one to be called a “one-hit wonder,” Macklemore’s second single “Can’t Hold Us,” featuring Ray Dalton, is soaring, currently at three-times platinum. The success of these two singles broke Billboard records for duos. With no label to answer to but Macklemore LLC, Macklemore and Lewis have been raking in the cash off their debut. —Ben Lester
