“It was a decision that we both came to.'
After proving to be a formidable duo with the success of their 2012 Grammy-winning album The Heist and last year's This Unruly Mess I've Made, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis amicably parted ways for the Seattle MC's forthcoming solo project, Gemini, due out next week. In a new interview with Sway in the Morning, Mack explained why the two opted to go in separate directions this time around.
“It was a decision that we both came to,” he said. “I think with the last album and how intense it was at times -- particularly making ‘White Privilege II’ [on This Unruly Mess I've Made], that was an intense, as it should have been, song to write … I think it was really heavy to make a nine-minute song about race. And again, it should be heavy. You can’t even scrape the surface on it.”
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis pose for a portrait before the MTV EMA's at the Mediolanum Forum on Oct. 25, 2015 in Milan, Italy. “It was a decision that we both came to.' Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is an American hip hop duo, formed in 2008, from Seattle, Washington. The duo is composed of Ben Haggerty, a rapper who goes by the stage name of Macklemore, and Ryan Lewis, a record producer, DJ, and professional photographer, who met the former at a photo shoot and they have significantly collaborated ever since.
What Is Macklemore Doing Now
- Well, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and their aforementioned “White Privilege II ” crew did come to our no-frills New York City office, on Monday night (January 25) right after the worst Northeast blizzard in 60 years. They were on time and there was zero drama—facts worth mentioning since pop stars can be quite difficult when they deal with outlets our size.
- Sep 15, 2017 Macklemore explains Ryan Lewis' absence on 'Gemini' with 'Sway in the Morning.' After proving to be a formidable duo for the past nine years, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis amicably parted ways for.
- It was a moving one. After a one-year break, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are about to return to the VMA stage - and if their last time around is any indication, then they've got a treat in store for fans. While there's plenty of justifiable excitement for what's to come later this week, let's take it back for just a second.
With Lewis missing in action, Mack recruited a slew of popular artists to help craft Gemini. First, he partnered up with Skylar Grey for their triumphant single 'Glorious,' then, he and Lil Yachty linked up for the melodious track 'Marmalade.' Despite their mutual decision to split up for this project, Mack noted that it was Lewis who initially proposed the idea.
“I think with that and just other songs that we did, it was time to step back a little bit,” he continued. “And Ryan was the one that actually brought it up to me and I was like, ‘Yo, let’s do an EP.’ And he was like, ‘I feel like I would be the worst producer for you right now.’ I’ma give you guys the hundo version. I think that that was the best thing that he could have said because we needed that space. You need space to appreciate somebody.'
He added: 'We’ve been working together nine years. We’re best friends. We worked together every single day; music videos, in the studio, all that stuff. I heard that and at first I was like, ‘Damn, music without Ryan,’ and then I was like, ‘You know what? He’s right, we need a break.’ It was very much mutual. He was the person that put it out there first. And there’s no love lost. Ryan and I will make music together in the future.'
Macklemore's Gemini album drops Sept. 22. Watch his interview with Sway in the Morning below.