Macklemore is still releasing music and performing, but his public profile is no longer defined by the concentrated run of mainstream hits he had with producer Ryan Lewis in the early 2010s. That shift is clear in the contrast between the duo’s chart-topping breakthrough and Macklemore’s later solo career. The available figures do not establish a comparable, measured decline in his popularity.
Why “Thrift Shop” made Macklemore a household name
Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis built their breakthrough independently, then reached a mass audience with The Heist (2012). “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us” both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Biography.com reports that “Thrift Shop” had sold more than 6 million downloads; that is a historical figure, not a current sales total. In 2014, the duo won four Grammy Awards, cementing the scale of that moment.
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The Heist | $12.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Heist (Gator Skin Deluxe B | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2012) | $29.50 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Heist | $10.33 | Buy on Amazon |
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Macklemore Signed Autographed CD Cover The Heist NO CD Included JSA Beckett | $180.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The success was unusually concentrated: two widely recognized singles, an acclaimed album and major awards made Macklemore instantly recognizable beyond rap audiences. Those milestones explain the high-water mark people often have in mind when asking what happened after “Thrift Shop.” They do not, by themselves, tell us how his audience compares with today’s.
What happened after the breakthrough?
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released a second album, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, in 2016. Macklemore then continued as a solo artist, releasing Gemini in 2017 and BEN in 2023, both listed on his Amazon Music artist page. The sequence shows that he kept making music; it does not establish that those releases matched the duo’s earlier commercial reach.
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- Ten Thousand Hours
- Can't Hold Us (Feat. Ray Dalton)
- Thrift Shop (Feat. Wanz)
- Thin Line (Feat. Buffalo Madonna)
- Same Love (Feat. Mary Lambert)
That distinction matters. A career can continue without repeating a rare hit-making run. The sources available here do not provide a consistent year-by-year series for sales, streams, audience size or touring demand, so they cannot support a precise claim that Macklemore is quantitatively less popular now than at his peak.
His recent public profile includes advocacy—and a tour dispute
In September 2026, Macklemore’s political advocacy became part of the story of his public visibility. The Associated Press reported that he said he had been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour after venues told the promoter they would not allow him to appear following his pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium. The promoter confirmed that Macklemore would not perform the remaining support dates. AP also reported Robert Kraft’s explanation for Gillette Stadium’s decision; Sheeran had not commented when AP published its report.
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- Macklemore- The Heist (Gator Skin DLX Box) -DSG
Macklemore characterized the situation in a statement quoted by AP: “At a certain level of exposure, ‘Free Palestine’ becomes too much of a risk.” That is his interpretation, not independent proof of every stakeholder’s motives. Al Jazeera also reported the removal and said it had not independently verified Macklemore’s account of discussions involving Sheeran and venue owners. The confirmed removal and the competing explanations should not be conflated.
Is Macklemore still making music and touring?
Yes. Alongside his recorded releases, Macklemore announced a Free Palestine benefit tour. The Los Angeles Times reported on September 24, 2026, that he named three late-October shows in Dublin, Paris and London, with U.S. dates to be announced later and proceeds intended for charities supporting Palestinians. His official website lists the tour. Dates and logistics can change, so check the site for current information.
These activities point to a public profile shaped by more than chart singles: solo music, live appearances and outspoken advocacy all contribute. They do not settle whether his present audience is larger or smaller than it was in the early 2010s.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to start if you want to revisit his music
The Heist is the natural starting point for the era that made Macklemore and Ryan Lewis mainstream stars. The album’s physical CD is listed in Amazon’s artist merchandise section; the listing establishes the format, not current stock, price or a particular edition’s quality. For a broader view of Macklemore’s solo work, Gemini and BEN offer later points in his release history.
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