Gig Alert: Macklemore

Macklemore w/ Ryan Lewis
"Otherside"
Playing tonight at: Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St., L.E.S.)
Get: Tickets | Directions

Macklemore, born Ben Haggerty, burst onto the Seattle hip-hop scene in 2005 with his debut album, The Language of my World. Like most rappers, the 28-year-old carves the themes for his lyrics out of life’s struggles: ego, death and addiction. But since his personal addictions ended—Haggerty's been sober for two years—his lyrics have matured and include reflections from the light at the end of the tunnel. Last fall, Haggerty teamed up with—and is now touring with—hometown producer Ryan Lewis for the EP Vs. Their track “Otherside” is about substance abuse and the limits it puts on creativity.