By: Tom Roth

When I talked to Mark Gadajar of Seattle hip-hop group, Champagne Champagne , he expressed amazement at one Ben Haggerty. Within the realm of Northwest hip-hop, a skinny white guy with a last name like Haggerty has become top-dog; riding the success of lyrically insightful hits that address weighty issues like materialism, ethnic heritage, and gay marriage. As a result, and to Gadajar’s rightful amazement, Haggerty has become a hometown sensation, headlining national tours and playing some of the nation’s biggest festivals. Gadajar’s incredulity is justified. In a city known for Nirvana and Hendrix, the proposition of a vibrant hip-hop scene seems far-fetched.

Nonetheless, the facts remain. Haggerty – or Macklemore, as he is known to the world – partnered with trusty disc doctor, Ryan Lewis, has become Seattle hip-hop’s de facto ambassador. All the better then that the two have released a brand new LP, The Heist, and have embarked on a national tour to promote it whilst the album–an independent release–has already become the #1 seller on Amazon and iTunes.

Northwest fans can catch the tours local stops between October 11^th and 20^th in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Missoula, Boise, Bend, and Eugene. Find more info and for tickets right here.

Also: Check out Tom’s interview with Macklemore before he was a #1 seller.