# The Heist (album)
**The Heist** is the debut studio album by the Seattle hip-hop duo [Macklemore & Ryan Lewis](https://www.edgepedia.org/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis), released independently on October 9, 2012. Recorded and distributed entirely in-house, it became one of the most successful independent releases in hip-hop, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 with 78,000 copies sold in its first week and later winning the [Grammy Award for Best Rap Album](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-award-for-best-rap-album) in 2014.[1](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/) • [2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 9, 2012, on the duo's own independent label; distributed by ADA[3](https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-heist/critic-reviews) |
| Chart debut | Number two on the Billboard 200 with 78,000 first-week copies; number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart[1](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/) • [2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) |
| Singles | "Thrift Shop" (RIAA diamond), "Can't Hold Us" (6x platinum), "Same Love" (triple platinum), plus "White Walls"[2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) |
| Critical reception | Metascore 74, generally favorable, based on 8 critic reviews (6 positive, 2 mixed)[3](https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-heist/critic-reviews) |
| Awards | Grammy Award for Best Rap Album (2014); the duo won three of the four 2014 Grammy rap categories (Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance), while Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration[2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) • [4](https://time.com/2103/grammys-2014-macklemore-says-kendrick-lamar-was-robbed-on-best-rap-album/) • [16](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-rap-sung-collaboration/2014/) |
| Length | About 64 minutes; sources differ on track count, listing 18 tracks[2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) or 15 tracks[5](https://riffiter.com/artist/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis/the-heist) |
| Follow-up | *This Unruly Mess I've Made* (2016), the duo's final album before their hiatus[2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) |
## Background and production
Macklemore (Ben Haggerty) and producer [Ryan Lewis](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-lewis) began working together around 2010 on Macklemore's "The Vs." projects, building an audience through independent releases and festival appearances before recording the album.[2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) • [6](https://ninercommons.charlotte.edu/record/3521/files/Rines_uncc_0694N_10840.pdf) Lewis spent roughly three years creating the record with [Macklemore](https://www.edgepedia.org/macklemore) and maintained what he described as a 100 percent independent approach, caring about everything from the album's fonts to the gator texture of the deluxe edition's packaging.[7](https://rapchive.com/news/producer-s-corner-ryan-lewis-explains-spending-3-years-with-macklemore/)
Recording took place at several Seattle locations, including Avast Recording Co., Studio X, and Macklemore's family home, with additional work in Boston.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heist-mw0002419235/) Lewis's production relies almost entirely on live instrumentation rather than sampling; the Atlantic noted that the album "doesn't contain a single sample" despite carrying social and political commentary throughout.[9](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/09/did-the-decline-of-sampling-cause-the-decline-of-political-hip-hop/279791/)
## Songs and themes
The album alternates celebratory tracks with confessional ones. The opener "Ten Thousand Hours" is a biographical statement invoking [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-michel-basquiat) and [Keith Haring](https://www.edgepedia.org/keith-haring) as influences, while "Can't Hold Us" and "[Thrift Shop](https://www.edgepedia.org/thrift-shop)" supply the record's commercial high points, the latter a humorous ode to second-hand clothing featuring the deep voice of Wanz.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heist-mw0002419235/) • [10](https://www.mezzic.com/albumreviews/review-macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist-2012/)
**Serious subject matter** runs through the record. "Same Love," featuring [Mary Lambert](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-lambert-singer), supports same-sex marriage and draws on Macklemore's gay uncles and his own childhood confusion about his sexuality; Macklemore said he wrote it in April 2012, shortly after President Obama endorsed gay marriage and [Frank Ocean](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-ocean) came out, partly hoping it would move his young fan base to vote for Washington State's marriage referendum.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heist-mw0002419235/) • [11](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist) "Wing$" examines America's obsession with brands through Nike sneakers, "Jimmy Iovine" (with Ab-Soul) is a fictional story about breaking into Interscope's offices and finding major-label life unglamorous, and "Starting Over" documents Macklemore's relapse after a long stretch of sobriety.[1](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/) "Neon Cathedral," featuring singer [Allen Stone](https://www.edgepedia.org/allen-stone), addresses addiction through the language of church.[10](https://www.mezzic.com/albumreviews/review-macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist-2012/)
## Commercial performance and Grammys
The album dominated the iTunes charts and went platinum. Its singles made chart history: "Thrift Shop" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified diamond, "Can't Hold Us" also reached number one and was certified 6x platinum, and "Same Love" reached triple platinum.[1](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/) • [2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis) Billboard reported that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis became the first duo to have its first two singles reach the top of the Hot 100.[12](https://manuals.plus/m/5a7ec2337987e5d1d7ecb4b2b2032b9e8ddcdbd063d633a3abf327a65088711e.pdf)
At the 2014 [Grammy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-awards), the duo won three of the four rap categories during the non-televised portion of the ceremony, taking Best Rap Album for *The Heist* over albums by [Kanye West](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanye-west), Jay Z, Drake, and [Kendrick Lamar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kendrick-lamar)'s *good kid, m.A.A.d city*, while Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Macklemore also won Best New Artist.[4](https://time.com/2103/grammys-2014-macklemore-says-kendrick-lamar-was-robbed-on-best-rap-album/) • [16](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-rap-sung-collaboration/2014/) The result became one of the decade's most debated award decisions. Macklemore himself texted Lamar afterward: "You got robbed. I wanted you to win. You should have," and posted the message on Instagram.[4](https://time.com/2103/grammys-2014-macklemore-says-kendrick-lamar-was-robbed-on-best-rap-album/) The award also carried a measurable commercial effect: sales of "Same Love" jumped 128 percent and the album rose 38 percent in the week after the show.[13](https://time.com/2689/grammys-2014-sales-boost/) Retrospective commentary has remained divided; Time later called the 2014 Best Rap Album result "a notoriously bad call," while other writers credit the album with what it proved for independent artists.[14](https://time.com/5526740/grammys-2019-review/) • [1](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/)
## Reception and legacy
Critics generally responded well. AllMusic's David Jeffries scored it 80, calling it "a rich combination of fresh and familiar" and praising Lewis's production as earning his co-billing; RapReviews gave it 8.5 and called it "a crowning achievement for hip hop" both musically and for independent artists.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heist-mw0002419235/) • [1](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/) Rolling Stone was more reserved at 50, judging that Macklemore's virtuousness overwhelmed his charms, and Q Magazine scored it 60.[3](https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-heist/critic-reviews)
The album's success created pressure that shaped what followed. Macklemore later cited "pressure to follow up The Heist" as a factor in his subsequent work, and the duo's 2016 album *This Unruly Mess I've Made*, which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, was their last collaboration before an extended hiatus during which Macklemore released solo albums and Lewis produced for other artists.[15](https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/it-s-a-gift-macklemore-talks-these-days-gemini-and-how-he-learned-to-let-go/071992) • [2](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis)
## References
1. [Macklemore & Ryan Lewis :: The Heist, RapReviews (Zach Gase, October 23, 2012)](https://www.rapreviews.com/2012/10/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist/)
2. [Indie Spotlight Decade Rewind: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, BMI (November 12, 2020)](https://www.bmi.com/spotlight/indie-spotlight-decade-rewind-macklemore-ryan-lewis)
3. [Critic Reviews for The Heist, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-heist/critic-reviews)
4. [Grammys 2014: Macklemore Says Kendrick Lamar "Was Robbed" On Best Rap Album, Time (January 27, 2014)](https://time.com/2103/grammys-2014-macklemore-says-kendrick-lamar-was-robbed-on-best-rap-album/)
5. [The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Riffiter](https://riffiter.com/artist/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis/the-heist)
6. [Chapter 2: Background, UNC Charlotte thesis on Macklemore](https://ninercommons.charlotte.edu/record/3521/files/Rines_uncc_0694N_10840.pdf)
7. [Producer's Corner: Ryan Lewis Explains Spending 3 Years With Macklemore Creating "The Heist", Rapchive](https://rapchive.com/news/producer-s-corner-ryan-lewis-explains-spending-3-years-with-macklemore/)
8. [The Heist Review by David Jeffries, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heist-mw0002419235/)
9. [Did the Decline of Sampling Cause the Decline of Political Hip-Hop?, The Atlantic (September 2013)](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/09/did-the-decline-of-sampling-cause-the-decline-of-political-hip-hop/279791/)
10. [Review: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist (2012), Mezzic](https://www.mezzic.com/albumreviews/review-macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist-2012/)
11. [Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Find Clarity, Interview Magazine (October 9, 2012)](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/macklemore-ryan-lewis-the-heist)
12. [Billboard Magazine, May 25, 2013 issue](https://manuals.plus/m/5a7ec2337987e5d1d7ecb4b2b2032b9e8ddcdbd063d633a3abf327a65088711e.pdf)
13. [These Are the Artists Getting Huge Sales Boosts From the Grammys, Time (2014)](https://time.com/2689/grammys-2014-sales-boost/)
14. [Awards Season Hit a New Low at the 2019 Grammys, Time (2019)](https://time.com/5526740/grammys-2019-review/)
15. [Macklemore talks These Days, Gemini and how he learned to let go, Music Week (2017)](https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/it-s-a-gift-macklemore-talks-these-days-gemini-and-how-he-learned-to-let-go/071992)
16. [Best Rap/Sung Collaboration 2014 Winners & Nominees](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-rap-sung-collaboration/2014/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Ensembles and groups › Rock, pop, and metal bands › Musical duos, supergroups, and collaborative projects › Hip-hop and R&B duos*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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