For one reason or another, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are two of the most polarizing figures in music (especially hip-hop) today. One reason may be because Macklemore doesn’t have the typical cred and qualities that go along with being a rapper would usually entail. He’s white, from Seattle (not exactly known as a hotbed for emerging rappers), his lyrical content is thoughtful and he wasn’t affiliated with a major label until his independently released album, The Heist hit no. 1 on the iTunes charts and no. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 in its first week, selling over 78,000 downloads. How is that possible for a guy who seemingly burst onto the scene without any big wigs noticing?

Born in Seattle as Ben Haggerty, the 29-year-old has always had an affinity for hip-hop, especially of the West Coast variety. Growing up, he was a big fan of Digital Underground and by the time he was 14, he started writing. By the time he graduated The Evergreen State College, Haggerty was a part of a program focusing on education and cultural identity called “Gateways for Incarcerated Youth” where he facilitated music workshops. But that didn’t stop him from releasing his debut, The Language of My World. But his career was derailed by substance abuse, most notably OxyContin. Once he cleaned up, he linked up with producer Ryan Lewis and the two have been steadily honing their sound, which is a mix of alternative/conscious hip-hop that are powered by thoughtful lyrics and intricate production

While many people were surprised at the ongoing success of The Heist, they really shouldn’t. The album had been in works for the better part of three years, with the first single, “My Oh My,” a song about former Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, which was released in late December of 2010. That’s right, the first single came out four days before Christmas, a time when many music fans and execs are either locked in on their holiday purchases or hit the road for their holiday vacation. After building some more momentum, third single “Can’t Hold Us” featuring Ray Dalton gave Macklemore a song that debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 97. Steadily, things were catching on, especially in Seattle where “My Oh My” turned him into a civic hero.

The turning point for the Seattle rapper came with the release of the fourth single of the yet to be released album. “Same Love,” a song about gay marriage, landed him a guest spot on The Ellen DeGeneres and became one of the few hip-hop artists to speak in favor of a topic in a notoriously homophobic genre.

Once “Thrift Shop” hit airwaves, it was all over. By now, everyone has heard the song, which not only features funky, original production by Lewis, but it so damn catchy that it became only the second independent song in history to achieve the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Why does it appeal to so many? Possibly because this may be the first time a rapper’s lyrics haven’t flaunted designers like Gucci, Versace or even their own brands. A lot people shop in thrift shops and his talking from the perspective of someone who’s been there before is relatable to many. While Aloe Blacc may have touched on the topic with “I Need a Dollar” no one has made thrift shopping more glamorous than Macklemore has.

An appearance on last weekend’s Saturday Night Live cemented the status of a duo who were known by many as recently six months ago. While critics are going to continue throw insults their, there’s obviously a huge number of people who vehemently disagree with their assertion. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are changing hip-hop and whether or not others may agree, their originality has allowed to them tackle taboo topics and because of that, have forever changed hip-hop.