Macklemore rocks Ann Arbor

Seattle-based hip-hop artist Ben Haggerty, otherwise known as Macklemore, performed in Ann Arbor's compact and intimate Blind Pig.

Macklemore's powerful lyrics come from his introspective and confessional style. His development as a writer and maturation as an artist can be seen in the progression of his discography. He has produced songs regarding his struggles with substance abuse in "Otherside" and "Inhale Deep" and its strains on creativity.

Macklemore had to cancel the show because of a strained voice box. However, not to upset the fans, he promised to perform with more energy than he could have otherwise and rescheduled for April 26.

Unfortunately, Macklemore's stage partner and DJ, Ryan Lewis, was unable to accompany him, leaving Macklemore alone to perform for the 300 or so fans packing the bar wall-to-wall.

Despite the band's temporary separation, Haggerty's invigorating onstage performance energized the crowd, and it was evident that the fans got exactly the experience they had expected.

Macklemore first began this 35-city nationwide tour Feb. 22, making his way back to his hometown Seattle to sell out the legendary Showbox at the Market venue three consecutive dates: Feb. 25, Feb. 27 and March 5.

That in itself is a career milestone, but is amplified by the fact that tickets were sold out a matter of hours after being put on sale online.

The release of "Language of My World" in January 2005 became an underground classic and until 2009 his fans awaited anther record release. Then in September that year, he released "The Unplanned Mixtape" including "Falling" and "The Town," a Seattle appreciation track.

Three months later, he released "The VS," which boasts a new vitality in his life since a conversion to sobriety.

Macklemore is represented by the same agent - Zach Quillen of The Agency Group - as other popular up-and-coming artists like Wiz Khalifa, Yelawolf, Big Sean, Freeway and Mac Miller.

The Independent Collegian had the opportunity to speak with Macklemore following Tuesday's performance.

IC: When did you decide that you were going to commit yourself professionally to making music? When it wasn't just a dream, or a hobby anymore, but you knew you wanted it to make it and you wanted to be a musician?

BH: I think that whether it was accurate or not, I felt I always could make it, or that I was going to. You know, I probably thought that way before my skill level was at that point. But I think there is a commonality amongst musicians that there is a like deceiving characteristic trait amongst them that they think they are probably better at their craft then they actually are. So like a good portion of my early years the skill level wasn't there but I still thought that I could make it. I've always taken it very seriously and I've always put a lot into my music. I've kind of had that faith that if I work hard and live a lifestyle conducive to me making music, then it'll pan out. Of course, there is infinite doubt that comes along with that. But that happens on the daily.

IC: Listening to your music and paying close attention to your lyrics, I notice a lot of notions towards Buddhism. Do you consider yourself an aspiring Buddhist? To be a Buddhist, I know you have to take all the substances out of your life, including caffeine and everything. It's a big life change. Do you consider yourself following that path?

BH: No, I love Redbull. I drink too much Redbull to be a Buddhist at this point. I definitely study Buddhism, I've done some Buddhist meditations, but in terms of committing to the religion, I'm not there yet. I think it is a path I have the utmost respect for but, like you said, in order to delve into that and take it seriously I'd probably be in isolation living in India, celibate as a monk, in order for that. I'm not even close to that point for sure. But I've gained a lot from the teachings over the course of my career and implemented that into my music.

IC: Where do you find the inspiration for your music?

BH: I just try to keep my eyes open and walk around with open lens to capture whatever it is that is in front of me. That comes from everyday life and having a certain level of awareness. Constantly taking in foreign concepts and just thinking outside of the box — and thinking in terms of a songwriter and not terms of someone that is just sluggishly going through life, but actually paying attention to what's going on around me.

IC: So do you do any writing while you are on tour or do you save that for when you are at home, you know, at your homeostasis?

BH: I wish I could more. Touring is very grueling, in terms of the energy that it takes to tour. As it is right now, I'm on two hours of sleep in like 48 hours. And honestly I was just writing at the airport a little bit. Sometimes sleep deprivation kicks in and inspires a rap. But, for the most part I save that for when I'm home. In an ideal world, we'd be on a tour bus and I would have time to write and have my hopes faced, but that's just not the reality of it.

IC: I know in a couple of your songs you comment on being a white rapper in what is, traditionally, an African-American aspect of culture, which is hip-hop. How do you feel when you go to a show and it is an all black crowd, do you feel any differently about the emotion in the crowd, or the expectation as you come on stage?

BH: I think, generally, I have fans of all different types of cultural backgrounds, but I would say predominantly my main demographic of fanbase is a white fanbase overall. There is definitely a changing factor, it's not 100 percent white. It's rare that I perform in front of a predominantly black crowd. But when I have I think that it's something more of a challenge to me. Generally that's been the experience for opening for a different artist. For me, I love that challenge. And it's not a challenge performing in front of a black crowd, but a people that don't necessarily know your music. They haven't been exposed to it yet. It doesn't have as much to do with race as it does just people that have never heard of you before, because those types of shows you have to work for the audience. You have to really win over the crowd and show them your skills.