Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have released their newest single, “Downtown,” ahead of the 2015 Video Music Awards.
It’s been nearly three years since the duo released a single, and now they are back and better than ever!
“Here it is! World Premiere: Downtown Official Music Video Feat Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz & @NallyEric,” Macklemore tweeted on Thursday.
HERE IT IS! WORLD PREMIERE: DOWNTOWN Official Music Video Feat Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz & @NallyEric http://t.co/HVdfp44psY
— Macklemore (@macklemore) August 27, 2015
According to People Magazine, the “Downtown” music video has a vintage feel, similar to that of their other single “Thrift Shop.” Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, and his guest singers are seen in the video cruising down the streets in downtown on mopeds.
The video was directed by Macklemore, Lewis, and Jason Koenig, while the Massive Monkees, based in Seattle, were responsible for the choreography, according to Rolling Stone.
Macklemore has struggled with drugs in the past, and admitted to having a relapse last year.
“I held it together for a while,” he told Complex in their August/September issue . “But, eventually, I stopped going to my 12-step meetings. I was burnt out. I was super-stressed. We weren’t sleeping – doing a show every day, zigzagging all over the country. In terms of the media I was getting put into a box that I never saw for myself. The pressure and the fame – everything … I just wanted to escape.”
However, he said he finally realized he needed to grow up when he found out that his fiance at the time, now his wife, was pregnant. To get back on track, he started attending 12-step meetings again, and was finally able to get clean. The couple welcomed their daughter Sloane in May and then tied the knot in June.
“I’ve been trying to grow up this year,” he said. “Since I heard that Tricia was pregnant, I was like, ‘I need to grow up right now.’”
The duo will be performing their new single at the 2015 VMAs on Sunday, August 30.
What do you think about Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ new video? Leave your comments below.
[Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images]
