Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Return of the Mack

From roughly 2004 to 2009, Macklemore was curiously absent from the Seattle hip-hop scene that had embraced him since he was a high school student passing around crudely recorded demo tapes. Substance abuse sapped the MC’s artistic inspiration and robbed fans of one of the Emerald City’s brightest stars for five years. Now sober and partnered with noted producer Ryan Lewis, Macklemore is back and making the most of his renewed lease on life, as well as the finest music of his career. Catch him at the Higher Ballroom this Thursday with Canadian sensation Shad.