Ryan Lewis
The visionary producer and director who helped craft a DIY hip-hop phenomenon, blending social messages with anthemic, chart-topping production.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American musician·Birthday: March 25·Millennials
Biography
Ryan Lewis emerged not from a major label machine, but from a creative partnership forged in Seattle that took the music world by surprise. A photographer and graphic designer by training, he teamed up with rapper Ben Haggerty (Macklemore) to form a fiercely independent duo. Lewis's genius was architectural; he built lush, layered soundscapes from sampled horns, soulful vocals, and pounding drums that felt both vintage and utterly fresh. As the producer and director for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, he was the strategic and aesthetic mastermind behind their viral ascent. Their album 'The Heist,' created without label support, crashed the mainstream, yielding massive hits like 'Thrift Shop' and 'Same Love.' Lewis's meticulous eye also shaped their iconic music videos, making him the defining creative force behind one of pop's most unexpected success stories.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ryan was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Produced and co-wrote 'Thrift Shop,' which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.
- Won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2014 as part of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
- Directed the music video for 'Same Love,' a landmark song advocating for marriage equality which became a cultural anthem.
- Helped the duo's album 'The Heist' debut at number two on the Billboard 200 and win a Grammy for Best Rap Album.
Did You Know?
He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines for two years.
Lewis's mother, Julie, is the vocalist featured on the hook of the duo's hit song 'Growing Up (Sloane's Song).'
He initially connected with Macklemore by designing a MySpace page for him.
Before music, he worked as a photographer and graphic designer.
“We were just two guys who decided to make an album in a basement.”
