Ryan Lewis & the Forgotten Producer Epidemic Posted by Lucas G. on 01/27/14 | Filed under Top Stories, Opinion, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Producers

I have always considered myself a producer-oriented hip-hop fan. Now, I love a great emcee as much as the next hip-hop fan, but what always draws me into the song is the beat. I can tolerate an average emcee (or even a bad one) if the beat is good, but if you put even the best emcee on a lackluster beat, I just won't be inspired. Even more than that, the way a beat is constructed fascinates me. Hip-hop is my favorite genre because of its interdisciplinary nature. Hip-hop can draw from other artists, genres, eras, and sounds, flip them, and turn them into something brand new and I think the concept and process is the most compelling part of the art; what other genre could take a '70s soul sample or some obscure drum section from a 1983 hair metal song and turn it into a modern classic?

Though producers have such a  unique skill-set, and perhaps the keenest ears in the industry, they get little to no respect. It is an ugly trend in hip-hop and after last night, I can't take much more of it. The Grammys left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Obviously Kendrick getting snubbed was a travesty, but I was pretty much expecting that the committe would miss the mark again. There was something else,something more systematic and pervasive in hip-hop, that really bugged me, and it has nothing to with Macklemore and everything to do with Ryan Lewis.

To be frank, I don't really care about Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. I see the appeal, they are crazy talented, but it just isn't for me. Still, the plight of Ryan Lewis both infuriates and fascinates me. Producers in this day and age are a lot like the offensive line of a football team. The quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers get all the endorsements, attention, and glory, but it is the offensive line that makes a team. Without them, those skill players wouldn't succeed. Offensive lineman are in the trenches doing the heavy-lifting so that the others behind them can shine.  It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it and the guys who do are more important to a team than any of the big name players. Hip-hop is the same way, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are perhaps the best, most timely example. 

Listen, again, I like Macklemore, I think he is a tremendous showman and has a magnetic personality, but in terms of emceeing I think he is quite average. His passion and heart are tangible, but his technical ability isn't great. Whenever I hear him rap, I am caught up in his energy, but am turned away by the fact that he never seems to rap on beat. Still, even when people are critiquing the music, Ryan Lewis never gets mentioned. I noticed it a lot on Nathan's Grammy recap piece. Almost nobody (including Nathan) made any mention of Ryan Lewis, and the one person who did had his name in parentheses like he was a secondary piece. I would argue that he is just as worthy and talented and definitely a more integral part of the duo's success.

Wait, hold on Macklemore is less integral than Ryan Lewis? What I said may not make alot of sense at first - how could someone who never raps be more important than someone who does when it comes to rapping - but hear me out. First and foremost, let's take a look at the music. When I listen to a M&RL song, I find myself much more interested in the production than than the verses. I remember the first time I heard a snippet of "Can't Hold Us" on some commercial or something I was floored; the beat reaches out and grabs you. I literally rushed to a computer to hear the whole thing. When it was done, I felt like I had just watched an epic movie (I was exhausted) but aside from the hook, I couldn't tell you a single line. I felt like I had just watched a grand spectacle thanks to the insane hook, crazy, theatrical video, and thunderous beat, and while Macklemore was all over the track, I didn't feel his input as much. When he has the epic beats behind him and a phenomenal hook (as most of their songs do) Macklemore is fine. His energy matches the vibe of the production so you can overlook any small, technical details, but I never leave thinking, "wow Macklemore killed that".

In fact, even though I know his lyrical content is there, I can't recite one single Macklemore line...from any song. I can't say that for any other emcee; I even know lines from emcees I hate. I leave songs like "Can't Hold Us" (one of the strongest, dense, layered beats of the year) or "White Walls" thinking about the hook or the beat and credit for that goes to Ryan Lewis. His high-octane, cascading production fits Macklemore perfectly. It allows him to be more free and passionate without having to worry about overdoing it. I would love to hear Mack rap on a bare-bones, boom-bap beat to see how he does (if you know any please tell me). It doesn't seem like his strong suit, which is fine, but it sucks to see him be praised while the man really making things work gets constantly overlooked. I mean he didn't get to say a single word for their acceptance speech and for their performance he was relegated to making sure Queen Latifah wasn't in the way of Madonna's washed up ass. If you ask me, Ryan Lewis should have been in the running for producer of the year because if he isn't essentially you (the recording academy) are saying that an album that won multiple Grammys is all on the accolades of Macklemore and has nothing to do with Ryan Lewis.

It isn't just about the music either. Ryan Lewis produces (quite well I might add), but he is also the pair's engineer and director. The pair are showmen to the upmost degree. Their videos are funny, well-directed, and perfectly executed and their live shows are unforgettable, and while everyone looks at Macklemore as the ring leader it seems like Ryan Lewis is the one behind everything - from Mackle Jackson and Raven Bowie - and is the duo's production and creative department. Someone who is this talented, this creative, and this essential to a group's success deserves much more credit. I understand that Macklemore's lyrics are unconventional, inspirational, and uplifting, but he isn't the first emcee with a message. Ryan Lewis might just be the first producer who makes beats, masters them, as well as editing and directing the videos. His input gives them their unique show-stopping DNA, but he gets treated like Macklemore's Robin when really he is Lucius Fox, Robin, Alfred, and Batman all rolled into one.

Sorry, for the thousand plus word rant, I had to get it off my chest. It is frustrating to see them win Grammy after Grammy but it is even worse to know that no matter how many awards the duo win, it will always be Macklemore and then Ryan Lewis. It amazes me that in this day and age, producers are still considered secondary. Whether it be Ryan Lewis' name getting cut out in favor of just "Macklemore"  or Wale not knowing who produced his single, producers are too integral to the art to be considered secondary. It feels like "Macklemore and, oh yeah, Ryan Lewis" and that should make hip-hop heads take to the street more so than seeing them win Grammy after Grammy.

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