Macklemore in the video for "Downtown."
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are back(lemore), with a new single that one could classify as the weirdest highly anticipated single we’ve gotten in a while. Watch the video for “Downtown,” which precedes the Grammy-winning duo’s sophomore album, below:
“Downtown” and its accompanying video follow Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in their quest to ride mopeds downtown; along the way, the Seattle rapper-producer duo recruit Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel; receive a soaring, Freddie Mercury-esque hook from vocalist Eric Nally; engage in some street gang fighting (and choreography); ride on the shoulders of motorcyclists; and take over a parade to joyfully proclaim the merits of downtown. Directed by Jason Koenig with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, the whole affair is very “Uptown Funk”-evoking, but far more bizarre of a throwback.
“Downtown” will be the first single from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ follow-up to 2012’s The Heist, which was nominated for album of the year at the Grammys and produced the No. 1 hits “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us.” Earlier this month, the Seattle duo came back with “Growing Up (Sloane’s Song),” a non-single featuring Ed Sheeran that was dedicated to the young daughter of Macklemore (real name: Ben Haggerty).
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will be performing at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night (Aug. 30), presumably to debut “Downtown” live. Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Pharrell Williams and Tori Kelly are among the other performers.