Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Open Up 'Thrift Shop,' Score Top Rap Song at Billboard Music Awards
Hip-hop duo thanks Goodwill following award win.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis continued a monster 2013 by delivering a vibrant performance of their No. 1 hit "Thrift Shop," and then accepting the Top Rap Song award, at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 19).
The current Hot 100 champs -- who made history earlier this monthwhen they became the first duo in history to have their first two singles top the chart -- performed "Thrift Shop" to a small crowd at the Wynn in Las Vegas, with Macklemore dressed in a Napoleonic blue coat with a black hoodie tucked underneath. As a tuxedo-sporting Wanz crooned the song's indelible hook, Macklemore began climbing on tabletops as Lewis commanded the crowd with drumstick bashes.
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Minutes later, Kid Rock announced that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis trumped artists like Kanye West, PSY and Flo Rida and had earned the Top Rap Song trophy for "Thrift Shop." After hoisting the trophy in the air, Macklemore started his acceptance speech by name-checking some actual thrift shops: "First of all, we gotta thank Goodwill, we gotta thank Value Village!"
He then showed some love to the duo's fan troupe, the Shark Face Gang. "Without you guys, we would not be on this stage right here," the rapper said breathlessly. "We love you and appreciate you."
The Seattle hip-hop duo, which released its debut studio album "The Heist" last October, recently pushed its follow-up single "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton to No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart. "Thrift Shop" reigned the chart for six nonconsecutive weeks.