In this Nov. 20, 2012 file photo, American musician Ben Haggerty, better known by his stage name Macklemore, right, and his producer Ryan Lewis pose for a portrait at Irving Plaza in New York. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are top contenders at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, with seven nominations, including best new artist and song of the year for “Same Love.” Their debut album, “The Heist,” is up for album of the year and best rap album, while the massive hit “Thrift Shop” is nominated for best rap song and rap performance. The duo’s other hit, “Can’t Hold Us,” will compete for best music video. AP
LOS ANGELES – US rappers Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won the best new artist Grammy on Sunday, in the first major award handed out on music’s biggest night.
The duo, who were also nominated for best album of the year for their record “The Heist,” beat fellow new artist hopefuls rapper Kendrick Lamar, country music singer Kacey Musgraves, and British artists James Blake and Ed Sheeran.