Macklemore and Ryan Lewis perform at the 2013 VMAs

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis almost shed "man tears" over recent success

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' breakthrough album, "The Heist," has gone platinum, officially surpassing sales of more than one million. Not bad for an indie record that took the Seattle duo three years to make, and has since spawned three massive hits with "Thrift Shop," "Can't Hold Us" and the poignant gay rights anthem, "Same Love."

The news was announced Wednesday night before the hip-hop sensations took at the stage in front of 200 fans at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Frontman Ben Haggerty said just five years ago, he thought he may need to put his dreams aside and find a nine-to-five job.
"I was broke, just out of rehab and living in my parents' house - which was awesome," he quipped.
Lewis admits he had his own doubts.
"It took me a while before it became clear to me who he was going to be," he recalled. "But he was dying to be on the mic, and he wanted to say something."
Even with three recent MTV Video Music Awards under their belt, multiple Grammy nominations potentially on the horizon, and European and U.S. arena tours launching in the fall, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis still cling to their roots. In fact, one of their proudest moments involves flying the Macklemore flag on top of the city's landmark Space Needle in the music video for "Can't Hold Us."
"That gives me goosebumps," Haggerty confided. "I almost shed some man tears."