Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" is (Almost) Better Than Macy's

4/5

Once in a while, a song comes along that is not just quirky and cool, but also signifying the introduction of a real talent.

No, I'm not talking about Psy and "Gagnam Style".

The song I'm talking about, which is currently making its way up both the Spotify and iTunes chart is "Thrift Shop", a rap song by Seattle native Macklemore and his DJ partner Ryan Lewis. Besides having an insanely catchy chorus, sung by Wanz, he has one of the tightest flows I have heard in a long time. I was surprised, then impressed, to learn that Macklemore was a white rapper, which already has a testy history with more misses than hits (Kreayshawn comes to mind for the former). That said, he definitely comes across as a hit right now, with his debut The Heist doing considerably well (I haven't had the pleasure of listening to it, but its on my to-do list, for sure). Ryan Lewis also deserves praise for this excellent record. The production has a funky, old-school vibe, but is more than fresh enough to keep people's considerably short attention spans. It doesn't seem extraneous or unnecessary; it works perfectly with the hilarious lyrics.

The pairing of these two guys seems to be a match made is audial heaven. Listening to a rap song hasn't provided me with this much fun in a very long time.