Before the summer of 2012, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis probably thought they'd done pretty well for themselves. The Washington natives had hit the festival circuit preposterously hard, turning Macklemore niche indie rap fame into something bankable on the national level. But "Thrift Shop," released that August, would shoot them into the stratosphere. Not immediately, mind you: the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 in September, but only for one week, before dropping out altogether. Then came a push from Warner that got the song back on the charts in late October, and led it to steadily rise. It hit the top ten on Jan. 5; during its 16th week on the chart, in early February, it finally hit #1. It held that spot for six non-consecutive weeks and finished as 2013's second best-selling song, behind the controversial Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell hit "Blurred Lines."

The song's success made Macklemore a household name and eventually helped win he and Lewis four Grammys. Now, it's been certified Diamond by the RIAA, meaning it's sold more than 10 million copies. That puts the duo in a rarified space with the Carly Rae Jepsens and Britney Spears' of the world. Unfortunately, it's not a completely happy ending: the Seattle thrift shop where the video was filmed has been shut down. Fans can catch the duo live when they hit the road at the top of next year.

 

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