Macklemore & Ryan Lewis gave the first live performance of “Downtown” at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night, and the duo made that comeback count.
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After an introduction by Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, the Seattle duo re-created the new song’s charismatic music video outside of the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, complete with appearances by rap figures Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz. Eric Nally, who provides the song’s huge hook, went all-out alongside Macklemore & Ryan Lewis — with some drawn-on freckles, no less!
“Downtown” marks the pair’s official return, following their 2012 breakthrough album, The Heist, which included the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us.” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won the Grammy Award for best new artist in 2014.
This article first appeared on Billboard.com.
