Macklemore kept it fresh in his mint green suit with music partner Ryan Lewis, as they took home three awards, including Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Cinematography for "Cant Hold Us Down" featuring Ray Dalton, and Best Video with a Social Message for "Same Love" featuring Mary Lewis.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTVFor Macklemore, taking home the Moonman trophy for Best Video with a Social Message at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn was a special moment that he said “hit my heart.”
“This is much bigger than just the music,” he told reporters backstage at the Barclays Center. “It’s about equality.”
Macklemore’s music partner, Ryan Lewis, said that coordinating the evening’s performance of their gay rights anthem, “Same Love,” with Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and singer Mary Lambert was a magic combination.
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“I think [Jennifer] and Mary worked really well together,” he said.
The idea to bring Hudson on came after the independent rapper noticed that the staging of the Video Music Awards appeared to be in a circular, intimate setting.
“We thought, who would be a great person to collaborate with?” Lewis said. “Jennifer Hudson has, hands down, one of the best, amazing live voices.”
Macklemore had praise for Lambert, as well.
“Mary killed it,” said the rapper, who admitted he “welled up” with tears after the win. “It felt special.”
The performance capped a huge evening for the duo, who were up for six awards and walked away with three Moonmen: Besides the win for “Same Love,” their “Can’t Hold Us” won Best Rap Video and Best Cinematography.
Twitter:@MicheleAmabile
