One year after his debut album came out in 2005, Seattle rapper Macklemore was admitted to rehab for addictions to alcohol, marijuana, and painkillers. The combination left his creativity zapped and his self-esteem in the gutter. “It’s not dope to be 25 and move back to your parents’ basement,” he raps in his song, “Otherside.” Today, the sensitive and expressive rapper has a sizable national following and a positive message to share. He regularly raps about what it is like to overcome struggle and adversity.

“I got my city right behind me/ If I fall they got me/ Learn from that failure, gain humility”

-Macklemore, “Can’t Hold Us”

Then we keep marching ourselves