Released on October 9th of this year Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's newest album The Heist was welcomed with a number 1 spot on the US ITunes download listing. However, before it's release, The Heist was getting major love from NPR and as recently as today, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were given the Ellen DeGeneres bump with a performance on her show.

The current wave of success the hip hop duo is enjoying may have been kick started by the viral explosion of their infectious song and video Thrift Shop, but the message the duo wants you to hear is marriage equality. Their newest single, Same Love, addresses the issue.

In the duo's native state of Washington, voters will decide the fate of this issue on the November ballot with Referendum 74. As a Marylander, I know that we will be looking forward to a similar decision on our ballot in Question 6, and nationwide the issue is a major talking point of the election.

Read on and check out the video for Thrift Shop, my thoughts concerning The Heist, and it's newest single Same Love. Get the album, get informed, and vote. You dig?

Deschutes River Recordings (a subdivision of Deschutes Brewery) out of Oregon has teamed up with Deschutes River Conservancy to produce a series of videos that is ripe with rivers, beers, and music. Their aim is to give away free downloads of this music in exchange for a monetary donation in an effort to restore stream flow and improve water quality in the Deschutes basin.

This third installment of the series features Portland's own Laura Gibson preaching cliff side at Smith Rock with her compelling interpretation of the American classic, Down By The Riverside.

Donations can be made via a name your own price download here. Please enjoy the music and support the cause. Read on for the beautiful video as well as my full thoughts.