2012 has already had its fair share of great albums, but the year isn’t over yet.

Yesterday Seattle rapper Macklemore released his third album, The Heist.

The Heist might be Macklemore and (producer) Ryan Lewis’s most important album. Their growth in popularity since their last album had critics and fans alike eagerly waiting to see what they had up their sleeve next.

Ben Haggerty (aka Macklemore) first rose to the scene with his Vs. EP, along with producer Ryan Lewis in 2009. In 2010, he re-released it as the Vs. EP Redux, which included remixes by Seattle musicians such as Sabzi from Blue Scholars, Jake One and Seattle band Fences.

In the Vs. EP, Macklemore revealed personal struggles that had impacted him throughout his life, including his drug abuse, relationship problems and other issues that rose from being a musician. For this record, Macklemore sampled Modest Mouse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arcade Fire and the Killers to make an EP that caught the attention from music fans all over the United States.

Fans of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis may forget that this wasn’t their first album, which was Language of the World in 2005. They also released The Unplanned Mixtape in 2009, which featured the song that first got them attention: a love letter to Seattle, “The Town.”

In between the Vs. EP and The Heist, Macklemore’s life has changed for the better. After Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus died in 2010, Macklemore made “My Oh My,” which wasn’t only a tribute to Niehaus, but also a reflection about how much hearing the Mariner’s legend while growing up impacted him in ways he never thought possible. This song caught the eye of the Seattle Mariners, and they invited him to play the song during Opening Day in 2011, in front of Niehaus’s family and friends.

They also held a “Macklemore and Ryan Lewis” fan night on Aug. 31, 2012, in which they celebrated his upcoming album and held a meet and greet with the rapper.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have gotten a lot of press lately for their new song, “Same Love,” which features Mary Lambert. He wrote this song for Washington State’s Music 4 Marriage Equality campaign. It was inspired by his uncle, who made an appearance on the single’s album artwork with his husband.

“This song, which I wrote in April, is a response to what I have observed and experienced, and is also an act of personal accountability,” Macklemore said.

Not all of the songs on The Heist are about taking a stand, however. There are some funny and thoughtful songs on the album. For instance, the hilarious “Thrift Shop” - something that thrifting enthusiasts can relate to.

This album is stacked with features as well. Seattle crooner Allen Stone, rappers SchoolBoy Q, Ab Soul, Wanz, Ray Dalton and even Ben Bridwell, from Seattle band Band of Horses all make an appearance. All of them hold their own in their respective songs and give great performances. However, Mary Lambert takes the prize with her appearance in the aforementioned “Same Love.”

The Heist touches on a wide array of topics. Macklemore is an artist who has an opinion and is willing to voice it through music. From an artist who has an amazing story, The Heist is something that should be listened to. Whether you’re a fan of hip-hop or not, there’s something for everybody.