The Heist is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It was released on October 9, 2012, by Macklemore LLC, distributed under the Alternative Distribution Alliance. The album was independently produced, recorded and self-released by the duo, with no mainstream promotion or support. However, after the album's release, the duo hired Warner Music Group's radio promotion department to help the push with their singles for a small percentage of the sales. The album was recorded in Seattle, Washington between 2009 and 2012. Within each series of singles were released, before the album release from 2010 and onwards; the fifth single "Thrift Shop" being the most commercially successful – peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, number one in 17 other countries, including number one positions in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a successful run on the charts in many other countries. The album's third single "Can't Hold Us" was also largely commercially successful, peaking at number one in the United States, Australia, and Sweden.

The album sold 78,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart and at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts, while entering the Canadian Albums Chart at number 4. As of March 23, 2014, the album has sold 1,378,000 copies in the United States. The album was also critically successful, receiving generally positive reviews from music critics. On January 26, 2014, it won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, where it was also nominated for Album of the Year and earned Macklemore and Ryan Lewis the award for Best New Artist.