Macklemore wins big at the AMA's

LOS ANGELES – The American Music Awards honors the year’s best music. Hip Hop phenoms and local guys Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took home the awards for best Rap and Hip Hop album and Favorite Artist in the Rap/Hip Hop category.

The duo beat out Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Good kid, M.A.A.D. City’ and Jay Z’s ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail.’

According to CNN, during his acceptance speech, Macklemore used the opportunity to speak out against racial profiling.

"Due to the fact that we are in Florida tonight accepting this award,” Macklemore explained, “I want to acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids who are dying each year due to racial profiling and the violence that follows. "These are our friends, our neighbors, our peers, our fans, and it's time that we look out for the youth and fight against racism and the laws that protect it."

The duo exploded last year with their platinum hit ‘Thrift Shop.’ ‘The Heist’ album spawned four other hit singles, including ‘Wing$,’ ‘Can’t Hold Us,’ ‘Same Love’ and ‘White Walls.’

Other big winners of the night include Taylor Swift, who won for ‘Artist of the Year,’ ‘Favorite Country Album,’ ‘Favorite Female County Artist, ‘ and Favorite Pop or Rock Female Artist.’

Rihanna took home ‘Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist,’ and Justin Timberlake took home the male counterpart.

You can check out the rest of the winners here.