Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Score MTV VMA Nom With 'Same Love'

The Seattle-based rapper/producer duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have been nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards, including one for their song about marriage equality, called "Same Love."

"Same Love," featuring Mary Lambert, is nominated for the VMA's "Best Video With a Social Message." Though the song was officially released a year ago, it's only recently gained national success and is currently climbing the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 11. It has also gone platinum.

The heart wrenching song was written in support of legalizing same-sex marriage, especially in Washington state, where Macklemroe & Ryan Lewis are from. Macklemore has often spoken out for LGBT rights and condemned anti-gay language often used in rap, saying, "Misogyny and homophobia are the two acceptable means of oppression in hip hop culture. It's 2012. There needs to be some accountability. I think that as a society we're evolving, and I think that hip-hop has always been a representation of what's going on in the world right now."

MTV's VMA's nominations were announced Wednesday, and both Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Justin Timberlake received six nods, the most out of the other artists nominated.

In November 2012, the rapper talked to the Associated Press about the song and how it's helped shaped views on LGBT rights.

"To hear people's testimonials about 'Same Love' changing the way that they feel about gay people or the language that they use in their everyday life, making them consider changing that language, or changing their hateful perspective on another group of people, it's exciting to see that music has that capability," he said. "It just affirms what you already believe, but to see it on a tangible level in these cities has been one of the greatest gifts of my career."

Macklemore later added he hopes "we're part of the transformation" and that he doesn't think "Same Love" would be as well received five years ago.

"We as a society and a culture have proven throughout time that we evolve, that we become slowly more compassionate and tolerant and accepting," the musician said. "The last couple hundred years in American culture have shown that. Obviously, there's give and take. There are times when we haven't and times that we lose ourselves, but I do think we're evolving as a society and hip-hop is a reflection of that."

In March, the duo teamed up with the You Can Play campaign, which aims to eliminate homophobia in sports, music and entertainment.

"You know someone who's gay, they just haven't told you yet," Macklemore says in a YouTube video for the organization. "Don't let being gay hold you back, and if you're straight, do not hold others back... Anti-gay language has no place in sports, or music."

"Same Love" is up against videos by artists like Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Miguel and Snoop Lion, who have all been nominated for Best Video With a Social Message.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' mega hit "Thrift Shop," featuring Wanz, is up for Video of the Year, while their clip for "Can't Hold Us" has been nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Cinematography, Best Direction and Best Editing.

The VMAs air on MTV on August 25. You can check out the full list of nominations here.

Check out the music video for "Same Love" below: