Macklemore & Ryan Lewis return with new song 'Growing Up' featuring Ed Sheeran: Listen

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have returned with the first droplet of new music since the duo's massive 2012 debut The Heist. "Growing Up," featuring Ed Sheeran, was released on Wednesday (Aug. 5) at noon ET, and is being streamed and offered as a free download on the group's web site.

"Growing Up" is not the first official single from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' follow-up to The Heist, but rather a "personal moment of expression," a rep for the group tells Billboard. Indeed, the new track is not a party-starter in the vein of "Can't Hold Us" or "Thrift Shop," but instead is a reflective ode to Macklemore's infant daughter, Sloane Ava Simone Haggerty, who was born on May 29. Fans of "Same Love" will note the similar vibe here, with the Seattle rapper dispensing life advice to his young daughter in the verses and Sheeran sliding in for the inclusive chorus.

"I'll be patient one more month/You'll wrap your fingers around my thumb," Sheeran sings, "Time's are changing, I know/But who I am I if I'm the person you become, if I'm still growing up/I'm still growing up."

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In a statement on the song, Macklemore (real name: Ben Haggerty) writes, "When you try to escape yourself, life has an interesting way of creating situations that force you to come back. To look at who you are. This is why 'Growing Up' felt like the right song to re-emerge with. It's where I've been the last year, through all the ups and downs. We didn't want to do a big campaign or anything over the top with this. We just wanted to put out good music, directly to the people that have been here since the beginning. Thank you for your patience. Hope you enjoy.

And if you're wondering...

Our daughter, Sloane Ava Simone Haggerty was born 2 months ago on May 29th. There is nothing like the joy and happiness that comes from bringing a baby into this universe. She has filled my heart in ways that I never knew were possible. She is the love of my life. This song is for her."

The Heist produced a pair of No. 1 hits with "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us," and was nominated for album of the year at the 2014 Grammys. Macklemore joined his pal Sheeran onstage at the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival for a special performance of "Same Love," which was nominated for song of the year.