Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (L) win the award for Best New Artist at the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California January 26, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

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The Recording Academy also anointed Seattle-based rapper-producer newcomers Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with the Grammy for best new artist and three other awards in rap categories.

"Before there was any media, before there was any buzz about us, before there was a story, there was our fans and it spread organically through them," said Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, as he accepted the best new artist award.

With their homage to marriage equality, the duo also presided over the biggest dramatic moment of the night, the ceremony in a cathedral-like setting, an initiative that Queen Latifah hoped would be emulated across the rap genre.

"I hope this is inspiration to all the rappers out there and hip hop artists out there that they can continue to tackle any subjects you want," Queen Latifah, said backstage, before her power to marry in California expires at midnight.

The 56th Grammy Awards, the music industry's top honors handed out by the Recording Academy across 82 categories, also rewarded a crop of newcomers in several genres.

Kacey Musgraves, 25, won best country album with "Same Trailer Different Park," while alt-rockers Imagine Dragons won best rock performance for "Radioactive."

"This last year has kind of just blown up," said Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, dusted in the red powder from the band's high-octane performance with rapper Kendrick Lamar.