The Pittsburgh rapper passed away last Friday at the age of 26. However, Mac Miller left behind an impressive career with a catalog of numerous successful music projects. Read ahead as we pay tribute to one of hip-hop’s biggest stars. Let’s take a look back at Mac Miller’s best contributions to hip-hop.
The music world is swept in sadness after news broke that Mac Miller, 26, unexpectedly passed away last Friday, September 7. After all, the rapper just released a poignant fifth studio album, Swimming, not too long ago. In fact, just a day before he passed, his final interview was published in Vulture. In it, Mac spoke of finally accepting that he has no control over people’s perception of him, saying,
“Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe that’s just a game that I haven’t gotten into playing. But it just seems exhausting to always be battling something … to always be battling for what you think your image is supposed to be. You’re never going to be able to get anything across. It’s never gonna be the real … No one’s gonna ever really know me. You know what I mean? That’s okay. “
The interview, if anything, only expressed Mac’s willingness to continue on with his already impressive career. Which is why the news of his passing came as a shock to everyone. Social media is littered with posts expressing grief over Mac’s untimely death. However, the rapper has left us with more than a little something to remember. With a prolific decade-worth of work, Mac gifted us with a truly honest and candid look into a real artist’s soul.
A Highly Successful Career Spanning a Decade
Mac Miller, also known as Malcolm James McCormick, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started acquiring an interest in hip-hop while still in High School. With his love for music, he learned to play several musical instruments on his own. It was later, in the year 2010, when Mac started his professional music career. It was under the umbrella of independent recording label, Rostrum Records where he found instant success.
Mac’s first album, ‘Blue Slide Park’, became an instant hit, topping the Billboard Top 200 chart. He became a national celebrity overnight. From then on, the rapper was on a roll. With regular music releases until his death, Mac seemed unstoppable. In 2013, he launched his own record label, ‘REMember Music’ where he entered a distribution agreement with Warner Bros. Records for a whopping US$ 10 million. Mac, undoubtedly, was becoming a critical and commercial success. His first concert tour, ‘The Incredibly Dope Tour’, was a massive success, selling out in all locations.
With such an impressive compilation of work at such a young age, Mac Miller was poised to become one of the most prolific music artists of our generation. And although his life came to an abrupt in, his music legacy will continue. Let’s take a look back at some his greatest works.
Diablo – Faces, 2014
It was, perhaps, Mac’s various mixtapes throughout his career that showed a looser side to his “frat rap” persona. One such presentation happens in Diablo, the first single off of Mac’s 11th mixtape. In the self-produced Diablo, Mac raps about his lyrical superiority as a rapper using a jazz-inspired beat.
REmember – Watching Movies with the Sound Off, 2013
Coming off of his second studio album, REmember gives an insight of Mac’s slow maturity as a rapper, peeling away his “frat rap” persona. REmember is a poignant dedication to his late friend, Ruben Eli Mitrani. In it, Mac expresses his disillusion of fame, with lyrics like “And everybody wanna talk to me about some business shit / Never really listening, couldn’t get real interested.”
Donald Trump – Best Day Ever, 2011
Donald Trumpis arguably, one fan favorite among all of Mac Miller’s songs. Back in 2011, long before Donald Trump became the US President, he was a favorite subject amongst rappers due to his success in business, with many of them expressing their desire to be on top just as Trump had in the world of business. Mac raps about his aspirations to be on top of the hip-hop world. The song debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
I Just Wanna (Chief Keef feat. Mac Miller), 2015
You can probably say that Chief Keef and Mac Miller were kindred spirits. Both artists rose to fame at a relatively young age. And both certainly have a knack of rejecting fame, choosing to pursue authentic artistry instead. All things are evident in this bangy, off-the-kilter production.
Ladders – Swimming, 2018
Ironically enough, and is with the case of tragic deaths of young musical icons, Mac Miller’s last studio album, Swimming, will most likely be his best work. And perhaps what makes this album so emotional is that it is by far the most telling of the rapper’s inners struggles as an artist battling his own demons. Such is the case with Ladders, a song about the meaning of life from the point of view of someone who, by all accounts, is still trying to understand it. And only Mac can wrap this song up in a bright, jazzy beat while still delivering the emotional punch.
Perfect Circle/God Speed – GO:OD AM, 2015
If you’ve been listening to Mac Miller throughout his career, you know the two most recurring themes in his songs – music and drugs. In Perfect Circle/God Speed, talks about his aggressive goals in rap and the two things consuming his life. As evidence of his growing maturity, Mac also takes accountability for thinking that fame will solve all of his issues. And finally accepting that in order to become a better person, he needs to take control of his life.
Aquarium – Watching Movies with the Sound Off, 2013
Aquarium,for the lack of a better word, is a tearjerker. Turning away from his strong rapping skills, the song opens up in Mac’s soft tenor voice, talking about the negative side of being famous. Again and again, Mac seems to question if all of it is worth it. He also talks about his struggle with substance abuse and all of the feelings leading to it, with lines like, “Sedatives that take me to God / witness his fetishes / We all in search for substance, that drugs you pain and numbness.” In fact, if you listen to it now, you’ll surely wind up feeling grief all over again: “I wish I could tell you that I didn’t see this coming / But I’m ready for it all to end, die before tomorrow’s trend.”
Come Back to Earth – Swimming, 2018
Fair warning, this song will give you all the #feels. If Mac Miller’s last studio album, Swimming, now strikes you as ominous, we really don’t blame you. Come Back To Earth manages to beautifully capitulate the rappers continuing struggles with his life, his regrets, depression, and downward spiral. However, he does it in such a way that is tragically and earnestly candid. “I just need a way out of my head,” and “I just need a way out”, are lines that express how deeply he struggled with himself.