The Life and Times of Mac Miller
A little more than a week ago, we said a sudden goodbye to one of hip hop’s greatest artists and producers, Mac Miller. He sadly passed away September 7th, 2018. Since then, the hip hop community has been grieving for the loss of their friend. To remember his accomplishments, let’s start at the beginning. Miller was born Malcolm James McCormick on January 19, 1992 in Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up in a Jewish household and referred to himself as “the coolest Jewish rapper.” In 2007 at just fifteen, he began releasing mixtapes along with the group The Ill Spoken. Starting in 2010, Miller signed with Rostrum Records and began his work on the K.I.D.S. mixtape which featured the hit single Knock Knock. Influenced by A Tribe Called Quest, the Beastie Boys, OutKast, Big L, and Lauryn Hill, Miller launched into his first tour, the Incredibly Dope Tour, which sold out every location. This was a huge accomplishment for the young rapper, as this gave him the recognition to win two awards at the Pittsburgh hip hop awards at the end of 2010. Rostrum Records then released his debut album Blue Slide Park in 2011 which was met with widespread acceptance by the public. It charted number one on the Billboard 200.
In 2012, his next mixtape Macadelic was released with features from artists Kendrick Lamar, Juicy J, and Lil Wayne. His next album Watching Movies With the Sound Off debuted in 2013 and featured artists like Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, and Flying Lotus. His next work, GO:OD AM was released in 2015 and featured Lil B, Chief Keef, and Miguel. His fourth large work titled The Divine Feminine came out in 2016 and featured artists such as Ariana Grande, Cee Lo Green, and once again, Kendrick Lamar. His fifth and final album Swimming came out this past August and was a hit and seems to be getting even more popular posthumously, as these things tend to happen. A month after his new album release, at just 26 years old, Miller passed away from a suspected drug overdose. His death is nothing short of a tragedy and he left behind a legacy that many could even dream of having. Mac Miller will certainly be missed by music lovers everywhere.
