Yet another celebrity has died from addiction. This time, it is the beloved musician Mac Miller. Mac quickly rose to fame, and his soulful music captured the hearts of fans around the world. Sadly, despite his success, Miller struggled with addiction for many years. In 2018, he tragically lost his battle and passed away at his home in LA, California. Miller's death is a stark reminder of the dangers of addiction. His death has left the world reeling, as it is a tragic reminder of how addiction can destroy even the most talented and brilliant of minds.
Mac Miller was born Malcolm James McCormick on January 19, 1992, and was an American rapper and record producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From the begining, Malcom showed immense talent, he was a self taught musician and began teaching hisself how to play instruments such as the piano, guitar, drums, and bass at the early age of 6. Having a dream to always become a singer, Malcom began to learn to rap at 14 years old, he decided he would chase the fame that followed a rap artist. McCormick buckled down becoming more serious, he was determined to climb his way up the latter. Mac even made a statement backing up his actions:
"Once I hit 15, I got real serius about it and it changed my life completely... I used to be into sports, play all the sports, go to all the high school parties. But once I found out hip-hop is almost like a job, that's all I did." Going by a starter name of, Easy Mac (Ez Mac), before settling for his popular fame name, Mac Miller, he released the mixtape, But My Mackin Ain't Easy, in 2007. Two years go by, and the young rapper established hisself as Mac Miller, and with the new founded name came two brand new mixtapes, The Juicebox: prelude to Class Clown and The Highlife.
Mac Miller first gained his popularity in 2010 with the release mixtape K.I.D.S., which received critical praise from major publications. During this point in Mac's career, he signed with Rostrum Records, which was an independent label that worked with wiz khalifa. Mac started to draw more and more attention to hisself and turning heads of many different record labels, Miller declined every opportunity presented from major record labels, and stayed with Rostrum Records, due to the location of being close to his hometown and the association it held with wiz khalifa. This would be the start of the two rap stars unbreakable friendship, almost like brothers even. Accomplished and proud from the hard work that seemed to be impossible, became a real breakthrough with a focus on social media engagement, digital sales, and presistent touring, due to a lack of radio airplay or mainstream features gave Mac a will to push forward ànd figure a way around the road block set to hold him back.
His debut album, Blue Slide Park, which featured three hit singles, Frick Park Market, Party On Fifrth Ave, and Smile Back all gaining spots on Billboard hot 100 charts. Blue Slide Park debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in 2011, with $144,000 in the first week sales, and the album debuted atop Billboard 200 charts, which was the first to do so since 1995 having disturtion only through a independent record label, Rostrum records. The album gained gold certification. Throughout his career, Miller developed a unique hybrid style of rap that blended elements of hip hop rap, jazz, and electronic music.
2011, Mac Miller was at it again, releasing his 5th mixtape, Best Day Ever, which feature single, Donald Trump. Donald Trump quickly became heard from around the world, and was Mac's first song to chart on U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Best Day Ever peaked at #75 and received plantium certifications. Miller went and finished up 2011 on a successful note, releasing a 6 track EP, On and On, and Beyond, hitting the Billboard 200 charts and landing at #55.
Mac Miller's music was a breath of fresh air during his breakout season. His carefree attitude and fun-loving songs were infectious, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Mac starred in most of his own music videos, which depicted him smoking weed, going to the grocery store in pajamas, and eating junk food with not a care in the world. He embraced his inner child and lets loose, something that fans loved about him.
Mac's music was widely regarded as "frap rap", containing lyrics focusing on partying, skipping school, and lusting over fame, women, and money. However, Mac Miller was much more than just a rapper. He was an artist who created music that was real and relevant.
Mac Miller's 2012 mixtape Macadelic was a turning point in the rapper's career. The single "Loud" was a hit, peaking at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. But behind the scenes, Miller was struggling with addiction.
Somewhere between moving to California and making hits, Miller got a taste for the high life. He began abusing lean, a powerful narcotic. Miller enjoyed getting high, and it was no secret to the world. Mac always enjoyed getting high and living a fun and carefree life, with no consequences or anyone to answer to. But as the years passed, Mac got older and wiser, and realized how shallow and lonely his life had become. Depression soon followed the artist, and his once carefree life became anything but. Deciding to get clean and remain sober for one year and a day seemed like an accomplishment, and would prove that McCormick could get sober and stay sober for the whole year and a day.
Malcolm also starred in a six- episode realality series on MTV 2. The MTV series was named "Mac Miller and The Most Dope Family." This was a great opportunity in Mac's career, it followed the production of his upcoming second studio album. The album premiered on February 26, 2013 and was named, Watching Movies With The Sound Off, which contained almost all instrumental done my Miller.
Malcolm wasn't shy on expressing how much he disliked being sober, and as soon as the one year and a day was reached, Miller was back to his old ways. During an interview in 2014, McCormick revealed that his daily routine was constantly consuming drugs just to avoid sobering up.
In 2013, Imprint REMembert Music was founded by Mac Miller, owned and operated independently, he named it in honor of his friend that passed away.
In 2014, Miller signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records and released his second studio album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.
Miller's third studio album, GO:OD AM, was released in 2015 to positive reviews. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
2018 was a bittersweet year for Mac Miller. He released his fourth studio album Swimming to critical acclaim. Following its release, he toured extensively, performing sold-out shows across the country. Unfortunately, 2018 was also the year that Miller died of an accidental drug overdose at just 26 years old. Documents state that Malcolm McCormick consumed a mixture of cocaine, fentanyl, and alcohol which lead to his body shutting down, and sadly killing Malcolm at his L.A home during the late night hours. His death sent shockwaves through the music community and beyond, as fans and celebrities alike mourned the loss of a talented young man with so much still left to give.
Mac Miller's final album, Circles, was released in 2020. Although Millers death was accidentally and a shock it was as if he knew he would be leaving this world, only leaving behind this great album as a farewell salut. RIP to a without doubt one of kind, a beautiful soul, and a gifted musician we were selfishness blessed to have and got to experience.
Website: Mac Miller website.com
