Mac Miller (born Malcolm James McCormick), was a rapper, singer, and record producer who left an indelible mark on the music world before his untimely death at age 26. Rising from the local hip hop scene in his native Pittsburgh to become a nationally recognized artist with a devoted following, Mac Miller’s life was a story of creativity, ambition, struggles with addiction, and ultimately, tragedy.
Early Life and Career Beginnings of Mac Miller
Mac Miller was born on January 19, 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Karen Meyers, a photographer, and Mark McCormick, an architect. He and his older brother Miller were raised in a Jewish household, though Mac attended Catholic grade school. A gifted multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Mac began rapping at 14 and focused on developing his hip hop skills throughout high school.
Initially going by the name EZ Mac, he released his first mixtape But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy in 2007 at just 15 years old. He formed a short-lived duo called The Ill Spoken in 2008 before establishing himself as Mac Miller and releasing two more mixtapes in 2009, drawing local recognition. In 2010, his K.I.D.S. mixtape led him to sign with local independent label Rostrum Records, as his unique style and talent started to get national attention.
Mac Miller’s Breakthrough and Studio Albums
Mac Miller’s proper debut studio album, Blue Slide Park, released in November 2011 on Rostrum Records. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, it was the first independently distributed album to top the chart since 1995. As Rolling Stone noted, Miller focused his early efforts on “social media presence and persistent touring” rather than traditional promotion. His energetic live shows helped grow his devoted fanbase.
Miller followed up with his second album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, in 2013. Debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200, the album showcased a more mature, introspective style with genres ranging from hip hop to psychedelic music. He started his own label imprint, REMember Music, that year and made the leap to major label Warner Bros. Records in 2014.
His major label debut, GO:OD AM, dropped in 2015 and entered the Billboard 200 at #4. Lead single “Weekend” featured singer Miguel and was certified platinum. Mac continued to expand his style, incorporating more singing and elements of jazz, funk, and R&B on 2016’s The Divine Feminine (#2 debut) and 2018’s Swimming (#3 debut). As Pitchfork wrote, Swimming found Mac exploring “heartbreak and his own mental health issues” through “wistful soul and warm funk” to create perhaps his most mature artistic statement.
Struggles and Untimely Death of Mac Miller
Behind his creative talents and ambitions, Mac Miller long struggled with substance abuse issues. He openly discussed his addictions in interviews and lyrics, which began with promethazine and “lean” early in his career before progressing to other drugs. Periods of sobriety were interspersed with relapses. In August 2018, Mac was charged with DUI after crashing his car into a utility pole in Los Angeles, though the case didn’t reach a resolution before his death.
Sadly, Mac Miller was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home on September 7, 2018. He was pronounced dead at the scene from an accidental drug overdose of cocaine, alcohol and fentanyl at the age of 26. Fans held vigils in his honor at Pittsburgh’s Blue Slide Park, while fellow artists paid tribute to his life and music in concerts and online. He was buried in his hometown Pittsburgh in a Jewish funeral.
Mac Miller’s Legacy and Posthumous Releases
In the wake of his death, Mac Miller’s music saw a massive resurgence. Swimming was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards, while his 2020 posthumous album Circles debuted at #3 with 164,000 units, his biggest sales week ever. As Vulture wrote, the Jon Brion-completed Circles was intended by Mac to be a companion album to Swimming, and provided a fitting, poignant coda to his musical legacy.
Though his life and career were cut far too short, Mac Miller undoubtedly made a major impact in his 26 years. He helped define 2010s hip hop with his unique style, emotional lyrics, and genre-blending sound. His tragic struggles with addiction also shone a light on the need for better mental health and substance abuse support in the music industry and beyond. Through his music and the Mac Miller Fund charity established in his honor, Mac Miller’s legacy of creativity and generosity continues to inspire people around the world.
