One of the biggest things that connects a musician with his or her fans is the meaning of their music. Rapper Mac Miller was exceptionally talented at this, filling his songs with hidden messages about the hardships of life. Sorrow sweeped the music industry on Sept. 7 when Miller, 26, died from a suspected drug overdose. Fans of the artist mourned the loss, and there has been an outpouring of love from his former friends.
“I don’t know what to say Mac Miller took me on my second tour ever. But beyond helping me launch my career he was one of the sweetest guys I ever knew. Great man. I loved him for real. I’m completely broken. God bless him,” Chance the Rapper, fellow artist, tweeted.
Miller, whose full name was Malcolm James McCormick, started his career at age 15 with his mixtape “But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy” in 2007. His first release of note was his mixtape “K.I.D.S,” which was dropped in 2010.
Many of Miller’s songs were full of messages about sex, drugs and partying. However, the artist’s work was about more than that. Throughout his career, he spoke openly to press about his struggles with drugs, depression and alcohol. He never hesitated to include these battles in his music, either. This is what made his music truly special to fans.
One of his songs that referenced his struggle with depression directly was “The Star Room,” a track from Miller’s 2013 album, “Watching Movies With the Sound Off.” In the track, Miller mentions, “But me, I’m still trapped inside my head/It kinda feel like it’s a purgatory/Dealing with these demons, feel the pressure”. Songs like these gave Miller’s fanbase something to connect to, a feeling that they could relate with.
This special connection gives more meaning to Miller’s music. This is exemplified well in the “2009” lyric, “A life ain’t a life ’til you live it/…My own, with these songs I can carry you home/I’m right here when you’re scared and alone.” Not only does Miller express the importance of living life to its fullest, but also the idea that his songs provide comfort to his fans.
With lyrics “A drug habit like Philip Hoffman will probably put me in a coffin/ But down the slope in my toboggan/ Three day delirium, gettin’ weirder than Austin/ Now it’s 7 in the morning, this rapper life is so boring/ Still at it/ The drug absorbent, endorphin addict/ The evil follow me, I got a devil magnet,” it’s clear that Miller knew the extremity of his issues. Instead of brushing off this knowledge, he recognizes the danger of what is plaguing him. The phrase, “This rapper life is so boring,” suggests that Miller does not always enjoy the fun factor of drugs, seeing them as a routine he has to follow as a rapper. The audience hears this in “What Do You Do,” from his 2015 mixtape “Faces.”
Miller’s death shocked many due to the fact that he had seemingly been sober for an extended amount of time, and was working to overcome his addictions. One of Miller’s lyrics even references the “27 club,” a group of celebrities that have died at age 27, mostly from overdoses. The list includes Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, and Janis Joplin, “To everyone who sell me drugs / Don’t mix it with that bulls–t / I’m hoping not to join the 27 club”. What is most chilling about this lyric is that Miller didn’t even make it to the age of 27; the artist would have not turned 27 until January of 2019. This is directly alluded to in “Brand Name,” a track off of “GO:OD AM,” his 2015 album.
Mac Miller leaves behind a legendary legacy, one that was not only extremely successful, but affected many, whether it be through his music or connections with fans and friends.
_Edited by Siena DeBolt | sdebolt@themaneater.com_
