Mac Miller | |
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_%25E2%2580%2593_splash%21_Festival_20_(2017)_(cropped).jpg) Miller performing in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Malcolm James McCormick |
| Also known as |
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| Born | (1992-01-19)January 19, 1992 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 2018(2018-09-07) (aged 26) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Acute combined drug intoxication |
| Works | |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–2018 |
| Labels |
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| Website | macmillerswebsite |
| Signature | |
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Malcolm James McCormick (January 19, 1992 – September 7, 2018), known professionally asMac Miller, was an American rapper. Miller began his career inPittsburgh's localhip hop scene in 2007, at the age of 15. In 2010, he signed a record deal with independent labelRostrum Records and released his breakthroughmixtapesK.I.D.S. (2010) andBest Day Ever (2011). Miller's debut studio album,Blue Slide Park (2011), became the first independently distributed debut album to top the USBillboard 200 since 1995.
In 2013, he founded the record label imprint REMember Music. After his second studio album,Watching Movies with the Sound Off (2013), he left Rostrum and signed with the major labelWarner Bros. Records in 2014. With them, he released five studio albums:GO:OD AM (2015),The Divine Feminine (2016),Swimming (2018), and the posthumous albumsCircles (2020) andBalloonerism (2025). ForSwimming, he was posthumously nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Rap Album. Along with recording, he also served as a record producer for himself and other artists under the pseudonymLarry Fisherman.
Miller struggled with addiction andsubstance abuse, which was often referenced in his lyrics.[1] After a relapse, he died from an accidental drug overdose ofcocaine,fentanyl, andalcohol at his home at the age of 26.
Malcolm James McCormick was born on January 19, 1992,[2] in thePoint Breeze neighborhood ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[3] He was a son of Karen Meyers, a photographer, and Mark McCormick, an architect,[4] and had an older brother, Miller.[5] His mother is Jewish, and his father isChristian.[6] While he and his brother were raised Jewish,[3][7] he attended aCatholic grade school to "ensure a good education and a chance to playfootball andlacrosse."[3] He attendedWinchester Thurston School for a time[8] but graduated fromTaylor Allderdice High School.[9]
A self-taught musician, Miller played piano, guitar, drums, and bass by the age of six.[9][10] He first started rapping at the age of 14.[11] Before that, he wanted to be a singer.[12] In high school, he decided to focus on his rap career, later noting, "Once I hit 15, I got real serious 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."[10]
Originally going by the name of Easy Mac (often stylized as EZ Mac), he released his firstmixtapeBut My Mackin' Ain't Easy in 2007 at the age of 15.[2] In 2008, he and fellow Pittsburgh-based rapperBeedie formed the rap duo The Ill Spoken, and released their mixtapeHow High. The duo decided to part ways shortly after, in order to focus on their solo careers.[13] By 2009, he rebranded himself as Mac Miller, and released two mixtapes:The Jukebox: Prelude to Class Clown andThe High Life.[2] At the 2010 Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards, Miller won 21 & Under of the Year, and Best Hip Hop Video for "Live Free".[14]
Miller signed with the independent Pittsburgh-based labelRostrum Records in July 2010, in the lead-up to his mixtapeK.I.D.S.[15] Rostrum president Benjy Grinberg met Miller while recording withWiz Khalifa atID Labs.[16] Although Grinberg started giving Miller advice, he did not show interest in getting involved with his career until Miller began work onK.I.D.S., when he "noticed a maturation in his sound and approach to his music".[16] By that point, Miller had started attracting interest from other record companies, but chose Rostrum due to its location in his hometown and association with Wiz Khalifa.[16]K.I.D.S. was released by Rostrum in August 2010.[10] During this time, Miller broke through with a focus on social media engagement, digital sales, and persistent touring, due to a lack of radio airplay or mainstreamfeatures.[17]
XXL featured Miller in its annual"Freshman Class" list of 2011, alongside 10 other rappers includingKendrick Lamar andMeek Mill.[18][19] Miller released his fifth mixtape,Best Day Ever, in March 2011.[20] Its single "Donald Trump" became his first song to chart on the USBillboard Hot 100,[21] peaking at number 75,[22] and received a platinumcertification from theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[23] Also in March 2011, he released a six-trackEP,On and On and Beyond. Intended to target a new audience, four of its tracks were previously included on his mixtapes.[24] The EP was his first entry into the USBillboard 200 albums chart at number 55.[25] Leading up to the release of his debut studio album, and to celebrate reaching one million followers onTwitter, Miller released his sixth mixtape,I Love Life, Thank You, on October 14, 2011.[26]
Miller's debut studio album,Blue Slide Park, released on November 8, 2011.[27] With 144,000 first week sales, it debuted atop theBillboard 200, the first independently distributed debut album to do so sinceTha Dogg Pound'sDogg Food in 1995.[28] Three songs from the album, "Smile Back", "Frick Park Market", and "Party on Fifth Ave." charted on theBillboard Hot 100, peaking at number 55, 60, and 64, respectively.[22]Blue Slide Park was certified gold in the United States and Canada.[29][30] Despite its impressive commercial performance,Blue Slide Park received a generally mixed critical response.
On March 23, 2012, Miller released his seventh mixtape,Macadelic.[31] The single "Loud" peaked at number 53 on theBillboard Hot 100.[22] In mid-2012, Miller premiered two songs produced byPharrell Williams, from a planned collaboration EP,Pink Slime.[32] At least ten tracks were completed by August 2012 according to Miller,[32] but the project was not released despite a multi-year effort.[33][34] Miller released an EP,You, under the alias Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival on November 21, 2012. Rather than rap, the EP features Miller crooning over lounging jazz instrumentals.[35]
In early 2013, Miller founded the record label imprint REMember Music, named after a deceased friend.[36] The label primarily focused on Pittsburgh artists, as well as releases for Miller's alter-egos.[37] Miller starred in his ownreality series,Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family, onMTV2. It followed the production of his upcoming second studio album, and premiered on February 26, 2013.[38] On March 4, 2013, Miller released a mixtape,Run-On Sentences, Volume One, solely featuring instrumentals made by himself, under his production alias Larry Fisherman.[39] Later that month, Miller featured on singerAriana Grande's lead single "The Way" for her debut album,Yours Truly;[40] the song is Miller's highest peak on theBillboard Hot 100 at number nine, and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.[22][23]
His second studio album,Watching Movies with the Sound Off, was released on June 18, 2013. It received generally positive reviews, with most critics praising his new psychedelic sound. The album debuted at number three on theBillboard 200, selling 102,000 copies in its first week.[41] The album spawned three singles; "S.D.S.", "Watching Movies" and "Goosebumpz". The album featured guest appearances fromSchoolboy Q,Ab-Soul,Earl Sweatshirt,Tyler, the Creator,Action Bronson andJay Electronica.[42][43] According to Miller, the album is "very introspective and very personal so it's kind of throwing it all out there and seeing what happens."[44]
Pittsburgh mayorLuke Ravenstahl presented Miller with akey to the city on September 20, 2013, and declared the date "Mac Miller Day".[45][46] In collaboration withVince Staples, Miller produced the mixtapeStolen Youth.[47] Under the moniker Delusional Thomas, Miller self-produced and released an eponymous mixtape,Delusional Thomas, on October 31, 2013.[48] On December 17, 2013, Miller released the live albumLive from Space, containing nine songs performed with the bandThe Internet during hisSpace Migration Tour and five studio-recorded tracks that were cut from his second album.[49]
Miller parted ways with Rostrum Records when his contract expired in January 2014.[50] On May 11, 2014, Miller independently released his tenth solo mixtape,Faces.[51] Colin Stutz ofBillboard wrote that the 24-track mixtape "shows [Miller] introspective, ruminating over his drug use, fame and past."[51]Pitchfork's Craig Jenkins calledFaces his "most consistently honest and personal work to date".[52] Miller later reflected onFaces, noting his drug-addled lifestyle while recording it.[53] The second season of Miller's reality seriesMac Miller and the Most Dope Family aired on MTV2 in mid-2014.[54]
In October 2014, Miller signed a recording contract and distribution deal for REMember Music with the major labelWarner Bros. Records. He chose Warner as it was "the most independent thinking" company he met with.[55] Miller's third studio album and major label debut,GO:OD AM, was released on September 18, 2015.[56] It charted at number four on theBillboard 200, with 87,000album-equivalent units.[57] The album and the single "Weekend", featuring singerMiguel, were certified gold and platinum by the RIAA, respectively.[23][58] On December 29, 2015, Miller released a follow-up to his first instrumental mixtape under his alias Larry Fisherman, titledRun-On Sentences, Volume Two.[59]
_%25E2%2580%2593_splash%21_Festival_20_(2017)_(cropped).jpg)
Miller began work on his next studio album immediately after completingGO:OD AM, wanting to explore the emotion of love.[60][61] His fourth studio album,The Divine Feminine, was released on September 16, 2016.[62] The album features Miller singing nearly as much as rapping, and incorporates genres such asR&B,jazz andfunk.[61] It received positive reviews, withPitchfork stating that the album was succinct and refined in its portrayal of love, consequently accentuating Miller's artistry.[63]The Divine Feminine debuted at number two on theBillboard 200 and number one onBillboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with 48,000 units.[64][65]
Miller's fifth studio album,Swimming, was released on August 3, 2018, to positive reviews from critics.[66]Pitchfork described the album as consisting of "wistful soul and warm funk", through his exploration of heartbreak and his own mental health issues.[67]Swimming debuted at number three on theBillboard 200 with 66,000 units, his fifth consecutive top five-charting album release in the United States.[68] Miller's final public performances included anNPRTiny Desk Concert released August 6, 2018,[69][70] and a small promotional performance atHotel Cafe inHollywood on September 3, 2018,[71][72] both in support ofSwimming. Afterhis death in September 2018, the single "Self Care" rose to number 33 on theBillboard Hot 100, his highest peak as a lead artist at the time.[73]Swimming was nominated forBest Rap Album at the61st Annual Grammy Awards.[74]
Miller's estate began approving posthumous music releases in June 2019, with the collaborative singles "Time" with Free Nationals andKali Uchis, and "That's Life" with88-Keys andSia.[75] On January 8, 2020, Miller's family announced his first posthumous album,Circles, which was released later that month on January 17. Before his death, Miller had been working on the album as a companion album toSwimming. Production was completed byJon Brion, who worked with Miller on both albums.[76]Circles debuted at number three on theBillboard 200 with 164,000 units, his biggest week for an album.[77] Its single, "Good News", became his highest-charting song as lead artist, peaking at number 17 on theBillboard Hot 100.[22]
Between 2020 and 2023, Miller's estate commercially re-released his mixtapesK.I.D.S.,Faces andI Love Life, Thank You.[78][79][80] Tenth anniversary editions ofK.I.D.S. andWatching Movies with the Sound Off were also released with previously unreleased bonus tracks.[78][81] Miller's second posthumous album,Balloonerism, was released on January 17, 2025. The album was recorded in 2014 around the release ofFaces.[82]
Early in his career, Miller's music was widely regarded as "frat rap", with lyrics focusing on partying, smokingmarijuana, and lusting after fame, money, and women.[83][84] After the mixed critical response ofBlue Slide Park, Miller began to employ a more expressive and experimental approach to his subsequent releases.[84] By the release ofSwimming, a review ofRolling Stone stated that Miller had shed his frat rap reputation.[85]
Miller experimented withjazz in his career as well. In 2012, Miller releasedYou, an EP featuringlounge-jazz tracks as Larry Lovestein and the Velvet Revival.[86] Speaking about the Larry Lovestein persona, Miller stated "I've kinda have always had this random fantasy of being a seventy-year-old Lounge Jazz singer."[87]
Toward the latter half of Miller's career, his music further implemented elements of jazz and additionally branched tofunk andR&B.[88]Faces incorporated jazz,[89] whileThe Divine Feminine andSwimming have both been described by music publications asjazz rap.[90]Rolling Stone writer Danny Schwartz also describedSwimming as "spanning rap, funk, and trip-hop."[90]
Miller includedBig L,Lauryn Hill,Beastie Boys,Outkast, andA Tribe Called Quest among his influences.[91] He had a close relationship with fellowPittsburgh rapperWiz Khalifa, saying "Wiz has been a big brother to me with this music thing so far. Our relationship is beyond music. He really is just my homie, whether I will be making music or not."[6] Miller also expressed admiration forJohn Lennon. He had multiple tattoos of Lennon, including a tattoo of Lennon's face and a tattoo of his song "Imagine".[92]
Miller spoke openly about his struggle withsubstance abuse anddepression.[1][93] To managestress during his Macadelic Tour in 2012, Miller began takingpromethazine, and later became addicted tolean. Miller toldComplex in January 2013: "I love lean; it's great. I was not happy and I was on lean very heavy. I was so fucked up all the time it was bad. My friends couldn't even look at me the same. I was lost."[43] He quit taking promethazine in November 2012, before shooting his reality showMac Miller and the Most Dope Family.[43] In 2014, Miller was taking drugs daily, and felt that the final track onFaces, "Grand Finale", was "supposed to be the last song [he] made on Earth." Recounting that period toBillboard in August 2015, Miller appraised he had become "definitely way healthier" since then, but "not completely sober".[94] After stating he "hated" being sober in a February 2016 documentary,[1] Miller had become sober for three months by October 2016, noting his better mood and maintained creativity.[95] However, when asked about his sobriety in April 2017, Miller said he was now "living regularly".[96]
Miller was in anon-again, off-again relationship with writer Nomi Leasure, whom he met in middle school, for seven years until 2016.[94][97][98] Many of the songs on his mixtapeMacadelic were about their relationship.[97] Miller dated singerAriana Grande from August 2016 to May 2018.[99]
In February 2011, while on tour inUpstate New York, Miller and his friends were arrested forpossession of marijuana for which they spent the night in jail. Miller said the case was "settled".[100]
ProducerLord Finesse filed a $10 million lawsuit against Miller, Rostrum Records andDatPiff in July 2012, for the use of a sample of Finesse's song "Hip 2 Da Game" in Miller's 2010 mixtape song "Kool-Aid and Frozen Pizza".[101] In December 2012, the lawsuit wassettled out of court with its stipulations kept confidential.[102]
In March 2015, the band Aquarian Dream filed a $150,000 lawsuit against Miller for sampling their song "Yesterday (Was So Nice Today)" in the song "Therapy" that appeared on Miller's 2014 mixtapeFaces.[103]
Miller was arrested in May 2018 on charges ofdriving under the influence andhit and run after crashing into a utility pole and fleeing the scene with two passengers. Police obtained his address from his license plate number, and Miller confessed when police arrived at his home. He was taken into custody and released on $15,000 bail.[104] In August 2018, Miller was charged with two counts of driving under the influence for the incident.[105] Miller died before his arraignment, and the charges were dropped.[106]
| Date | September 7, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-09-07) |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:51a.m. (PST) |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Type | Accidentaldrug overdose |
| Deaths | 1 (Malcolm James McCormick,a.k.a. Mac Miller, aged 26) |
| Accused |
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| Convicted |
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| Charges |
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| Verdict | Reavis and Walter: Pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl[108] |
| Sentence | Reavis: 10 years and 11 months in prison Walter: 17 and a half years in prison |
On September 7, 2018, Miller was found unresponsive in hisStudio City home by his personal assistant, who called911 and performedCPR until paramedics arrived. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:51 a.m. (PDT).[109][110] He had been scheduled to shoot a music video on the day of his death, and was to embark on hisSwimming Tour in October.[111][112]
In his will, Miller named his mother, father, and brother as beneficiaries.[113] He was buried atHomewood Cemetery in his hometown ofPittsburgh, in a Jewish funeral.[114] On November 5, 2018, theLos Angeles County Coroner's office determined that Miller died from an accidental drug overdose due to a "mixed drug toxicity" offentanyl,cocaine, andalcohol.[115]
Thousands of fans held a vigil for Miller on September 11, 2018, at Pittsburgh'sBlue Slide Park, the inspiration behind his debut album title;[116] the site continues to be a place of remembrance.[117] A tribute concert, Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life, took place on October 31, 2018, at theGreek Theatre in Los Angeles. Many of his friends and collaborators performed or provided messages at the concert; proceeds raised benefited the newly established Mac Miller Circles Fund, which aims to support youth arts and community-building programs in his memory.[118] The charity had raised over $700,000 by January 2019.[119] In May 2019, the renamed Mac Miller Fund issued its first grants, including $50,000 toMusiCares, which was used to launch their Mac Miller Legacy Fund to help young musicians with substance abuse issues.[120][121]
Three men were arrested in September 2019 during an investigation into Miller's death. Cameron James Pettit allegedly sold Miller counterfeitoxycodone pills containing fentanyl two days before his death, which were run to Pettit by Ryan Reavis and supplied by Stephen Walter. Miller had asked Pettit forPercocet, a prescribed painkiller containing oxycodone, in addition to cocaine andXanax. Investigators believe Miller snorted the laced pills before his death.[122][123][124] The three men were indicted on charges of conspiracy and distribution of drugs resulting in death.[125]
On April 18, 2022, Reavis was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in distributing the pills.[126] On May 17, 2022, Walter was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison for his role.[127] Pettit served an unknown sentence and was released from prison on October 11, 2024.[128]
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Single Ladies | Himself | 2 episodes | [20] |
| 2012 | Punk'd | Himself | Episode: "Mac Miller" | [129] |
| 2013, 2015 | Ridiculousness | Himself | 2 episodes | [130][131] |
| 2013–2014 | Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family | Himself | [132] | |
| 2013 | Scary Movie 5 | D'Andre | Film | [133] |
| 2014 | Loiter Squad | Dave | Episode: "Stone Cold Stunner" | [134] |
| 2015 | Hi, How Are You Daniel Johnston? | None | Short film; executive producer | [135] |
| 2019 | Shangri-La | Himself | Episode: "Wrestling"; posthumous release | [136] |
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| Other | |
