Rapper Mac Miller was found dead in his Los Angeles bedroom on Sept. 7, shocking the music world. While toxicology reports are pending, officials believe that the 26-year-old rapper died from a drug overdose. Miller’s death has stunned the rap community as millions of fans have mourned his death.
Born Malcolm McCormick in Pittsburg in 1992, Miller’s life always focussed on music. The rapper taught himself how to play guitar, drums, piano, and bass, dedicating most of his time to making music on his laptop. “Once I hit 15, I got real serious about it and it changed my life completely,” he said. “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,” Mac said in a 2010 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Miller began releasing mixtapes under the name EZ Mac in 2007, shaking up the underground hip-hop scene with the mixtape, But My Mackin Aint Easy. By 2010, the rapper took on the name Mac Miller and never looked back. His fourth mixtape, K.I.D.S., boosted Mac’s stardom with the cheerful tracks “Knock Knock” and “Nikes on My Feet.” With over 800,000 downloads, the mixtape emphasizes youthful, carefree lifestyles as explained by Mac.
“If you’re not a kid anymore, [K.I.D.S.] is about remembering when you were a kid and how you were able to live. This is great for me because I don’t have to pay a bill. I live with my mom. For right now, I just get to be a kid,” said Miller.
Miller continued to rise to fame with his 2011 debut album, Blue Slide Park. The album continued his youthful flow, featuring the tracks “Party on Fifth Ave.” and “Missed Calls”. In spring of 2012, the rapper went on The Macadelic Tour in support of his Macadelic mixtape, performing alongside Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, and Joey Bada$$.
By 2014, Mac signed a record deal with Warner Bros. following the release of his 2013 album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off. The headline rapper released The Divine Feminine, a unique R&B album with many notable collaborations on the track “Dang!” featuring Anderson .Paak”, “Cinderella” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, and “My Favorite Part,” featuring Miller’s superstar ex-girlfriend, Ariana Grande.
Grande has received backlash since Mac’s death. Collaborating together on the 2013 song “The Way,” the two eventually began dating in 2016. However, their relationship eventually come to a halt this past May due to Miller’s lack of sobriety. Two months later, Grande became engaged to Saturday Night Live star, Pete Davidson. Ariana’s decision to suddenly become engaged angered many fans, especially in wake of Mac’s passing. Grande has since gone silent on social media, although she did address the rapper’s death this past Friday.
“I adored you from the day I met you when I was nineteen and I always will,” Grande wrote on Instagram. “I can’t believe you aren’t here anymore. I really can’t wrap my head around it…i’m so sorry I couldn’t fix or take your pain away, I really wanted to. the kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. I hope you’re okay now. Rest,” the 25-year-old singer wrote.