The life and times of rapper Mac Miller might be one of the saddest stories to come out of the music industry over the past decade. His fans watched his downward spiral in real time over the years as he battled depression and drug abuse. One of the worse things about it all is Mac came across as a very sweet and gentle soul but was very vulnerable and needed help.
Mac Miller, real name Malcolm James McCormick, died on 7 September 2018 and was found unresponsive at his San Fernando home in California. He publicly struggled to handle his drug addiction, and in the end, it got the better of him like so many artists that came before. Even if the circumstances of Mac Miller’s death might not have directly been his fault.
Many people may ask, “How did Mac Miller die?” I’ll get into that shortly, but first, let’s look at Mac Miller’s life and career.
From Rags to Riches
Initially, I wasn’t a Mac Miller fan. But, by the time he released his hit single, “2009,” in 2017, I was already on the bandwagon. His lyrics always came across as very honest. A stark contrast to most rappers who seem to be faking it. I was also surprised by how soulful his music was. Unlike the synth-heavy Trap-style beats, we’ve been listening to in the past few years.
You only have to go back to his early stuff to realize this kid is a proper rapper…
He was formally known as Easy Mac or EZ Mac and even released a mixtape in 2007 called But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy under that name when he was just 15 years old.
After that, he changed his rap moniker to Mac Miller and released a couple more mixtapes before getting signed by Rostrum Records, which was an independent label. This happened just before he released his K.I.D.S. mixtape, which is largely known as his breakout project.
Making a Name for Himself
Over the next couple of years, Mac went on to release some very popular tracks from his mixtapes, such as “Best Day Ever.” At the time, Mac was starting to use social media to promote his music, and he was garnering a very dedicated fanbase.
When he released the single “Donald Trump” in 2011, everything started to change for the rapper. This was his first track that hit the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and peaked a 75. The single is certified platinum in the US.
Off the back of the track…
Mac released a 6-track EP called On and On and Beyond that reached #55 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart. Not long after, he finally released his debut studio album, Blue Slide Park. That hit the top spot on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. And it was the first time that an independent artist had done that since 1995 when Tha Dogg Pound’s Dogg Food album achieved the same accolade.
Swimming Around in Circles
From 2013 to 2020 (posthumously), Mac Miller released a further five studio albums. In my opinion, his posthumously-released Circles album in 2020 is a masterpiece. It is filled to the brim with sad but soulful tracks that have a lot of heart and melody.
His penultimate and best-selling album, Swimming, was the last album released when he was alive. The main emphasis of that album seemed to be his relationship and breakup with Popstar Ariana Grande.
Over his career, Mac Miller sold 3.125 million albums, with three million of those sales in the US. His album, Swimming, is said to have sold over one million copies worldwide. Although those figures might not live up to some of the more popular rap artists of his time, he did it all by being true to himself. And you can’t fault that.
How Did Mac Miller Die?
The truth is that Mac Miller suffered massively from depression and his drug use over the years. That has been blamed as the main cause behind Mac Miller’s death. It’s not the first time a Popstar has fallen into the negative cycle of working too hard, getting dependent on drugs to get through their life, and heavy schedule.
The official cause of Mac Miller’s death was initially listed as accidental death from an overdose while under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, and fentanyl. It’s a wicked combination that has taken too many young people too early. I said “initially” because the original verdict was thrown into doubt for several reasons that I will go into later.
The harsh reality is that Mac had massive struggles with drug addiction over the years and with himself. You can hear that ongoing struggle in his lyrics. The strangest thing is that it was being reported at the time that Miller was on the road to recovery and had been relatively clean. But then, he relapsed in the lead-up to his untimely death. This had his fans hurt and confused.
Is Anyone to Blame for Mac Miller’s Death?
When anybody dies from self-inflicted drug abuse, it’s difficult to point the finger at anyone aside from the person in question. Accidental drug overdoses happen all the time, especially when opiates like fentanyl are involved. But, in this case, Miller isn’t seemingly to blame per se. In September 2018, Ryan Reavis was charged and sentenced to almost 11 years in prison for his part in the rapper’s death.
Reavis was found guilty of supplying Mac with oxycodone pills that were laced with fentanyl. The pills were apparently mixed with fentanyl, and Reavis knew this when they were given to Mac’s drug dealer, Camron James Pettit. The laced drugs were apparently, by newspaper reports, sold to Mac just two days before his death.
There are many conflicting reports out there…
But what we do know is that three people have been charged in this case. Ryan Reavis and Camron James Pettit were charged and convicted. Alongside a man named Stephan Walter, who also pleaded guilty to his involvement in the distribution of the laced pills to Mac.
At the time of writing this, Walter was recently sentenced to over 17 years in prison for his part in Mac’s death, while Pettit’s case is still pending. It seems that Mac was completely unaware of what he was taking. Therefore, the reason why Mac Miller died was not an intentional overdose, but that doesn’t make it any less tragic.
Celebrity Reaction to Mac Miller’s Death
Many people in and outside of the music industry were devastated to learn the news of Mac’s accidental passing. He had so many friends in the industry that couldn’t believe what happened.
Mac’s former girlfriend, Ariana Grande, was heartbroken about his death and was quoted as saying, “I can’t believe you are not here anymore. I really can’t wrap my head around it.” Grande continued to say, “I’m so mad, I’m so sad, and I don’t know what to do… I’m sorry I couldn’t fix or take away your pain. I really wanted to.”
One of Mac’s best friends in the industry was another popular rapper, Post Malone…
He also had some sad words to say about his friend’s death. “God f##kin dammit. You were such an incredible person. You changed so many lives,” said Malone. “Had so much love in your heart. You inspired me throughout school, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Never was there a more kind and sincere and beautiful person. I f##kin love you, Mac.”
Mac Miller’s Burial and Charity
The date of Mac Miller’s burial is unknown. But, he was laid to rest by his parents, family, and close family friends in his hometown of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Thousands of his fans held a vigil for the rapper on 11 September 2018 at the Blue Skate Park he made famous in his song “Pittsburg.”
There was also a Celebration of Life event that took place in Los Angeles on 31 October 2018. Lots of Mac’s music friends and collaborators performed at the event. And all the proceeds were given to the newly-formed Mac Miller Circle Fund charity.
By January 2019, the charity had already raised in the region of 700,000 dollars. The charity changed its name to the Mac Mille Legacy Fund, whose aim is to help young rappers and musicians who have substance abuse issues.
Rap Music and Drug Culture
Drugs and the Rap Music industry are hardly strangers to each other. For sure, the first decade of Rap Music from 1982 to 1992 was seen as relatively drug-free, although it obviously wasn’t behind the scenes. But, when the 1990s began, Rap Music’s relationship with cannabis began.
The likes of Cypress Hill, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Redman, Method Man, and many more constantly rapped about smoking weed and getting blunted. But, let’s be honest here, cannabis is not really that dangerous. And even causes fewer social problems and medical issues than alcohol.
Cannabis was also an elixir for creating music…
So, the two went hand in hand from around 1992 until 2012, when the rap industry’s drug of choice changed from ganja to all manner of opiate pills and medication. This is where the real problems started regarding rappers and drug addictions.
You can even hear the change in the vibes of the music. It went from something up-tempo and bass-laden to something a bit more spaced out and strung out. Is the use of oxy and fentanyl to blame for the creation of Mumble Rap? Maybe so.
New Wave rappers in the 2010s, like XXXTENTACION, constantly talked about their struggles with opiates, and it pretty much changed what rap music is and was. Drugs have always influenced music, so we shouldn’t be that surprised.
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How Did Mac Miller Die? – Final Thoughts
Sadly, when Mac Miller died of an accidental drug overdose, he was just 26 years old. It’s one of the saddest stories in Rap Music history.
If he was a bad boy and a gangster, it wouldn’t be so sad, but because he was considered a very gentle and lovely person, it’s such a tragedy. Those who were to blame for his death are being held accountable for their actions. But, some part has to be laid at Miller’s feet. Self-accountability is something that is lacking in the modern world of entitled thinking.
Mac Miller will be immortalized forever in his music and will always remain young like so many tragic music artists that came before him. It’s important to beware of anything you are taking, and that’s why abusing pills is so dangerous. Hopefully, this can be a lesson for other young rappers and artists making their way through this murky industry.
Until next time, stay safe and happy listening.
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