Balloonerism: A Celebration of Mac Miller

Mac Miller was a rapper who captured the hearts of music listeners everywhere. As a  self-taught multi-instrumentalist, he began sharing his craft at just fifteen years old, immersing himself in Pittsburgh's music scene and carving out his own artistic path.

Miller’s early efforts quickly gained traction, leading to a record deal with Rostrum Records at eighteen. Mixtapes like K.I.D.S. and Best Day Ever gained popularity, paving the way for his 2011 debut studio album, Blue Slide Park. 

By that stage in his career, Miller was often associated with the "frat rap" subgenre, a style that emerged in the early 2000s, centered around partying, college life, and the experiences of youth.

The commentary version of Blue Slide Park offers insight into the personal passion Miller poured into his work. His connection with listeners was built on a shared journey; his music mirrored the experiences of growing up, with tracks that resonated deeply with fans who felt they were evolving alongside him. One of his most popular songs from this era directly references the milestone of graduating high school.

However, Miller did not remain confined to the frat rap style for long. Following the release of the mixtape Macadelic, his 2013 sophomore album Watching Movies with the Sound Off marked a clear departure from his earlier work. This project showcased a more introspective side of Miller, with deeply personal lyrics and an evolved sound. Songs like "REMember" reflect on the fleeting nature of life, offering a glimpse into the introspective artistry that would define his later work.

In 2015, GO:OD AM signified a return to a more mainstream, upbeat sound reminiscent of K.I.D.S., but with the maturity and self-awareness that comes with experience. The album included standout tracks like "Weekend" and "100 Grandkids." On "Weekend," Miller steps away from the celebratory tone of the record to reflect on his struggles, acknowledging that wealth and fame do not provide an escape from personal demons, a theme that would become even more prominent in his later work, particularly on his album Swimming.

Following these more candidly dark topics with his 2016 release, The Divine Feminine, Miller fully embraced a new musical direction. The album leaned into jazz and funk influences, reminiscent of his work under the pseudonym Larry Fisherman. It was a bold exploration of love and sensuality, offering a fresh perspective on his artistry. Fans warmly received the project, solidifying his ability to seamlessly shift between genres while maintaining his signature authenticity.

This warmth from fans continued under the release of Swimming, in 2018, became Miller’s final release before his passing, arriving just a month before his death. The album, deeply introspective and emotionally raw, stands as a testament to his artistic growth and his ability to connect with listeners on a deep level.

The events following the record definitely came as a shock, as Swimming had a more positive sound despite the deep and emotional subject matter that the tracks were reflecting on. Many saw this record as an improvement for Miller as he was looking forward to elements of the future even with the difficulties that the music industry brings upon young artists. 

Tracks like “Self Care’’ and the accompanying music video that went along with it show that the artist didn't shy away from topics of death, as it features Miller climbing out of a casket. The song sonically also has such a shift in tone and emotion that helps to further encapsulate the duality that this record featured. 

Regardless of the chilling visuals and the timing, this track in particular is a demonstration of his candidness in handling difficult topics. The track’s message that struggles aren't going to be forever even if it feels like that in the moment and the importance of being able to overcome issues is one that is extremely valuable to this day.

Over the course of his lifetime, Mac Miller was able to make these sentiments come to life for viewers to feel reflected in, even in the darkest parts of themselves. The record acted as a window into his vision, both visually and sonically, before his passing, but that wouldn't be the end of seeing the magic behind the mind of Mac Miller. 

The rapper’s estate posthumously released his album Circles in 2020, which was intended to be a companion album to the 2018 release of Swimming. The record stayed true to his artistic voice and the level of depth that he always featured in his work despite not being here to showcase this himself. 

It's clear that a lot of love went into finishing this project to capture his vision in the most honorable way possible and has a lot of mellow, calming tracks that really honor some of the happiest points of Mac Miller's music. “Good News” perfectly captures the pulse defining this release. 

The project felt to many like a celebration of the young rapper's life, who was still developing his voice and identity as not only a musical artist but a person navigating a very difficult world. Although his time was cut short, his music continues to inspire, evolving with listeners as they navigate their own journeys.

The celebration of the artist’s life continues with his most recent release from his estate entitled Balloonerism on January 17, 2025. The 14-track release is a thank you to all of the fans who have been with him since the beginning of his career as it references many previous works and goes back to his original beloved sound while also honoring his growth over time.

The album opens with “Tambourine Dream.” The tambourine was an instrument that Miller commonly used across his later discography and was essential to a lot of the instrumental backing in his later work. According to Genius, engineer Josh Berg claimed that “it was always the same tambourine being used in Mac’s music, and that the tambourine had its own makeshift stand inside of the studio.” 

This very simple instrumental acts as a nod to the very small elements that made Miller's music come to life. By pulling from more of his earlier discography for a lot of the body of work, like Faces, one of his most beloved mixtapes. 

The track is followed up by the track “DJ’s Chord Organ” featuring SZA. The Lo-fi, spacious sound features the production side of Miller as an artist. Though this production pulled from arguably one of the biggest peaks of his career, it pulls back the curtain on how lost the young musician seemed to feel.

It's a track that pulls you right into the feeling of having been up all night, being aimless with nowhere to turn, but still trying to find a way to make it through.

The rapper has been known by many in the industry as an adored friend and respected collaborator, with one of those people being SZA, who is featured on the track. Miller helped to produce some of her tracks under his alias Larry Fisherman. To be able to hear the voices of fellow musicians that loved him layered into this project really helps to further show the impact that he had within the musical space.

Other collaborators and friends of Miller included Kendrick Lamar—who speaks of similar subject matter within his music and has not shied away from shining a spotlight on similar issues as the young rapper—Mac DeMarco an industry friend, and his previous partner, Ariana Grande—who has since honored him in her project Eternal Sunshine, as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was his favorite film. 

The album flows seamlessly from “DJ’s Chord Organ” to “Do You Have A Destination?” The artist speaks about his unpredictability and the struggles that he faced in the wake of following his passion. The track discusses his feeling of being invincible, reincarnation, and how the industry is grinding him down. 

What becomes apparent from this point and forward is that listeners are given a view into the struggles that Mac Miller faced while he was alive, and it's powerful that even in the wake of his passing, the people who helped to put this project together didn't take away from the rawness that the rapper was willing to display to his listeners. 

A moment of brevity is given after this track as it is followed up by one of the most popular off of the project, “5 Dollar Pony Rides," and is a lush and relaxed song about a girl that he loves. The track serves as a look into the life of another person that he deeply cares about and wants to be able to support. A lot of love oozes out of this track. Though it can feel like an abrupt departure from the subject matter of the previous track. 

In the same vein, the track “Friendly Hallucinations" speaks of a girl he cares deeply for; it features a more experimental production compared to the latter songs on the tracklist. What works well is the contrast that shifts the focus away from the internal world that Mac gives a window into and instead focuses on the people that he loves which gives a wider scope of his life at the time of creating these songs. 

The song also acts as a conversation with other writers and the power that satire can hold in a genre. The track lyrically speaks to his influences and the way that he's able to give a commentary on the creative world that surrounded him while providing a sound that you don't want to end. 

“Mrs. Deborah Downer” is a lyrical return to the subject matter of earlier tracks like “Do You Have A Destination?” As the lyrics state, “All roads lead to the same confusion,” this song gives a map for a desire of travel throughout the lyrics, and acts a sort of commentary with himself about writing and purpose with all of the background struggles making the creative process a more difficult beast.

From the sounds of “Stoned,” It's clear that for Miller, there are many emotional parallels between him and this girl that he is singing about, and in the face of all of these troubles that they're both enduring, passion and understanding still remain. It features a softer instrumental that isn't as rough around the edges as other tracks. Allowing for the record to carry an authenticity that was present during the work that Miller was able to directly get his hands in prior to passing. 

“Shangri-La” continues to detail the story narratively that has been coursing through the record. With further mentions of travel and drug use, the album feels like a road trip planned at the last second in the search of a greater purpose. 

The artist directly mentions his troubles, as one of the final lines states, “If I die young, promise to smile at my funeral.” It's a heart-sinking search for positivity knowing that you're dealing with things you don't want the people you love to face as a result.

On a more broad level, this project covers the drug issues that have been sweeping the entertainment industry across its entire existence. It’s projects like these being put into the world, even after tragedy, that help to show how much these issues need to be addressed so that creatives can continue to thrive. 

“Funny Paper” is a track that presents how his narrative ability as a songwriter has been able to develop and offer commentary and introspective qualities beyond personal experience. This is one of the strengths that allows for his music to still connect with listeners to this day and offer up a more universal connection.

“Excisilor” similarly acts as an extension of this narrative ability. It's a moment on the record where the artist reminds you of a very simple time in your life and rewinds you back before your demons can begin to take your life off track.

“Transformations” features Delusional Thomas and takes a detour from the narrative songs that have come before it. It's a pause in the story that reminds the listener how much dedication Mac Miller had to the hip-hop world in particular and acts as a direct conversation with the genre and pays homage to many of the popular elements featured across other works.

“Manakins” exhibits the best of the heart of Mac Miller. Ultimately, after many tracks that feel like a panicked search, this song instead shows his resilience, as the lyrics state, “Things we all search for end up findin’ us”.

These positive sentiments continue in the track “Rick's Piano” with the lyric, “The best is yet to come.” Although the end of the song talks about death and what comes after we leave this earth, listeners can hear a shining light of positivity begin to reach through that darkness that was clogging the artist's mind during this time.

It's because of tracks like this that talk so openly about death and drug use directly being a cause for death that the record feels like an exploration of final days and the journey that comes with dying. It's clear that the people who helped to put this record together helped to shape a narrative surrounding what can be next for all of us after this life comes to a close and helps to highlight that although Mac Miller may have been lost too soon, the impact that he's made on this world is not forgotten.

Mac Miller, even in the face of all his struggles, was a beautiful light that deserves to still be heard.

The record closes with the existential track “Tomorrow Will Never Know” and speaks to the idea of a higher power and the journey of life and death in tandem with each other. With the final line, “Give you a chance to start all over,” though all of the darkness that can be found within life, this is a reminder that not everything is permanent and you can find a new beginning.

Balloonerism is a heavy, arresting listen that offers an honest look into the mind of Miller from years before his more recent work. With the darkness comes an important window into those that are still struggling.

Mac offers you a seat on his road trip through the life he lived. So strap in and take a ride for yourself through the discography of Mac Miller.