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Its not wrong to say that Mac Miller was misunderstood, but its not quite correct, either.
At his best, listening to him could make you dizzy.
In 2012, he released the mixtapeMacadelic.
It was our first real glimpse of the artist that Miller would become.
It could tackle serious topics in funny ways.
That Miller eventually found a home in a hazy, almost psychedelic world felt appropriate.
Around the same time, he produced an entire mixtape for Vince Staples under the alter-ego Larry Fisherman.
After that, hed go on to rap and produce at a steady clip.
To be sure, he existed within the music industry.
His albums had singles.
Paparazzi followed him places.
He was on a record label.
He had a publicist.
All the usual stuff.
It felt like he would have been making this music whether or not anyone was listening.
But hed also make jokes, and loved to rhyme just to rhyme.
There are no lights in the room, just a lurid, neon red glow and some recording equipment.
Its clear where he felt more comfortable.
Earlier this week, Vulture publisheda profileof Mac Miller, written by our music critic Craig Jenkins.
Without his voice which had evolved into a nasal, gravelly thing the music would have felt almost weightless.
Listening to it felt like the beginning of a new phase.
The profile oscillated between the interior and exterior world of Mac Miller.
And I dont want just sadness either.
I dont want to be depressed.
I want to be able to have good days and bad days …
I cant imagine not waking up sometimes and being like, I dont feel like doing shit.
And then having days where you wake up and you feel on top of the world.
