By CAROLINE AURIGEMMA
Copy Editor
Malcolm McCormick, a rapper famously known as Mac Miller or producer Larry Fisherman, passed away on Friday Sept. 7. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 26-year-old Pittsburgh native was found in his home in San Fernando Valley, California. Although there is not yet a definite cause of death, many media outlets are rumoring an apparent overdose.
Miller released his most recent album “Swimming” in August and his tour was set to start in early October. The rapper tweeted one day before his death, “I just wanna go on tour.” Since the tragic news, the Swimming tour has been canceled, and many fans are grieving. Miller’s final performance was at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood for a small intimate audience.
Although Miller had a successful year making his new album and releasing three singles in May, his struggles with drugs were still apparent. According to CBS Los Angeles, Miller was arrested with a DUI in May for driving drunk into a pole in Hollywood Hills.
Mac Miller’s music was a creative outlet for the rapper who struggled with drug use.
From an early start, he was open about his experiences and feelings towards drugs in many of his songs. In his song ‘Red Dot’ off of his album “Watching Movies with the Sound Off,” Miller specifically sounds distraught with his decisions saying, “They got my soul, but I don’t let them take the rest of me.” In an interview with the Rolling Stone in 2016 Miller talks about sobriety with the release of his album “The Divine Feminine,” saying, “I go to sleep at night and wake up in the day, and that’s a beautiful balance in my life” and “I’m not forcing anything.” In the song “Come Back to Earth,” the first song off of his new album he discusses his progress towards bettering himself yet again, “I was drowning but now I’m swimming through stressful waters to relief.”
Many early songs were influenced by Pittsburgh, specifically the Frick Park and Frick Park Market. Miller titled his second album “Blue Slide Park” after the Frick Park in which he had spent the majority of his childhood. Many fans gathered at the blue slide to host a vigil for their beloved rapper and hometown pal the night of Sept. 7.
Fans will miss this young talent, as well as his plethora of friends in the music industry. Many friends posted a photo of Miller smiling, and others shared their condolences with his family and fond memories they had of him. Chance the Rapper tweeted “…Mac Miller took me on my second tour ever. But beyond helping me with my career he was one of the sweetest guys I ever knew.”
Many artists spoke to this tragedy with reminders for people struggling with drug addiction. Friend and co producer of ‘Hurt Feelings’ on Miller’s newest album, J. Cole tweeted “This is a message for anybody in this game that’s going through something. If you don’t feel right, if you feel you have a substance problem… Please reach out to me.” Friend and singer, songwriter Kehlani tweeted, “check on ur friends even the strong funny ones.”
The sudden end to Millers life and career is saddening to all of us impacted by his talents as a producer and his witty and often deep verses. Mac Miller was the rapper who taught high schoolers about the delicacy that is Kool-Aid and frozen pizza, and for the college students struggling through the week that all of your worries will be forgotten by the weekend. He will be greatly missed.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from drug abuse or substance disorders or who may need a helping hand call 1-800-662-HELP.
