Malcolm McCormick, otherwise known as Mac Miller, was a rapper and producer. He is mostly known for his contemplative song lyrics, which go in depth about his depression and addictions. He had a unique hip-hop style with several jazz influences that showcased his ability to be eclectic with any music genre.
Most listeners tuned in to his debut album, Blue Slide Park which was the very first independent debut album to reach the top of the Billboard 200 chart in the early 2000s. He also produced many of his own songs with different personas, “Larry Fisherman” being his producer name, “Larry Lovestein” being his jazz persona, and “Delusional Thomas” being his melancholic persona. Eventually, he settled on the name “Mac Miller.”
Several of his songs earned platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, or the Recording Industry of America. On September 7th, 2018, Mac Miller tragically passed away at 26 years of age due to an accidental drug overdose in his home studio. He left behind a legacy of both unreleased and published candid work.
Balloonerism— what it means
Balloonerism, Mac Miller’s seventh album, was most recently released in January of 2025. Most tracks on the album were recorded mid-2014, coincidentally near the release of his Faces album which was released in May of 2014. Many fans of Mac Miller consider the Balloonerism album as the “long-lost sister” to the Faces album because of the similarities in genres.
Balloonerism has 14 tracks with several of them using mellow R&B and introspective lyrics detailing his struggles with fame, addiction, and substance abuse in 2014. The album is like he relives his entire life over again, dissecting and questioning every moment before he overdoses.
Every single track on the album feels like an emotion, detailing specific events in his life such as initially taking the drugs, being “high,” and slowly climbing altitude as a balloon, until he eventually reaches his end, popping, and overdosing. It’s akin to being unable to control your addiction and knowing the outcome of your decisions, but being unable to take action and do something about it.
Balloonerism with Students
Several students were asked for their initial reaction to several Balloonerism tracks, being indifferent to, knowing, or not knowing the musician. Junior Hazel A. gave attention to the track “5 Dollar Pony Rides” and said, “I really loved the beat. This song specifically sounded super jazzy, and it gives somewhat of a happy tune.” She also lent an ear to the track “DJ’s Chord Organ” and stated, “I think this song is very nice. It makes me feel happy how SZA collaborated on the song since I love her music.”
Junior Cesar R. took a listen to “Rick’s Piano,” and stated “This song really relieves me of my stress, and this is very bittersweet. I will add this to my playlist.” He also took a listen at “DJ’s Chord Organ,” and stated, “This is my favorite out of the two. It made me feel significantly happier and it sounds like total bliss. I’m also going to add this to my playlist.”
On the other hand, sophomore Valeria V. took a listen to “DJ’s Chord Organ” and stated, “I didn’t like it. I don’t typically listen to this type of music, and it feels kind of difficult to get into.” Valeria also took a listen to “Rick’s Piano,” and stated, “I liked this song. It made me reminisce about the past and several things that I could’ve changed.”
Junior Eddie F. took a listen to “Stoned” and said, “This song is relatable to what I’m going through right now. I’m in complete love.”
Tracks on the album like “5 Dollar Pony Rides” and “DJ’s Chord Organ” may have stood out for their soothing sounds. However, some students like Valeria V. had difficulty trying to listen to some songs on the album like “DJ’s Chord Organ,” stating that it just wasn’t her style.
Emotional Impact of Balloonerism
The experiences of the students prove that Balloonerism touched on many different emotions that may not be easily obtainable with other music, depending on the listener. From appreciation to nonchalance, it is unquestionable that Mac Miller’s music has left an impact in the music world, even after his passing.
MY THREE FAVORITE MAC MILLER TRACKS:
“Good News” – Circles
https://youtu.be/aIHF7u9Wwiw?si=-VqJ9nciUbfqXrWm
“Self Care” – Swimming
https://youtu.be/SsKT0s5J8ko?si=EvBOyA6lRu3jCqkl
“Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza” – K.I.D.S.
