Mac Miller Research Paper

Mac Miller: Swimming in Circles Mac Miller was an American rapper and singer-songwriter born Malcolm James McCormick in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1992. He began his music career as a teenager, releasing his first music tape, “But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy,” in 2007. He went on to release several more critically acclaimed and commercially successful works of art including “The Divine Feminine,” “Swimming,” and finally “Circles,” which was finalized and released after his death in 2018. Miller’s music was characterized by his emotional honesty and vulnerability. He often spoke on his struggles with addiction and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental

In his early work his music was light hearted and carefree, reflective of his youth and success. As seen in songs like “Donald Trump,” and “Best Day Ever,” he raps about his dreams and aspirations singing, “I’m living life right now, man/And that's what i’m gonna do ‘til it's over(Miller).” But as he began to struggle with addiction, unfortunately, his songs became more raw and took on a darker tone. In songs like “Brand Name” and “Weekend,” Mac Miller explored the highs and lows of fame and all the pressures that came with it. He rapped about the difficulties of being in the public eye, singing “I’m stuck inside my ways, I might just end up driving on the wrong side of the road/And if I crash, don’t be surprised, it happens all the time(Miller).” These lines reveal the toll that fame was taking on him, and foreshadowed the struggles to come. As his addiction worsened his lyrics became increasingly genuine, exposing his hidden self to his fans. As seen in his song “Circles,” he sings, “Stumblin’ around, you’ve been guessin’ your direction, next step you can’t see at all/ And I don’t have a name I don’t have a name no/ Who am I to blame, who am I to blame though? I can not be changed, I can not be changed, no. Trust me, I’ve tried(Miller).” He uncovers his feelings of hopelessness in these lyrics, allowing his listeners to connect and feel with him on a deeper level. Mac Miller gave