You may remember the tragic and unexpected death of rapper Mac Miller in September 2018. Gaining fame from his early mixtapes in the late 2000s, like The Jukebox: Prelude to Class Clown and The High Life, he reminded fans of the laid-back kid in high school that you could relax with after school while listening to music. He was truly the relatable boy next door, but with a passion and talent for rap. Now, nearly seven years after his heartbreaking passing, there is something new that his beloved fans can enjoy in his loving memory.
His new posthumous project, Balloonerism, was released on January 17, just in time for what would have been his 33rd birthday. True Mac Miller supporters seem to be content with the release, though it’s undoubtedly a bittersweet feeling—especially since the project was created in 2014. According to his camp, the project “was of great importance to Malcolm—to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it…” And speaking of visuals, a short film based off the album was also released on Amazon Prime Video on the same day.
Synopsis:
The short film companion to Mac Miller’s Balloonerism follows a group of school friends who are transfigured by the music of a chord organ and launched into a shadow world. Pursued by the turtle of time, they must plod through the underbelly of adulthood. Based on the lyrics and music of Mac Miller and directed by Samuel Jerome Mason. Animation. 2025.
Clearly the project was released with great care and intention which is exactly what it deserved.
It quickly received positive reviews. More specifically, Uproxx, the entertainment website, has already expressed reasons why listeners love the latest project. They noted that the album combines some of Miller’s best sounds, serves as a reminder of how talented he was, provides an “eerie” account of his struggles with life, and remains authentic. That’s exactly how a posthumous album should make fans feel. Bravo to everyone involved with the project! Be sure to stream and download Balloonerism this weekend.
