Who Was Mac Miller?
Mac Miller was an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer born Malcolm James McCormick in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began his career in the Pittsburgh hip-hop scene in 2007 at age 15. His later albums combined hip-hop with jazz and more personal lyrics.
Mac Miller released breakthrough mixtapes. Examples include K.I.D.S. (2010) and Best Day Ever (2011).
What Are the Key Facts About Mac Miller?
Mac Miller was born on January 19, 1992, and died on September 7, 2018, at age 26. The table below lists biographical facts about Mac Miller, with each attribute and its value labeled.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Malcolm James McCormick |
| Date of birth | January 19, 1992 |
| Place of birth | Point Breeze, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Date of death | September 7, 2018 |
| Age at death | 26 |
| Occupations | Rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Career start | 2007 |
| Record labels | Rostrum Records, Warner Bros. Records |
| Studio albums | 6 |
Where Was Mac Miller Born and Raised?
Mac Miller was born and raised in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had an older brother named Miller.
Who Were Mac Miller’s Parents?
Mac Miller’s parents were Karen Meyers, a photographer, and Mark McCormick, an architect.
What Was Mac Miller’s Religion?
Mac Miller was raised Jewish. His mother was Jewish, his father was Christian, and he had a bar mitzvah.
Which Schools Did Mac Miller Attend?
Mac Miller graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh. He also attended a Catholic grade school and spent time at Winchester Thurston School.
How Did Mac Miller Start His Music Career?
Mac Miller started his career in 2007 at age 15 in the Pittsburgh hip-hop scene. The 7 career milestones below are listed in chronological order:
- 2007: Released the mixtape But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy.
- 2010: Signed with Rostrum Records and released the mixtape K.I.D.S.
- 2011: Released Blue Slide Park and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.
- 2013: Founded REMember Music and released Watching Movies with the Sound Off.
- 2014: Signed with Warner Bros. Records.
- 2018: Released Swimming in August and died on September 7.
- 2020: Released Circles posthumously.
What Was Mac Miller’s Stage Name Before Mac Miller?
Mac Miller first performed as Easy Mac, often stylized as EZ Mac.
What Studio Albums Did Mac Miller Release?
Mac Miller released 6 studio albums between 2011 and 2020. The table below lists each album with its release year, record label, and a chart or release detail.
| Album | Release Year | Label | Chart or Release Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Slide Park | 2011 | Rostrum Records | Debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 with 144,000 first-week sales |
| Watching Movies with the Sound Off | 2013 | Rostrum Records | Debuted at number 3 with 102,000 first-week sales |
| GO:OD AM | 2015 | Warner Bros. Records | First studio album on Warner Bros. Records |
| The Divine Feminine | 2016 | Warner Bros. Records | Second studio album on Warner Bros. Records |
| Swimming | 2018 | Warner Bros. Records | Peaked at number 3 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album |
| Circles | 2020 | Warner Bros. Records | Posthumous release with more than 160,000 first-week sales |
What Records and Awards Did Mac Miller Earn?
Blue Slide Park made Mac Miller the first act with an independently distributed debut album to top the Billboard 200 since 1995. The previous album with that distinction was Dogg Food by Tha Dogg Pound. Mac Miller’s chart and award achievements include:
- Topped the Billboard 200 in 2011 with Blue Slide Park.
- Earned a gold certification for Blue Slide Park in the United States and Canada.
- Reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 with Swimming.
- Received a first Grammy nomination, for Best Rap Album, with Swimming.
Critics gave Blue Slide Park mixed reviews.
What Ventures Did Mac Miller Pursue Beyond Studio Albums?
Mac Miller pursued 3 ventures beyond studio albums: a record label, a reality series, and a film role. The ventures are listed below:
- Founded REMember Music in 2013, a label imprint that focused on Pittsburgh artists.
- Starred in the MTV2 series Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family from 2013 to 2014.
- Appeared in the film Scary Movie V in 2013 alongside Snoop Dogg.
What Did Mac Miller Say About Depression and Drug Use?
Mac Miller said in a 2015 interview with Larry King that depression and drug use were connected in his life. He described a long-term drug problem and linked it to his state of mind. In a February 2016 Fader documentary, he also discussed overdosing.
How Did Mac Miller Die?
Mac Miller died on September 7, 2018, from an accidental overdose at his home in Studio City, California, at age 26. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner report released on November 5, 2018, toxicity from a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol caused his death.
The coroner’s report states that his personal assistant found him unresponsive at about 11:30 a.m. Paramedics declared him dead 16 minutes after the 911 call.
Who Was Charged in Mac Miller’s Death?
Federal prosecutors charged 3 men in connection with the counterfeit pills that led to the overdose: Stephen Walter, Ryan Reavis, and Cameron Pettit. According to federal court filings, the pills passed from Walter to Reavis to Pettit, who sold them to Miller 2 days before his death. The table below lists each defendant, his role in the supply chain, and the outcome reported in 2022.
| Defendant | Role in Pill Supply Chain | Outcome Reported in 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Walter | Supplied the pills to Reavis | Sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in federal prison |
| Ryan Reavis | Passed the pills to Pettit | Sentenced to 131 months (almost 11 years) in federal prison |
| Cameron Pettit | Sold the pills to Miller | Case pending at the time of the reports |
What Posthumous Releases and Tributes Followed Mac Miller’s Death?
Circles, released on January 17, 2020, was the first Mac Miller album issued after his death. Producer Jon Brion completed the album, which Miller’s family described as a companion to Swimming. Circles sold more than 160,000 copies in its first week, the highest first-week total of any Mac Miller album.
Tributes to Mac Miller included:
- A benefit concert titled Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life in Los Angeles in October 2018
- The Mac Miller Circles Fund, created by his family with the Pittsburgh Foundation
- A fan vigil at the Blue Slide Park playground in Frick Park
- A reference in Ariana Grande’s 2018 single “thank u, next”
The Circles Fund had raised more than $700,000 for Pittsburgh youth before the 2019 Grammy Awards.
What Are People Also Asking About Mac Miller?
What was Mac Miller’s real name?
Mac Miller’s real name was Malcolm James McCormick.
How old was Mac Miller when he died?
Mac Miller was 26 years old when he died on September 7, 2018.
What was the last album Mac Miller released before his death?
Swimming, released in August 2018, was the last album Mac Miller released before his death.
Was Mac Miller Jewish?
Mac Miller was raised Jewish and had a bar mitzvah.
Who did Mac Miller date?
Mac Miller dated singer Ariana Grande for almost 2 years until May 2018.
What Is Mac Miller Known for Today?
Mac Miller is recognized for combining hip-hop with jazz and personal lyrics across 6 studio albums. His debut, Blue Slide Park, topped the Billboard 200 in 2011. His final album released in his lifetime, Swimming, earned a Grammy nomination. His family and the Pittsburgh Foundation established the Mac Miller Circles Fund to support youth in his hometown.
The Mac Miller biography spans 26 years, from his birth in Pittsburgh in 1992 to his death in Los Angeles in 2018.
Sources: Britannica, Mac Miller | Wikipedia, Mac Miller | Wikipedia, Blue Slide Park | Hebrew University, Jewish Music Research Centre | The Hollywood Reporter | ET Online, Grammy nomination | ET Online, Walter sentencing | CBS Los Angeles | Rap-Up, Circles | CBS Pittsburgh, Grammy attendance