It wasn’t that Miller lacked material.
But as those online processed the news of Miller’s passing in real time, his character took precedence.
Yes, there was good musica lot of it.
Mac Miller’s dealer was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for supplying the recording artist (pictured) with deadly fentanyl-laced drugs.Robin Marchant/Getty Images
But unlike many of his peers in the industry, Miller’s demeanor helped to define his career.
(Kickin' Incredibly Dope Shit).
The following year, his viral banger “Donald Trump” received praise from the future president himself.
Early on, many considered Miller a punchline.
But Miller responded with an open heart.
He used his tremendous popularity to elevate others in the hip-hop community.
“My gratitude is infinite.
The first person to believe in me and make stuff w me.”
Simultaneously, Miller reinvented himself artistically.
It wasn’t just cosigns.
Miller’s verses were expanding thematically, and he was developing into an unsung force behind the boards.
Simple punchlines evolved into complex meditations on addiction, mental illness, and interpersonal relationships.
His beats riffed on the moody, understated instrumentals of his peers.
The advancements coalesced onFaces, the mixtape he released on Mother’s Day, 2014.
Until Miller’s death,Facesscanned as an emotional bloodletting.
“I think I know it all, but I don’t.”
The collaborative environment Miller fostered transcended collegialityit was pure camaraderie.
and why the results skewed more organic than other records with sprawling credits.
It’s also why the grief around his death has been so deep, for so many.
In a world that too often seems starved for decency and kindness, Miller offered both in abundance.
