As I reminisce on Mac Miller, I feel sorrow because of his passing. Yet, I also feel grateful to be apart of an era where he continues to thrive. Throughout his career, Mac has tested the boundaries of jazz, pop, E.D.M., and hip-hop with a slew of vulnerable yet relatable bars. In the words of Pitchfork’s writer, Alphonse Pierre: “Mac matured side-by-side with me and so many teenagers and, like us, he had no idea what he was doing. We were all just figuring it out, and having Mac Miller there as our vessel to the outside world made it all seem a little more livable.”
Dating back to 2010, I can recall the first song I heard off Miller’s mixtape, K.I.D.S, called “Kool-Aid and Frozen Pizza.” Aside from the signature kush-induced cough at the beginning, “Kool-Aid and Pizza” sees Mac Miller taking a laid-back approach to bars that pretty much predicted his booming future. Likewise, Miller reminisces about a similar upbringing when he raps “Used to go to school, hang with friends and play sports/Every single summer taking trips to the shore.” Though those times are great, Miller said, he always knew there was more out there for him.
Another notable piece of the track is the beat selection goes in the same direction as his cadence. Aside from the jazzy arrangements, “Kool-Aid and Frozen Pizza” has a boom-bap soundscape. Overall, “Kool-Aid and Frozen Pizza” is a feel-good song that’s good for relaxation or daydreaming. Down the timeline, Miller has also released tapes like Watching Movies with the Sound Off and Blue Slide Park (my favs!) Following K.I.D.S’ debut. Miller was able to go on the first tour of his career, which went on to sell out every date.
Like his ascended success, Miller’s K.I.D.S has amassed so much attention that it’s currently on the Billboard 200 at No 112. This news follows after the timeless post-high school graduate mixtape debuted on all streaming platforms for the first time on April 29th, 2020. His representatives also dropped Miller’s posthumous album, Circles, in Jan 2020.
Rest easy, Mac. Listen to K.I.D.S by Mac Miller below:
