Children explode from the elementary schools, their feet dancing against the pavement. Unlike the surrounding adults, they hold a sense of innocence, a sense of wonder. They don't fear the future; they don't fear anything at all (except maybe a scrape or two). I look at them and give a bright smile. If only I could have kept that drive, that love of life, I think to myself. Life is too complicated anymore.
Instinctively, I retrieve my I-pod and plug in the headphones. I scan through the eight hundred and twenty three songs. I have everything from Rascal Flatts to the Smiths, mostly darker tunes. With a groan, I diligently look for something the least bit uplifting. And there it is.
No matter where life takes me, find me with a smile,
Pursuit to be happy, only laughing like a child
And I do smile. Mac Miller's song "Best Day Ever" never fails to lift my spirits, if only briefly. I imagine his cheeky grin, his sagging jeans, his backwards hat. Anymore, it is rare to find someone who hasn't heard of this rap superstar. He sells out concert after concert; he even has his own show on MTV. But things weren't always so smooth for Mac- he had to work earnestly for success.
Mac Miller grew up in Point Breeze, Pittsburgh- just under an hour from where I live. He often references his hometown, most notoriously his high school Taylor Alldredice. He skipped most classes. In the others, he took naps; he made too much music to sleep. Referring to his early dedication, he says, "Once I hit 15, I got real serious about it and it changed my life completely...I used to be into sports, play all the sports, go to all the high school parties. But once I found out hip-hop is almost like a job, that's all I did."
Besides passing CDs between classes, Mac Miller also performed at a rap club, the Shadow Lounge. A host Thelonious Stretch says regarding Mac, "His charisma has always been at a high level. Because he was already a superstar before the world knew it." His high school knew, though, voting him "Most Likely to be a Rapper" and "Most Likely to be Famous."
While still in high school, he signed with Rostrum Records, releasing the mixtape K.I.D.S, his fourth. "If you're not a kid anymore, this mixtape is about remembering when you were a kid and how you were able to live," he reveals. It has been downloaded over 800,000 times. Due to his success, he went on the "Incredibly Dope Tour" and sold out everywhere. This mixtape includes songs like "Senior Skip Day", which anecdotes his fun high school memories, and "Nikes on My Feet", which was filmed at Taylor Alldredice.
In 2011, his debut album Blue Slide Park reached number one on billboard 200 chart. The name is derived from Pittsburgh's section Blue Slide Park. Like many others, my favorite is his "Missed Calls", expressing his on-and-off again relationship with Nomi Leasure. This song explores the sad reality of fame, how maintaining relationships becomes much more difficult. "You just don't love me like you used to, think I'm 'bout to lose you," he raps sadly.
Just two years later came his second album, Watching Movies with the Sound off. This album is "very personal and very introspective", covering his addiction to codeine and sex. It carries a much different vibe than the fun Blue Slide Park or K.I.D.S. Every song seems to have hidden meanings, "Remember" a tribute to his deceased childhood friend. But I found that this was the follow-up of fame, the "behind the curtain"appeal. We seem to glorify drugs and partying without viewing its long-term affects. In another song, "Watching Movies", Mac writes as if he views his life objectively.
Imma be fine, no matter the time, just go along with the show
But no matter what variation of Mac you prefer, one thing is universal: his love for music.
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