Late American rapper Mac Miller’s seventh studio album, “Balloonerism,” was released January 17, 2025, over a decade after its creation from 2013 to 2014. As his second posthumous album since his accidental death September 7, 2018, fans treasure the album as a whole — no longer limited to the bits and pieces leaked throughout music communities. The Miller Estate released the album after its teasing and familiarity with fan bases, as well as after Miller had already commissioned art and common discussions: a respectfully shared unreleased project they believed Miller had previously planned to release.
“I think posthumous albums can be an insanely powerful way to honor a musician. Amy Winehouse is a musician, and I think Mac parallels in a lot of ways. She was constantly belittled by critics and the music industry, forcing her into her downward spiral of addiction. Her posthumous album “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” reached number one on the charts when it was released. These types of artists are the most raw. While I wouldn’t say it was my favorite, I wouldn’t say that I did not love it any less than his others. He was unique, innovative and blatantly raw [like Winehouse] and it shines through in this work. It can’t be compared to anything else. It’s all him,” sophomore Casey Jones said.
“Balloonerism,” an experimental and creative album found in the psychedelic hip-hop genre, portrays major themes of death and euphoric drug use. Listeners find that at the time of his death, 26-year-old Miller explored his death immensely, especially through his music. Numerous followers believed Miller consumed these drugs due to the stressors of his rapidly progressing professional life, as well as his personal struggles. Due to the album’s recording in 2014, the production truly captures the struggling artist’s thoughts and feelings with heavy instrumentals and traces of psychosis.
“My favorite song on the album was ‘Mrs. Deborah Downer.’ Something I commonly find in Mac’s music is his authenticity to himself and his current situation. The song itself reflected his struggle with addiction. He foreshadows his death a lot in his music and how he knew his addiction was going to kill him. I think as he was someone who very clearly was sensitive with his emotions he was much more susceptible to falling into a depression and in turn an addiction. It’s a raw showcase of his emotion and how music isn’t just a way to make money but a way to express himself,” Jones said.
Introduced with a 32-second tambourine interlude, the 14-track album mainly represents Miller’s solo envisionment. Taken from the album title, the album reflects the feelings of a high as well as Miller’s personal aspirations and his doubts about them. Various tracks in the new release reflect traces of Miller’s older albums, including both his 2009 album “Swimming” — with a simple beat and catchy rap melodies — and his first posthumous 2020 album “Circles.” A majority of the new album also includes tracks with little to no rap and woozy instrumentals. Tracks such as “Funny Papers,” reminiscent of his past music, include ideas of self-reflection. The album also features American singer-songwriter SZA in the track “DJ’s Chord Organ” with a jazzy, vocal moment.
In contrast, tracks including “Tomorrow Will Never Know” and “Transformations” focus on imaginative aspects of the album, with several voice modifiers as well as unusual instrumentals. Additionally, “Transformations” features Delusional Thomas, an alias or alter-ego Miller uses, alluding to his 2013 mixtape released Halloween night. Track 13, “Rick’s Piano,” includes an emotional rollercoaster of a story behind its production. In 2015, Miller contacted producer Rick Rubin to help him become clean, creating not only a strong bond between the two but an incredible keyboard-heavy track. As Miller recovered with Rubin, he endlessly played the keyboard; the track introduces ideas of death and heavy emotions that Miller experienced, creating a touching song that takes listeners on a ride through Miller’s thoughts.
“This album definitely meant a lot for fans who have been through all of his music and different stories and sounds. It is so sad to hear him sing about things that he later died from by accident, and it just feels so unsettling. It truly feels like a look into the past but his sound is just so beautiful,” senior Abigail Burgess said.
As fans explore the raw, full release of “Balloonerism,” they uncover Miller’s feelings and thoughts through his powerful music. From purely instrumental, odd tracks, to catchy raps, fans reminisce on Miller’s life and struggles, finding entertainment and thoughtful lyrics comforting. The Chant expresses condolences to the family of Miller, and thanks the Miller Estate for the release of the album showcasing the talented rapper’s unreleased projects.
The Chant’s rating: A-
