Mac Miller‘s estate has announced that an animated short film will accompany the late rapper’s forthcoming posthumous album, Balloonerism.
According to Rolling Stone, the film will screen on Wednesday (January 15) in select theaters in Mac’s hometown of Pittsburgh and in New York City at a ticket price of $5, with all proceeds going toward the Mac Miller Fund. It will then expand to theaters in Toronto, London, Paris, Melbourne, Berlin, Sydney, Dublin and Auckland the following day. All theatergoers will receive limited-edition merch as well.
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Per the synopsis, “Balloonerism follows a group of school friends who are transfigured by the music of a chord organ and launched into a shadow world. Swallowed by the turtle of time, they must plod through the underbelly of adulthood.”
You can view the film’s poster art below.
Balloonerism is scheduled to be released on January 17 through Mac Miller’s longtime label Warner Music and will feature appearances from SZA and Delusional Thomas, the Quasimoto-esque alter ego Mac introduced in 2013.
Originally recorded in 2014, the project was confirmed by Mac’s family last November and described as being of “great importance” to the Pittsburgh native.
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“We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist,” they said in a statement.
“Given that unofficial versions of the album have been circulating online for years and that releasing Balloonerism was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”
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Last week, the first single from the album arrived — and it’s a reunion with Thundercat.
The duo were close friends and collaborator before Mac’s untimely passing in 2018 and were even scheduled to go on tour together prior to his drug overdose death.
Titled “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” the song was originally recorded around a decade ago and also features contributions from Thundercat’s brothers Jameel and Ronald Bruner, who were part of The Internet and Suicidal Tendencies, respectively.
The dreamy, laidback song sees Mac Miller ruminating on a relationship with lyrics such as: “I remember, girl, you used to have fun, yeah / Now I ain’t seen a smile in a while / Heard you’re feelin’ pretty lonely, yeah / Your daddy shoulda got you that pony.”
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Balloonerism will serve as Mac Miller’s second posthumous release following 2020’s Circles.
