The news of Mac Miller’s fatal accidental overdose sent shockwaves through the Hip Hop community in September 2018. The 26-year-old artist had just released Swimming, one of his most rounded and critically acclaimed albums to date, and it was rumored that he was in the midst of completing a companion album that would be called Circles.
Thanks to superproducer Jon Brion, who helped produce Frank Ocean’s Blonde and has scores of high-profile production credits under his belt, Circles was completed and was released two days before what would have been Miller’s 28th birthday.
It’s difficult to listen to Circles, the first posthumous album from Miller, without thinking about the context of the rapper’s untimely death. The opening song and title track sets the tone for the rest of the listen — this isn’t a rap album.
A soft, Velvet Underground-inspired guitar riff slowly plays behind tender vocals from Miller It’s a grandiose sound, but it’s subtle and understated and pairs seamlessly with Mac’s intimate lyrics. The song is a somber song, but not a sad one, and that’s a key distinction Mac attempts to highlight throughout Circles.
Miller’s career has largely been unpredictable. From K.I.D.S.’ frat-rap anthems to the psychedelic introspection of Faces and Macadelic, Miller was committed to experimentation both within the genre of rap and outside of it.
He released jazz albums under the moniker Larry Fisherman and remixed some of his own discography into live renditions performed with a backing band on Live From Space. But over the course of his previous two releases, The Divine Feminine and Swimming, Miller showed his affinity for R&B and soul-adjacent sounds and solidified his trajectory towards a more lyrically nuanced and musically diverse sound.
Circles may be a culmination of the sounds Miller had been working towards, but it’s also his most intimate and vulnerable project, filled with a collection of sounds that range from synth-heavy bedroom pop like the track “Woods” to the Plastic Ono Band-inspired “Everybody.”
Miller glides across the beats, switching his cadence and pitch like a seasoned singer. The only feature on Circles is a stunning hook by singer Baro, a welcome surprise in the middle of “Hand Me Downs.” The lack of guests on Circles shows the confidence Mac had developed as a singer. Over the course of the album, he tackles hooks and choruses that he previously would have left to a guest artist.
The album is a lesson in acceptance. On previous projects, Miller has addressed his mental health, struggles with addiction, and heartbreak, but he never seemed to find solace. Any peace and joy that Miller found on past albums came from escapism or ambivalence, but on Circles he faces his problems head-on, and instead of feeling obligated to battle his demons, he accepts them for what they are. “One of these days we’ll all get by,” he raps on “Blue World,” the most traditional of his rap songs. He finishes this thought on the breakout-single “Good News,” when he sings: “Maybe I’ll lay down for a little, instead of always trying to figure everything out.”
Miller’s mind never stops spinning—in part it’s the reason he’s found so much success; he’s expansively creative and never rests. But his running mind can also be the source of his downfall: “Inside my head it’s getting pretty cluttered / I try, but can’t clean up this mess I made,” he sings over lush instrumentals on “Complicated.”
The closing track, “Once A Day,” was initially shown at Miller’s Celebration of Life concert, and it still stands as one of the most moving and powerful songs that Miller has ever written. Given the context of his passing, the song can be heard as a goodbye and a departure from music, but in reality, it’s a self-portrait of the artist: a snapshot of him paused in a moment of time. It’s a comforting and blissful thought — to imagine Miller laying down instrumentals and vocals on any given sunny Los Angeles day.
But Miller’s acceptance of his circumstances should not be mistaken for apathy. Instead, he finds beauty and peace in allowing himself to experience his own emotions. It’s an honest, matter-of-fact account of the grey areas of his life and mind. On Circles, Mac shows the unexpected joy that can be found in the darkest of times.
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Better than EM? Who wrote this?
Just by .2 brotha both albums aren’t great IMO
I agree tho…I just vibe to this shit more than Em’s. Lyrically Em may hit harder, but this is some beautiful music right here
Em used to be my shit but his music really only moves me when he’s angry his last 3 albums are shit his best album was Eminem show I hope he quits before he ruins his legacy like many greats did with not knowing when to hang it up but you cannot compare Eminem to Mac Mac is a artist Eminem is a rapper VERY big difference
Ok
I like Mac Miller a ton, and think his great music is really enjoyable, but this album sucks. His last couple he was at the stage of drug addiction where everything you do sucks. Because, drugs have a phase, artistically, where u pump out great content. Then, your no longer in the euphoria stage, are get stuck in the addiction phase, where your sick with the drugs… Then, you are no longer making great music.
Really a solid album. Especially considering he ddnt finish it himself.
I wasn’t a fan until Swimming which I loved. I had extremely high expectations for this one. I’m still digesting it but it doesn’t move me the same way. Still solid. He had his own sound and was developing as an artist. His honesty and self-reflection were a breath of fresh air
I really wanted this to be a quality final album but it is truly mediocre. If I am being honest, Mac’s unfortunate passing has resulted in his work being overrated. A rating of 4.0 for this substandard album is one of many examples.
It’s amazing how he turned into a great all of sudden once he killed himself.
He was great way before he died. Macadelic, WMTSO, Swimming, and Faces are great projects he released while he was still alive
Nah. Not great.
Yeah you’re right not great.. they were classic projects. But to each his own. Peace
More like a 2.0
He doing the whole iIIuminati one eye thing on the album cover, surely just a coincidence, these artists surely aren’t told to do that on every album and magazine cover, they just love doing it ok
Factz
This album was fantastic, gorgeous, immaculate, and amazing in all sorts of levels. R.I.P. Mac Miller.
Don’t do drugs.
Ayo I fux w this
The greatest white rapper not named Marshall Mathers. So sad he had to die. Had a lot of potential. Another classic album.
10/10 gets better everytime
One of the best wiggas to do it! Shout out to Caskey, Bones and Nyck Caution!
Didn’t realize Mac became a full-time R & B singer? Weak album. Rest In Peace though.
So you havent listened since 2011 then? Good AM had tracks MORE r and b sounding then this album, and then there was divine feminine and swimming. Your just here for the hype which is the only weak thing about this
This album is beautiful. Its sad we will never know where he wanted to go next with his music but this is the best possible send off for him
R.I.P
This is an easy 5/5
May be the worst album I ever listened to.
you are a fucking idiot sir.
Straight Trash
Good stuff
If you are listening to this as a rap album, you will rate it poorly. Listen to it as a piece of music. This guy played every not on multiple instruments to create the album. The fact that he decided to step outside the box more than once in his music career is a sign of a true artist. Following up Swimming, and to have the idea to make a trilogy set of albums is so unique. This artist was more than hip hop and I’m sad I didn’t get to hear the 3rd album because it would’ve been strictly hip hop and I know he wouldve killed it. Go back and listen to all his work and you will see an artist growing instead of what we see now which is artist riding trends and throwing bullshit lyrics over a hot beat. This is music, that, is garbage
fragility at it’s finest point
Pittsburgh legend!!!
A lot of white people use this site. This album isn’t 4 stars….
White bias is real
L
This album is unreal. This is not a rap album. This is a piece of ART. I feel so lucky to be blessed enough to be able to here this. The guy just kept evolving, musically. RIP Mac ! When I get there I’m coming to your show!
It deserves it.
The perfect send off to an artist gone way too soon. As a huge Mac Miller fan, this is everything I could’ve hoped for an more from a posthumous release.