I grew up with Mac Miller. Not in the literal sense, of course, but through the soundtrack of my life. When Blue Slide Park was on repeat at high school parties, Mac felt like a peer, not just an artist. Years later, I spent an entire week doing nothing but listening to Swimming when it dropped, captivated by its raw emotion and poetic storytelling. Mac’s death was a moment I’ll never forget. I was in the passenger seat of my friend’s car, heading back to college after a quiet day of fishing in upstate New York. Reading the news, I felt a hollowness I hadn’t anticipated. When Circles was released posthumously, I approached it with hesitation, unsure if it could do justice to his legacy. It did. And now, with Balloonerism, I felt that same skepticism. But it’s clear this project was carefully crafted from material Mac left behind, and it still feels profoundly, unmistakably him.

Balloonerism is an album that demands emotional fortitude. It’s heavy—not in a way that’s off-putting, but in the way it compels you to sit with its rawness. Mac’s work has always been layered, poetic, and self-aware, and this record takes those qualities to their apex. Listening to it feels like opening a time capsule, but one that carries an eerie prescience. Take a line like, “Didn’t think anyone died on a Friday,” from “Funny Papers.” Mac passed on Friday, September 7, 2018, and hearing him reflect on mortality with such nonchalance is deeply haunting. The album is full of moments like this, where Mac seems to speak across time, offering a final project that’s reflective and tragic.

Recorded during a particularly tumultuous period in 2014, when Mac was grappling with addiction, Balloonerism leans heavily into jazz rap and experimental sounds. This might turn some listeners away. But the chaotic beats, soulful melodies, and complex arrangements reflect where Mac was at that moment in his life. The opening track, “Tambourine Dream,” sets the tone with its half-minute tambourine instrumental—an unconventional choice that signals the unfiltered creativity that follows.

Tracks like “Transformations,” featuring Mac’s alter ego Delusional Thomas, and “DJ’s Chord Organ,” a collaboration with SZA, highlight the album’s experimental nature. The latter is a standout, blending neo-soul with psychedelic undertones, showcasing Mac and SZA’s complementary vocals in their rawest form. “Transformations,” on the other hand, feels like a dialogue between two versions of Mac—distorted and introspective, almost as if he’s grappling with his own duality. It’s unsettling and brilliant.

The lyrics throughout are gut-wrenching. On “Manakins,” Mac juxtaposes upbeat instrumentation with lines like, “It feels like I’m dying, I’m dead,” and, “Why is heroism so close to heroin?” The morbid undertones are unavoidable, yet they’re balanced by a vulnerability that makes you want to keep listening, even as it hurts. One of the most poignant lines, “If I die young, promise you’ll smile at my funeral,” encapsulates the paradox of the album: it’s as much a celebration of life as it is a meditation on its fragility.

The closing track, “Tomorrow Will Never Know,” is a 12-minute opus that feels like Mac’s final goodbye. Lines like, “You walk through this world with your head above water… trying to float,” linger long after the music fades. It’s heart-wrenching but also cathartic, offering a sense of
closure that feels both intentional and organic.

What sets Balloonerism apart from other posthumous albums is the care with which it was assembled. The production feels true to Mac’s vision, avoiding the pitfalls of overproduction or excessive tampering. The result is an album that feels cohesive and authentic.

That said, Balloonerism isn’t for everyone. Its experimental nature and heavy emotional themes might alienate casual listeners or those expecting the easy accessibility of earlier projects like Blue Slide Park. But for fans who have followed Mac’s journey, this album is a profound and necessary chapter. It captures the complexity of his life—the highs and lows, the beauty and pain. This album is a gift—a bittersweet reminder of Mac Miller’s unparalleled talent and the indelible mark he’s left on the world of music.

Order Balloonerism by Mac Miller HERE