The album Mac Miller called “the fucking shit”
Late Pittsburgh emcee Mac Miller was a highly aware musician. Even as a young man, he had more musical knowledge than his counterparts and he wasn’t just listening to rap music. From R&B to funk and soul, Miller listened to a range of genres, and these can be heard in a lot of his material.
With hits such as ‘Party On Fifth Ave’ sampling Marva Whitney’s 1967 funky soul track ‘Unwind Yourself,’ it is impossible to delve into the full extent of Miller’s musical influences. However, in 2013, after the release of his sophomore project, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, the ‘Under the Weather’ emcee sat down with Complex magazine to discuss some of his inspiration.
Widely considered one of the best albums of his short but sweet career, Watching Movies with the Sound Off debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 and saw appearances from legendary MCs, including Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt, ScHoolboy Q and even Tyler, the Creator.
Following the release of his LP, Miller invited Complex to Rostrum Record’s hideaway in New York, where he was interviewed while laid out on the couch, wearing sweatpants and sandals. During the conversation, he spoke about some of his favourite artists and projects of all time.
During the discussion, he unveiled that Big L inspired him to start rapping, what people really mean to say when they hate on Lil Wayne, and what he thinks about ScHoolboy Q’s third project, Oxymoron.
Beginning with a complete surprise to readers, Miller revealed that he actually listens to a lot of Boob Dylan. More specifically, he has a deep appreciation for his 1963 project, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Opening up about the body of work, Miller explained, “I love that record. I love that cover art. I really love Bob Dylan. My brother is so into Bob Dylan.”
He recalled seeing the singer live in his hometown, remembering, “I saw Dylan perform live one time. Front row. In Pittsburgh. General admission. I was like 10 or 12, and I just pushed my way up to the front by myself because there was no seats or anything. He was like old though; might’ve been one of his last tours.”
It was quite a shock to readers who, for the first time, learned that Miller likes a bit of rock. However, one of his revelations wasn’t so shocking. Following Bob Dylan, the Pittsburgh lyricist told Complex that he loves reggae. Focusing on the 1984 album Legend by Bob Marley & The Wailers, Miller disclosed, “Bob Marley makes me happy.”
Opening up about his casual drug use and how Bob Marley relieves his pain, Miller continued, “I realized, if you’re ever sad [just play Bob Marley.] Like this one time when I was in Las Vegas, we were going crazy with the Molly and then having a horrible come down. It was really bad, postpartum depression. Bob Marley saved everyone’s life. It was eight in the morning and everyone in the whole hotel room was dancing, singing Bob Marley together.”
The iconic ‘Purple Rain’ vocalist Prince also got a mention. However, there was one rap album Miller certified as “the fucking shit”. The Blue Side Park rhymer revealed that MF Doom’s 2004 body of work, Food, is one of his favourite albums ever.
Overtly expressing his passion for the entire record, Miller elatedly explained, “I just like love the texture of his voice against the beats, like, it’s very ‘Fuck you.’ He kind of throws it down there, but it’s very purposeful!”
He concluded, “It sounds effortless, but everything is purposeful. I’ve never talked to him about it, or talk to him in general, so I wouldn’t know, but records like ‘Vomitspit’ are the fucking shit. It’s great music for like anything in life. You can play it anytime, it’s good.”