The alt-rock albums Mac Miller loved: “That album is alive”
The late Mac Miller was a hip-hop artist, first and foremost. With hits such as ‘Party On Fifth Ave’ and ‘Diablo’, he was an ingenious lyricist, and his projects never failed to debut in the top five of the Billboard 200. However, he never restricted himself when it came to his creativity.
The Pittsburgh icon reinvented himself with each project and incorporated new sounds every time he released an album, from trip-hop to jazz and soul. Whether it was with a sample or lyrical reference, he showed a broad range of tastes.
It’s hard to imagine Miller sitting down and listening to anything but hip-hop. With his lyrical skill and ability to craft albums, it was evident that some rap elders had influenced him. However, although some urban acts inspired him, he was far more inquisitive than one might think.
Miller was ahead of his peers and, as a fan of skate culture, had been surrounded by rock music for years before he ever considered entering hip-hop. That said, before his early demise, he openly spoke about his love for rock and explained how it shaped him as an artist.
In an interview with Insanul Ahmed of Complex magazine, Miller discussed various albums, from Big L to The Beatles, and made some shocking revelations about his musical tastes.
While discussing the albums that shaped him growing up, Miller referenced the 2007 Radiohead project, In Rainbows. The Pennsylvania emcee admitted that he was introduced to the album by California musician Flying Lotus.
While delving into the details of his love for the body of work, Miller recalled his first time hearing it, recounting, “That album is alive, it like exists. I was listening to it in the car, and I texted Flying Lotus like, ‘Why is this album so amazing?!’”
Miller revealed that Flying Lotus explained to him how the album “was all made in one sitting,” which shocked yet inspired him. Another Rock & Roll group that impacted Miller was the English band Portishead.
More specifically, Miller unveiled that he fell in love with their 1994 project, Dummy. Portishead are renowned for their hip-hop-infused rock style of music, and, hailing from Bristol, they added a sprinkle of trip-hop to their debut album.
Miller revealed he was introduced to the British collective by the Maryland producer Edan. Praising Dummy, Miller exclaimed, “That was my shit this past year. Fucking incredible. E-Dan put me onto Portishead. That sound has so much texture.” Praising their skilful sampling, he added, “On Dummy, I believe that they actually sampled shit. Then, on Portishead, they sampled themselves only.”
The Blueside Park emcee highlighted his early interest in the late singer Elliot Smith and his 1997 LP Either/Or. Miller started detailing how it reflected his youth and him as a kid, explaining, “That represents my young, depressed music when I was a sad little kid. The happiest little kids are the saddest little kids when they’re alone. [Laughs.] Elliott Smith is a genius. He’s incredible, but he’s just very sad.”
The last rock album that Miller shed light on was The Moon & Antarctica. Released at the turn of the millennium by Washington indie-rock band Modest Mouse the Faces creator had a lot to say about the lead singer Isaac Brock, sharing, “His voice is like so unique. I love that about Modest Mouse.” Concluding, “I’ve never heard a voice like that in my life. But it’s sick. That album is awesome. ‘Gravity Rides Everything’ is awesome.”
The alt-rock albums Mac Miller loved:
- Radiohead, In Rainbows, (2007)
- Portishead, Dummy, (1994)
- Elliott Smith, Either/Or, (1997)
- Modest Mouse, The Moon & Antarctica, (2000)