Kicking Incredibly Dope Sh!t Forever: Remembering Mac Miller

Seoyeon Claudia Kim '28 • Oct 24, 2025

In remembrance of the seventh anniversary of Mac Miller’s  death, I would like to pay tribute by understanding who he truly was: not only as a musician, but also as a soul who transcended through art. Through the medium of analyzing the past works of Miller, I’d like to fathom Malcolm James McCormick. 

K.I.D.S

His fifth mixtape “K.I.D.S”, is one of Miller’s most colorful and playful works. It is also what brought Miller his international fame shortly after its release. The acronym “K.I.D.S”, refers to his overall theme of the album as the cover, lyrics and overall persona is a homage to the 1995 film “Kids”: a story about reckless teenagers in New York. He also induces his own teenage experiences in Pittsburg into his album, projecting his idea of carefree youth and the transition into adulthood. The acronym “K.I.D.S” refers to his overall idea of the album and is reflected in the title of his first track: “Kicking Incredibly Dope Shit.” 

To Miller, hip-hop is what makes him feel alive and dope. The lyrics and melodies portray the energetic and ambitious artist at the age of 18. A track called “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza” talks about his dreams and ambitions: “Whether I'm old or young, the chosen one, I got a hundred billion flows to come. I hope you know the lyrics to every single song. So when I'm at a show, everyone can sing along”. 

Despite being his fifth mixtape, “K.I.D.S”  is what depicts Mac Miller’s character most precisely. The cheerful and enthusiastic young rapper is vividly depicted through his ambitious voice and diction, along with the lyrics that show his desire for fame and success. In his 6th track called “The Spins”, he raps “Wanna get a mansion, a jacuzzi, a theater to watch my movies”.

The Divine Feminine

“The Divine Feminine” is Miller’s most straightforward album about love and life. He portrays his love towards women, but not in a sensual way. As the title reads, he explores the sa

cred energy of compassion, intuition, and creativity, as well as the idea of life, creation, and the epitome of divinity.

The track “My Favorite Part” features Ariana Grande. Though a cliché topic about love, the nonchalance and genuineness in his voice is what makes it special. The last song from the album is “God is fair, sexy, nasty’ where Mac Miller unfolds his own definition of the divine feminine in an honest way. “Your divinity has turned me into a sinner/And your beauty can even make hell have a winter” He uses a paradoxical impression to represent himself being a sinner, blinded by the divine beauty of his lover. 

Rather than rapping to show his feelings, he sings to portray the true emotions of love and life. In an interview, Miller says: “Singing, to me, just feels really vulnerable. I haven’t been as confident in my singing voice in the past, but then I just kind of realized it’s not about whether my voice is the most incredible singing voice. That’s my voice.” Miller uses music, whether it is rapping or singing, as a tool to communicate to the world. 

Swimming

His last album is called “Swimming.” The album pays attention to the convoluted topics of Miller’s life: his constant struggles with substance abuse, depression, and the breakup with Ariana

Grande. However, rather than drowning in his perennial mental struggles and broken heart, Mac is swimming to shore, as the title suggests. In a particular song, which is the opening track of the album “Come Back to Earth”, he sings: “And I was drownin', but now I'm swimmin' Through stressful waters to relief”.

The album revolves around grim subjects such as death and oblivion. The fifth track, “Self Care”, encompasses two different insights about Mac Miller’s struggles. The beginning of the song focuses on rebounding from his mistakes by being more aware. After the change of beats, Miller delves deeper into his feelings, talking about his struggles with drugs and being in ‘oblivion’ with the world and with himself: his presence becoming corrosive as time progresses, and his consciousness becoming stupor due to substance use. Yet, he stays optimistic by trusting himself into evolving. Hence, “Swimming” is all about his recovery and rebound from his past.

The three albums focus on distinct themes. While they may seem unrelated, focusing on different aspects and stages of his life; Mac Miller’s keenness to incorporate his persona is what ties his works together, giving it a parallel effect. As a teenager, he was keen to show his ambitions of fame and wealth. As a lover, he displays his happiness and devotion towards his lover into his melodies and through his lyrics. As an advocate, he openly approaches grim subjects such as death and depression. Because he was an artist who evolved continually, Miller had limitless possibilities. He was a reckless artist, incorporating his genuine self with no hesitation. But at the same time, that recklessness was the force that drove him to a tragic fate.

Although I do wonder about what we could have listened to if he were to be still alive, his absence is also what makes me cherish his past works even more, song by song, word by word.

“Some people say you die alone, but that’s not true / Cause you’re always on my mind, when I’m not with you.” sings Miller, in his final album before death. It is almost as if he had foreseen his death: as Mac Miller poignantly tells himself, that post-death, he will continue to live through the musical heritage he has left behind. Perhaps, that is how Mac Miller is remembered: as an artist who was, and is, even now, Kicking Incredibly Dope Sh!t forever.