Mac Miller’s rise to fame began in 2010 with the release of his mix tape “Best Day Ever,” which contained the hit songs “Donald Trump,” “Knock Knock” and “All Around the World.” These songs instigated a notion of partying and being immature with good friends, smoking weed and being lighthearted. That’s precisely why fans idolized Miller – his genuinely fun and carefree music. The album “Best Day Ever” became so successful that it left listeners in high anticipation for the release of his debut album, “Blue Slide Park,” which Miller released Nov. 8.
It seemed that for all of 2010 and most of this year Miller was making a steep incline to the top of the hip-hop charts and with his release of “Blue Slide Park,” his increasing pace flattened and steadied out abruptly. The beats on “Blue Slide Park” are much slower and more mellow than any of his previous mixtapes. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Miller’s album was a disappointment, but it does seem like Miller tried to play it safe. While none of the “Blue Slide Park” tracks are boring, none truly stand out as the next big hit.
Songs worth listening to are “Up All Night” and “Party on Fifth Ave.” Both songs are fairly fast paced and upbeat. My favorite song off the album is “Man in the Hat” because it comes the closest to providing me with the untroubled, excited and entertaining Miller sound that I have come to love. Miller shows his carefree attitude again with, “I hear these couples fighting all the time, not us. We have a good time, like to get f’d up. What, what, goin’ hard tonight. Under 21, but find me at the bar tonight.” One of the reasons I like this verse is because it reminds the listener that Miller is a 19-year-old entrepreneur, refusing to sign with a big record label, persistent to do things his own way. Which can also be observed by the fact that only Miller’s voice is heard on the CD. He chose not to have any featured artists accompany him on the album.
While Miller’s album release doesn’t do much to improve his career, it also does little to harm it. I simply wish he had been a little more risky, maintaining the momentum from “Best Day Ever.”
Miller says in “Man in the Hat,” “And to the man in the hat standing looking at his watch. Mother******, well the time is now.” Miller should have taken his own advise in his composition of “Blue Slide Park.” The time is now. So why play it safe?
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Aachambe@coloradomesa.edu