He was signed to Pittsburgh-based Rostrum Records and released his debut album Blue Slide Park on November 8, 2011, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 despite being released completely independently. He released five studio albums in his lifetime, which all peaked in the top 5, along with a posthumous album titled "Circles" with help from producer Jon Brion and Miller's family.
In 2013, Miller released his second studio album, "Watching Movies With the Sound Off". The album featured artists such as Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, Ab-Soul, and long-time friend Schoolboy Q. The album took a more personal approach compared to his previous works.
In 2014, Miller released the 24-track mixtape "Faces". Considered by many to be one of his best works, he explores themes of drug use, employing and featuring collaborators of Mac from his previous album, including Schoolboy Q and Earl Sweatshirt, but also sees new faces such as Rick Ross.
In 2015, Mac released his third studio album, "GO:OD AM", his first with new label Warner Records. The album featured a more energetic and vibrant theme than "Faces" and "Watching Movies With The Sound Off", reflecting a more optimistic, redemptive angle on his personal life, while maintaining elements of his introspective and thought-provoking style from earlier works.
In 2016, Miller released his fourth studio album, titled "The Divine Feminine". He explores themes of love and femininity, largely influenced by his relationship with Ariana Grande at the time and featuring appearances from the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Anderson Paak.
In August 2018, following major events in Miller's life, including his breakup with Ariana Grande, with Miller's drug addiction alleged to be a contributing factor, as well as a car crash incident in which McCormick was charged with a DUI, Miller released his fifth and final studio album during his lifetime titled "Swimming". Continuing the dive into his personal life, Miller explores his heartfelt struggles and grief in the past, but remains optimistic for the future. Swimming was nominated for Best Rap Album posthumously at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Miller had struggled with substance abuse for a long time before his death. On September 7, 2018, he was found dead in his home in Los Angeles, California from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol, only a little over a month after the release of "Swimming". He was only 26 years old. McCormick was buried in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Miller's passing was largely unexpected and had a large impact on the hip-hop community as a whole, with many paying their respects to Miller. On October 31, 2018, a tribute concert, titled "Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life", featured renowned artists and many longtime collaborators of Miller including Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q, SZA, Chance the Rapper, and Earl Sweatshirt. The concert was a celebration of the late rapper's life and musical achievements, and all profits were donated to the Mac Miller Circles Fund, which provides young people from underprivileged backgrounds with opportunities to explore arts and music.
In January 2020, Miller's posthumous album titled "Circles", worked on in companionship with his album "Swimming", was announced on January 8 along with the single "Good News" and released later that month. Every track on the album was accompanied by a video of the same name, often with psychedelic imagery and images of Mac before his passing and throughout his life. With a more melancholic theme compared to his previous works, the album was well-received by fans and critics alike, renowned for the care placed in continuing Mac's artistic vision.
And, he did it all without a Drake feature.
Ascension
Mac Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heaven smelled like Nag Champas
Come here darling, ash my blunt (Smoke)
Waiting on hallucination, ain't a single fact I trust (No)
Dear family, my sanity go down when my cash go up
Rap too much, how the fuck get through the verse
I came from house parties, find a bitch and go through her purse
All I need is a little good pussy and whole lot universe
I need a religion to follow
I swear to God that I got more problems than there is bitches in Carlo
Lord have Murciélago, yeah
And I don't know how the fuck I'm supposed
To look into my parents eyes when I'm scared to die
My eyes same color as a cherry pie
Woah, see I'm terrified
Crucifix heavy, who gon' carry mine?
Yeah, what's with all this talk about Hell and Satan
And sleep deprevation
If this is planet Earth, than my hell's a basement
Ascension
A brand new me
Yeah, yeah
Why you wanna do me like that, Miss Conception?
Between heaven and hell
What's between heaven and hell
A brand new me, oh it's the brand new me
Okay, fucking tell these kids one thing, just make sure handle your business
A criminal leave no witness, and don't ever trust these bitches
What happened to your life when your house become a home
Where your children at? Where your children at?
You got two sons, all they do is fight
You up through the night like gimme-gimme-gimme dat
Yeah, nice titties, got a pic, go and send me that
Send that books can you give her that?
Fuck rap, make a million off a shitty app
Yeah, smoke trees in the cab
Pittsburgh, show you where the city at
And don't forget that H, get you smacked in your face
Got so many sons, I was young, now they half my age
90K out in Portugal, smile on my face, backlit stage
My shit bad, shit crazy and that shit fascinates me
On my tongue where the tab is and it burn like battery acid
I was in the backs of my classes by the kids having asthma attacks
Cause he panicked every single time he sat on his glasses
Every Wonderland have a Alice
But I'm a king God can I have a chalice
I'm demanding the truth, put your hands to the roof
Be a man, that's a challenge
Ascension
(Challenge, are you up for that challenge)
A brand new me
(Yeah, everybody got to have balance)
Why you wanna do me like that, Miss Conception?
Between heaven and hell
(Salvation, and the underworld [?] gotta keep that bitch waiting
(Fascinating)
A brand new me, oh it's the brand new me
(And that's fascinating, please be a little patient)
I ain't a doctor, could be a little patient
Yeah, be a little patient
Everything will be okay then, be a little patient
One world, one nation, done waiting
Yeah, yeah
Now I'm still sipping moonshine
We discovered a new high, me and Jerm done this a few times
Yeah, but who's high now
Talk a lot of shit but will you die now
What you gonna do when everybody just go die out
Let's ride out
The lyrics of Mac Miller’s song ‘Ascension’ take the listener on a journey through his thoughts and emotions. In the opening lines, Mac wonders if the song will be as depressing as the last he wrote. He then mentions how heaven smells like Nag Champas and asks his lover to ash his blunt. He is waiting for a hallucination, for he doesn’t trust any fact. He talks about how his sanity goes down as his cash goes up. It seems like he is feeling the weight of the fame on his shoulder as he talks about how he raps too much and is struggling to get through the verses. He reminisces his early days of attending house parties and hooking up with women. He reflects on God's existence and how the almighty still owes him money. The artist candidly talks about how he requires religion to follow while acknowledging that he has more problems than bitches in Carlo.
In the second verse, he begins with advice to young entrepreneurs, about the importance of always handling one's business. He questions a colleague’s lifestyle, asking him where his children are while they fight all night. Mac then brags about smoking trees in the cab and earning 90k in Portugal. He talks about his fascination with drugs and how they burn like battery acid. Mac mentions how he struggled in his classes, being seated in the back among kids with asthma. He then compares himself to Wonderland's king, asking God for a chalice. Mac encourages listeners to seek truth and puts forward the challenge to be brave enough, followed by the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder if every body hope that this song is not depressing as the last one was
Mac Miller wonders whether listeners are hoping for less depressing lyrics in his current song, after having previously released a melancholic single.
Heaven smelled like Nag Champas
Mac Miller likens his experience of being high to the fragrance of a particular incense brand, symbolizing the pleasantness of that state of mind
Come here darling, ash my blunt (Smoke)
Mac Miller requests someone to assist him in getting rid of the ashes from the blunt he is smoking, exemplifying his laid-back, free-spirited attitude
Waiting on hallucination, ain't a single fact I trust (No)
Mac Miller expects illusions or delusions, and distrusts anything that appears to be a fact, implying his preference for a surrealistic outlook
Dear family, my sanity go down when my cash go up
Mac Miller writes a letter to his family, explaining that as he accumulates more wealth, he becomes less and less stable mentally
Rap too much, how the fuck get through the verse
Mac Miller acknowledges the difficulty in writing extensive lyrics as a rapper, demonstrating his self-awareness about the technical skills required for his art
I came from house parties, find a bitch and go through her purse
Mac Miller feels nostalgic about the old days where he used to go to house parties and steal from others' purses, signifying wild and carefree behavior
All I need is a little good pussy and whole lot universe
Mac Miller expresses his desire for sexual pleasure, alongside his immense curiosity for the vastness of the universe, highlighting his mix of primal and intellectual interests
I met God before I ever stepped into a church and that motherfucker still owe me money
Mac Miller humorously claims to have already had a personal experience with God, but also jokes about God's unreliability in fulfilling financial transactions
I need a religion to follow
Mac Miller admits to seeking a structured belief system to adhere to, implying his need for guidance and stability
I swear to God that I got more problems than there is bitches in Carlo
Mac Miller asserts that he has a multitude of issues, more than the number of girls in a popular car model, suggesting his state of overwhelm and despair
Lord have Murciélago, yeah
Mac Miller references a luxurious automobile brand, Murciélago, as if to pray for God's favor in granting him with such affluence
And I don't know how the fuck I'm supposed to look into my parents eyes when I'm scared to die
Mac Miller confesses he is afraid of dying, making it difficult for him to face his parents, who may see death as an inevitability rather than a cause for fear
My eyes same color as a cherry pie
Mac Miller compares the color of his eyes to that of a cherry pie, signifying his artistic imagination and poetic sensibility
Woah, see I'm terrified
Mac Miller exclaims how scared he is of his troubles and anxieties, conveying his emotional intensity
Crucifix heavy, who gon' carry mine?
Mac Miller uses religious terminology to express the weight of his burden, wondering who will shoulder the same level of responsibility as him
Yeah, what's with all this talk about Hell and Satan
Mac Miller questions the significance of widespread discussion around the concepts of Hell and Satan, indicating his skepticism towards conventional beliefs
And sleep deprevation
Mac Miller refers to a common aspect of a drug-induced lifestyle - lack of sleep - implying his fatigue and addiction
If this is planet Earth, than my hell's a basement
Mac Miller sees the world around him as a dark and confined space, suggesting a sense of entrapment and frustration
Ascension
Mac Miller seeks to achieve spiritual growth and progress, indicating his desire for personal transformation
A brand new me
Mac Miller hopes to renew and reinvent himself, emerging with renewed vitality and purpose
Why you wanna do me like that, Miss Conception?
Mac Miller addresses someone who has misunderstood him, expressing his frustration with being misconstrued and misrepresented
Between heaven and hell
Mac Miller navigates the duality of contrasting emotions and states of being, implying his resistance to simplification and dichotomies
What's between heaven and hell
Mac Miller emphasizes the liminality of the human experience, emphasizing the fluidity and complexity of human emotions and thoughts
Okay, fucking tell these kids one thing, just make sure handle your business
Mac Miller advises younger audiences to prioritize their personal affairs and responsibilities, reflecting his experience in the music industry and beyond
A criminal leave no witness, and don't ever trust these bitches
Mac Miller references a common adage, warning against the danger of trusting criminals and women, adopting a gangster-like persona
What happened to your life when your house become a home
Mac Miller questions when and how living spaces can transform into intimate, family-oriented environments, implying his past struggles with creating a sense of belonging
Where your children at? Where your children at?
Mac Miller inquires about someone's parental responsibilities, highlighting the obligations that come with raising children
You got two sons, all they do is fight
Mac Miller observes a family conflict, pointing towards the inevitable disagreements that arise between siblings
You up through the night like gimme-gimme-gimme dat
Mac Miller criticizes a materialistic and selfish lifestyle, where people are always demanding things, indicating his preference for authenticity and generosity
Yeah, nice titties, got a pic, go and send me that
Mac Miller objectifies women, asking them to send him sexual images, portraying his sexist and exploitative side
Send that books can you give her that?
Mac Miller reminds someone to share educational resources with another person, demonstrating his progressive ideals and priorities
Fuck rap, make a million off a shitty app
Mac Miller comments on the commercial potential of technological ventures in comparison to music, illustrating his skepticism towards the music industry model
Pittsburgh, show you where the city at
Mac Miller represents and celebrates his hometown, Pittsburgh, as a resilient and lively urban environment
And don't forget that H, get you smacked in your face
Mac Miller warns others about the repercussions of forgetting an important details, indicating his assertiveness and streetwise attitude
Got so many sons, I was young, now they half my age
Mac Miller portrays himself as a father figure or mentor to young people, highlighting the generational differences and dynamics at play
90K out in Portugal, smile on my face, backlit stage
Mac Miller expresses his satisfaction and pride for having accomplished a significant performance in Portugal, emphasizing the thrill of being on stage
My shit bad, shit crazy and that shit fascinates me
Mac Miller acknowledges the unique and provocative nature of his artistic expression, finding a sense of excitement and intrigue in his own work
On my tongue where the tab is and it burn like battery acid
Mac Miller describes the sensations of taking a drug, emphasizing the physical pain and intensity of the experience
I was in the backs of my classes by the kids having asthma attacks
Mac Miller reflects on his academic struggles and disinterest, causing him to be near classmates who suffered from respiratory conditions
Cause he panicked every single time he sat on his glasses
Mac Miller provides a reasoning behind his classmate's asthma attacks - being scared of breaking his glasses - highlighting the absurdity and unexpectedness of certain situations
Every Wonderland have a Alice
Mac Miller employs references from classic literature, indicating how every setting has its own unique and peculiar inhabitants
But I'm a king God can I have a chalice
Mac Miller compares himself to royalty, relating to symbols of wealth and luxury, such as a chalice, signifying his ambition and desire for grandeur
I'm demanding the truth, put your hands to the roof
Mac Miller fervently asks for honesty, raising his voice and motivating others to do the same
Be a man, that's a challenge
Mac Miller urges someone to adopt an assertive and courageous attitude, indicating his concepts of masculinity and responsibility
Challenge, are you up for that challenge
Mac Miller repeats his call to challenge, using rhetorical questions to elicit motivation and excitement
Yeah, everybody got to have balance
Mac Miller emphasizes the importance of having equilibrium and harmony in life, promoting wellness and self-care
Salvation, and the underworld [?] gotta keep that bitch waiting
Mac Miller makes an allusion to heavenly and demonic realms, jokingly implying that he is too busy living to deal with matters of afterlife
And that's fascinating, please be a little patient
Mac Miller finds his own quirky and perplexing personality attributes fascinating, and urges others to bear with him and his idiosyncrasies
I ain't a doctor, could be a little patient
Mac Miller admits that he does not possess the qualifications or expertise of a physician, but could stand to display a little more patience in his interactions with others
Everything will be okay then, be a little patient
Mac Miller seeks to reassure himself and listeners that everything will ultimately turn out all right, imploring everyone to have patience and trust in the process
One world, one nation, done waiting
Mac Miller dreams of a unifying and peaceful world, where communal identity triumphs over division and conflict, expressing his political vision and activism
Now I'm still sipping moonshine
Mac Miller continues to consume homemade alcohol, suggesting his fondness for makeshift and rustic forms of pleasure
We discovered a new high, me and Jerm done this a few times
Mac Miller reflects on the time he and a friend got high in a novel way, sharing the experience together and making it a habit, indicating the importance of companionship and exploration
Yeah, but who's high now
Mac Miller questions who has come out on top after their shared experience, indicating a vaguely competitive attitude and concern for social status
Talk a lot of shit but will you die now
Mac Miller challenges someone's posturing and bravado, questioning whether they have the capacity and courage to follow through on their words
What you gonna do when everybody just go die out
Mac Miller contemplates what would happen if everyone were to suddenly perish, presenting a dark and existentialistic scenario
Let's ride out
Mac Miller proposes to embark on a journey or adventure together, signaling an optimistic and spontaneous attitude
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeremy Kulousek, Malcolm James McCormick, Zachary Raymond Vaughan, Curtis Mayfield, Eric Dan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind