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.
Ridin' High
Mac Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rollin through the city
Got the weed goin round
With the most dope with me
Simply gettin high like its 1969
Imma be grindin till the deal a hundred sixty
New york, atlanta too
Flyer then santa shoes
And im playin crash bandacoot
This beat a bitch got some cock to server
Im a rape the game, no wrap this burger
Hey! above the clouds, seein stars like L.A
Have your girl always comin back like airway
Imma' be rich thats what they tell me
So let me start workin' with this paper like a essay
Hey, athleticism workin game when im gettin' women
The freshest linen like im spittin through your television
In a day dream livin' while these minutes pass me by
Lean back and hang ya nikes out the ride
The windows down, turn the system up
We just tryna ride around cause we dont give a fuck
Got a full tank of gas and some shit to smoke
Hey! lets just hit the road
X2
Rockin khakicalo jeans and the plain white tee
Nike watch pouch chain, spend a day like me
Hey, everyday like a movie scene
Smokin weed, eyes glued to the computer screen
Uh, super duper skeet ridin in the civic
Just got some speakers now im tryna get it tinted
Every dream vivid, talk it how i live it
Up in the airplane playin quidditch, bitches
This is once of a lifetime they gonna put me in a flight no price line
Used to want to be a model fightin crime
Till i realized the boy had the nicest rhymes
We just tryna ride around cause we dont give a fuck
Got a full tank of gas and some shit to smoke
Hey! lets just hit the road
X2
Vmy
The song "Ridin' High" by Mac Miller is all about cruising through the city, smoking weed, and enjoying life in the moment. The lyrics are about a carefree attitude towards life and not worrying about the future. Mac Miller talks about getting high like it's 1969, and rapping until he gets a record deal. He also mentions various cities like New York and Atlanta and how he's flying higher than Santa's shoes.
Mac Miller also talks about playing video games with a girl and how she's always coming back to him like airway. He discusses his aspirations of being rich one day and working hard towards that goal, just like a student writing an essay. He mentions his confidence, his athleticism, and his fashion sense, describing himself as wearing khaki Cali jeans, a plain white tee, a Nike watch, and a chain.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ridin' High" convey a sense of living in the moment, being carefree, and enjoying life. It's a song about taking risks, following your dreams, and not letting anyone hold you back.
Line by Line Meaning
Ridin with the windows down
Driving around with my car windows open.
Rollin through the city
Cruising around town.
Got the weed goin round
Smoking marijuana with my friends.
With the most dope with me
I have the best group of friends with me.
Simply gettin high like its 1969
Smoking weed like they did back in the 1960s.
Imma be grindin till the deal a hundred sixty
I will work hard until I reach my goal of making $160 million.
New york, atlanta too
I travel to both New York and Atlanta.
Flyer then santa shoes
I am more stylish than Santa Claus's shoes.
She bring her camera through
My female companions always bring their cameras with them.
And im playin crash bandacoot
I am playing a video game called Crash Bandicoot.
This beat a bitch got some cock to server
This song has a great beat that will get people dancing.
Im a rape the game, no wrap this burger
I am going to dominate the music industry.
Hey! above the clouds, seein stars like L.A
I am above the clouds and can see the stars like in Los Angeles.
Have your girl always comin back like airway
My music is addictive and will make people want to come back for more.
Imma' be rich thats what they tell me
People believe I am going to be wealthy.
So let me start workin' with this paper like a essay
I am going to start working hard to make money like it is an essay.
Hey, athleticism workin game when im gettin' women
My athletic abilities attract women.
The freshest linen like im spittin through your television
I am fresh and clean like I am coming out of a TV screen.
In a day dream livin' while these minutes pass me by
I am living in a dream-like state as time passes me by.
Lean back and hang ya nikes out the ride
Relax and let your Nike sneakers hang out the car window.
We just tryna ride around cause we dont give a fuck
We are driving around without a care in the world.
Got a full tank of gas and some shit to smoke
We have a full tank of gas and some marijuana to smoke.
Hey! lets just hit the road X2
Let's just go for a drive.
Rockin khakicalo jeans and the plain white tee
I am wearing khaki-colored jeans and a plain white t-shirt.
Nike watch pouch chain, spend a day like me
I am wearing a Nike watch and chain, live a day like I do.
Hey, everyday like a movie scene
My life feels like a movie every day.
Smokin weed, eyes glued to the computer screen
I am smoking weed while staring at a computer screen.
Uh, super duper skeet ridin in the civic
I am driving in a Honda Civic while smoking weed.
Just got some speakers now im tryna get it tinted
I just got new speakers for my car and now I want to get the windows tinted.
Every dream vivid, talk it how i live it
I live my dreams and talk about them as if they are real.
Up in the airplane playin quidditch, bitches
I am playing a fictional game called Quidditch in an airplane.
This is once of a lifetime they gonna put me in a flight no price line
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and they will book my flight without a price line.
Used to want to be a model fightin crime
I used to want to be a model while also fighting crime.
Till i realized the boy had the nicest rhymes
Until I realized that my true talent was having great lyrics in my songs.
Contributed by Colin S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Micah B.
Rest In Peace Mac, you’re officially a legend.
CatRich Billay
Still ridin high. shout out to all the peeps who skipped class to smoke and still graduated on time
steelokey
Straight up 🙏
King kirby27
Song still holds strong 2020 who with me!!! Forver love mac miller he just knew what we all needed with every song he put out its like he knew what the world needed to hear it amazing r.i.p to one of the greatest legends In my book
lily henderson
song still hits during a global pandemic ✨🧚😌
B
Rip to Mac Miller. Real legend.
R3LL1K
most organic rapper ive heard since Big L, love it. its real!
♄ e k s e n s a n g
R3LL1K you can hear the Big L influence in these flows
SKILBO
still love this, crazy its been 11 years since he put this out. Love that he put out so much material we can keep ridin high into the future, most dope, 2020 and beyond.
Cillian B
The high life was his best mixtape <3