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.
on & on
Mac Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn my beat up a little bit, yo
For real I was, I was, I was gonna get louder
Alright cool
She keep on gettin' played like it's recess, break her heart's a reflex
She want to hit the beach, and show her titties down in Key West
Someone leave her crying all the time and now she finally out of Kleenex
Cause really she a genius, a CEO
Tryin' to be on top alone, she don't keep them close
She been waitin' for the opportunity to be a boss
Tough bitch, probably would've thought she played lacrosse
Sick of bein' soft with her heart broken all the time
Want some money too, fuckin' dudes
And falling all in love with who, was nothin' new
Only coming through to bust a nut or two
She just need her family like the Huxtables
And now she on the road, left them home to takeover
Get rich and have her crib made over
But she gonna do it partyin', with her cup full
Ain't gonna trust you, but she gonna fuck you
She wants diamonds, she wants gold
But she's scared to let you get too close
And she's been high and she's been low
But now she finally on her own
And they've been looking
So they been finding
Cause she ain't grinding
And she ain't hiding
Until she finds her place back home
And then she's finally all alone
She gonna be rich, as fuck
In high school they were callin' her a slut
But now she coming up, Louis Vuitton and Juicy on her butt
See the bitches that be hatin' like "What's up?"
Cause they ain't doing nothing and she out here stuntin'
Middle finger to them hoes, all them bitches had it comin'
Yeah, on top of the world, she lookin' down
Invite you to the crib, let you look around
Just a fuckin' tease, tryna get your cheese
Invite you out to dinner, 'cause she want to eat for free
She could pay it if she wanted to, she won't though
Go home, she got more dough
She wants diamonds, she wants gold
But she's scared to let you get too close
And she's been high and she's been low
But now she finally on her own
And they've been looking
So they been finding
Cause she ain't grinding
And she ain't hiding
Until she finds her place back home
And then she's finally all alone
She wants diamonds, she wants gold
But she's scared to let you get too close
And she's been high and she's been low
But now she finally on her own
And they've been looking
So they been finding
Cause she ain't grinding
And she ain't hiding
Until she finds her place back home
And then she's finally all alone
In "On & On", Mac Miller portrays the tale of an independent woman who is taking charge of her life and making it on her own. The song speaks about the woman's past where she was treated poorly by men, which left her with a broken heart and a lack of trust. The lyrics also touch upon her longing for success, wealth and lavish items such as diamonds and gold, yet she is afraid of getting too close to someone or letting someone in despite her desire for companionship. Throughout the song, Mac Miller highlights the struggles of an ambitious individual who is trying to achieve massive success while building a strong sense of self.
The lyrics provide an insight into the thought process of individuals who are climbing up the ladder in life, especially women. The woman in this song is determined to achieve her goals and is confident enough to do it on her own terms. She has faced heartbreak, been judged and underestimated, but she perseveres with a fierce attitude.
In summary, Mac Miller's "On & On" is a motivational song that illustrates the journey of a powerful and self-driven woman who refuses to let heartbreak and other obstacles stop her from achieving her dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
She keep on gettin' played like it's recess, break her heart's a reflex
She is used to being treated like a toy by guys and it comes naturally to them to leave her heartbroken
She want to hit the beach, and show her titties down in Key West
She likes to flaunt her body and enjoys the beach vibe of places like Key West
Someone leave her crying all the time and now she finally out of Kleenex
She has been crying so much because of guys who have hurt her and is now running out of tissues to wipe her tears
Sick of dudes not givin' her the respect
She is tired of men not valuing her or treating her with respect
Cause really she a genius, a CEO
She is actually very smart and capable of running her own business
Tryin' to be on top alone, she don't keep them close
She wants to succeed on her own without the help of anyone else and doesn't keep people close to her
She been waitin' for the opportunity to be a boss
She's been waiting for the chance to be in charge of her own life and business
Tough bitch, probably would've thought she played lacrosse
She is a strong and independent woman who could have played a rough sport like lacrosse
Sick of bein' soft with her heart broken all the time
She is tired of being vulnerable and getting her heart broken repeatedly
Want some money too, fuckin' dudes
She wants money and is having casual sex with men to get it
And falling all in love with who, was nothin' new
She is used to falling in love with guys who don't really care about her
Only coming through to bust a nut or two
Guys are only interested in having sex with her and not building a meaningful relationship
She just need her family like the Huxtables
She values her family like the characters in the TV show 'The Cosby Show'
And now she on the road, left them home to takeover
She's traveling and focused on taking over her career and life goals
Get rich and have her crib made over
She wants to become rich and successful in order to renovate her home
But she gonna do it partyin', with her cup full
She plans to enjoy the process of becoming successful and party while doing so
Ain't gonna trust you, but she gonna fuck you
She doesn't trust men, but will have casual sex with them
She wants diamonds, she wants gold
She desires materialistic things like diamonds and gold
But she's scared to let you get too close
She is afraid of forming a deep connection with someone and getting hurt in the process
And she's been high and she's been low
She's experienced both good and bad times in her life
But now she finally on her own
She is finally independent and in control of her own life
And they've been looking
People have been watching her and paying attention to her success
So they been finding
As a result of being noticed, people have discovered more about her
Cause she ain't grinding
She's been successful without having to work excessively hard or struggle
And she ain't hiding
She's not trying to conceal her success or accomplishment
Until she finds her place back home
She will continue seeking where her true purpose and home are in life
And then she's finally all alone
Once she finds her place and purpose, she will find a sense of peace and independence
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, SONGS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JEREMY KULOUSEK, ED BOGAS, ERIC A DAN, MALCOLM JAMES MCCORMICK, REID REIDLICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind