Getty Image
It’s now been over six years since beloved rapper Mac Miller passed away, and yet his presence can still be felt in the rap game. Over the weekend at Tyler the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival, a teaser for the long-rumored lost Mac Miller album Ballonerism was confirmed to be releasing “soon” via a gorgeous teaser trailer that played prior to the Alchemist & Friends’ set.
Balloonerism was reportedly recorded in 2013 and 2014, with Mac Miller ultimately abandoning the project in favor of his album Faces. Producer E. Dan of ID Labs recently said that Miller actually took some of his Balloonerism songs and put them on Faces.
Miller released the mixtape Faces independently in 2014, with the album eventually hitting streaming platforms and vinyl in October 2021.
Balloonerism 🎈 pic.twitter.com/AOmEXOPUlR
— The Mac Miller Memoir (@MacMillerMemoir) November 17, 2024
Since his untimely death at the age of 26 years old from an overdose in September 2018, the posthumous album Circles, which was created as a companion piece to his August 2018 album Swimming, was completed by famed producer Jon Brion and released in 2020. Swimming was Miller’s fifth studio album and was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album.
“Nobody has handled this type of situation with more respect and grace than Mac’s family and estate. A Balloonerism official release is literally gonna change my life,” one fan posted on social media in the wake of the project’s announcement.
“Balloonerism getting an official release is incredible. i hope it gets done right because man, what a special project it is,” added another.
“Mac Miller’s estate really do care about the fans and his music. So happy,” was the sentiment from another thrilled Mac Miller fan.
In addition to Circles and Ballonerism, producer Madlib said back in March 2023 that he also had a posthumous project with Miller titled Maclib that had been approved for release by Miller’s estate.
Over the years, there have been leaks of tracks that were reportedly planned for Balloonerism, such as the below “5 Dollar Pony Rides” and “He Finally Sleeps,” in addition to others. As Mac Miller fans have been saying, however, an official streaming and vinyl release is a far better testament to his memory and music.