Late Rapper’s Eighth Top-Ten Album Includes Heartfelt Tributes from Friends Like SZA
Mac Miller’s posthumous album Balloonerism has achieved massive success, debuting at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album moved 81,000 equivalent units in its first week, solidifying Miller’s continued relevance in the Hip Hop world, even after his tragic passing in 2018. Only Lil Baby’s WHAM performed better the same week, with 140,000 units sold.
This marks Miller’s eighth album to crack the top ten, joining his previous hits like Faces, Circles, and Swimming.
One standout feature of Balloonerism is SZA’s heartfelt contribution to “DJ’s Chord Organ.” The R&B singer shared her emotions with fans upon the album’s release, remembering her late friend and urging her followers to stream the album. She reflected on their close bond, recalling how Mac believed in her before most and treated her with love and support.
In addition to the album’s success, Balloonerism is accompanied by a touching animated film, which was screened in select cities globally. Proceeds from the screenings went toward the Mac Miller Fund, continuing Miller’s legacy of giving back.
The album, accompanied by an animated film, continues Mac’s legacy as it makes a strong debut
Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, Balloonerism, is projected to debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with an impressive 70,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, according to Hits Daily Double. Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is expected to maintain the top spot for a third consecutive week, while SZA’s SOS makes a resurgence at No. 2, bolstered by the release of its deluxe version, Lana, in December.
The album features a collaboration with SZA on the track “DJ’s Chord Organ.” Upon the album’s release, SZA shared a heartfelt tribute to Mac Miller on social media, expressing her love and admiration for the late rapper. “Grateful he saw something in me before most and treated me with love from day 1,” she wrote. “Please go stream Balloonerism RIGHT NOW.”
In addition to the album, Balloonerism is accompanied by an animated film. The film screened in select theaters in Pittsburgh and New York City on January 15, with proceeds going toward the Mac Miller Fund. The film, which expands to international theaters, follows a group of friends transformed by music, delving into a surreal exploration of adulthood.
Balloonerism is notable for being recorded in 2014 but shelved until now, offering fans a unique glimpse into Mac Miller’s artistry.
Mac Miller’s posthumous album Balloonerism features 14 tracks, including a SZA collab
Tracklist of Mac Miller’s highly awaited posthumous album Balloonerism which will drop later this month has been shared.
A project of fourteen tracks that add greatly to the legacy of the late rapper with only one outside collaboration being with SZA. It contains something from ‘Delusional Thomas’, the alter ego of Mac, which he featured in a 2013 mixtape.
What fans should be waiting for before the sound of the album is the first single from it, which is titled ‘5 Dollar Pony Rides’, released on Thursday, January 9.
This is going to be Mac Miller’s second posthumous album because the rapper tragically died from a drug overdose in 2018. The album is anticipated to follow his later work in terms of introspective and experimental style.
Excitement and emotion are almost palpable among Mac’s loyal followers, as the project surely promises to be a beautiful tribute to the aesthetics and impact of his art. Balloonerism is destined to be defined by its limited-but-notable features only and thrust into showing just what depth and complexity Mac Miller’s musical legacy can unfold.
More news regarding the release of the album and what visuals might accompany it are all kept under wraps for the moment, further adding to the suspense while fans gear themselves to remember the dearly loved rapper again.
The most awaited posthumous album of Mac Miller “Balloonerism” has its tracklist unveiled before it goes out this month.
The 14-track project is a bleak addition to the deceased rapper’s legacy with only one external collaboration with SZA and has a contribution by Mac’s alter-ego, Delusional Thomas, a character he had previously featured on a mixtape in 2013.
Fans should expect intro singles of the album in the first single, “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” to be released on Thursday, January 9.
This is Mac Miller’s second posthumous album following his tragic death from a drug overdose in 2018. It’s expected that the album will continue the path of introspective and experimental style that very much permeated his later work.
Upon the patient’s anticipation for soulful honor towards the artistry and influence of the man, there is much excitement and emotion among his ardent fans. Balloonerism will only add to Mac Miller’s musical legacy by being defined through its limited-but-notable features. Further news concerning the album’s unveiling or any visuals that come with such is all under wraps at the moment, which adds even more anticipation as fans get ready to honor the dearly loved rapper again.
The lead single from Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, Balloonerism, titled 5 Dollar Pony Rides, dropped on all streaming platforms today.
In a post by 92 ’til Infinity, the Instagram account now managed by Mac Miller’s estate, which includes his parents and attorney, announced: ‘5 Dollar Pony Rides is live on all streaming platforms now.’
5 Dollar Pony Rides” features production contributions from Mac Miller’s alter ego, Larry Fisherman, and longtime collaborator Thundercat. The track reflects on a distant relationship, blending nostalgia with empathy. The title serves as a metaphor for fleeting pleasures, highlighting the emptiness of quick fixes, while Mac explores themes of loneliness, missed opportunities, and the struggle to truly connect.
Balloonerism is set to drop on January 17, 2025. For more details on the unreleased album, click here.
The upcoming album was reportedly recorded just before ‘Faces’
Mac Miller’s estate has officially confirmed that his new posthumous album Balloonerism is on the way.
The project was announced last weekend at the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, hosted by Tyler, the Creator, in Los Angeles. The trailer for the forthcoming release was screened during the stage performance of Sampha and The Alchemist.
The teaser included two unheard tracks: “The Song That Changed Everything,” which will feature SZA, and “5 Dollar Pony Rides”.
The video ends with the display of the word “Soon” along with what could be the artwork.
During Tyler the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles this weekend, a video trailer teased the arrival of Mac Miller’s long-lost project Balloonerism, telling fans it would be released ‘soon.’
The trailer features “The Song That Changed Everything,” allegedly featuring SZA, and “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” both of which fans have speculated were intended for the original album.
Update: Mac Miller’s team has officially announced on his website that Balloonerism will be released on January 17, 2025, exactly five years after the release of his first posthumous album Circles, and two days before what would have been his 33rd birthday.
The official trailer, along with album merchandise and vinyls, is now available on Mac Miller’s website – www.macmillerswebsite.com
A word from Mac Miller’s estate @92tilInfinity was posted on Instagram in regard to the Balloonerism release.
After his tragic death from a drug overdose in 2018, Mac Miller’s will designated his parents, Mark McCormick and Karen Meyers, as trustees and his attorney, David Byrnes, as the administrator (Personal Representative) of his estate. Together, they oversee his legacy, ensuring it is preserved while continuing to share updates about his life and music.
Balloonerism
Balloonerism is an unreleased project Mac Miller worked on in 2013 and 2014, during a period between the releases of his albums Watching Movies With the Sound Off and Faces.
Long time collaborator E. Dan, who worked closely with Mac throughout his career and assisted his estate with finishing the album revealed that Balloonerism was initially developed during a week of jam sessions, with several tracklists created. Though some songs were later used for Faces, the project remained unfinished, and certain online artwork and tracklists are fan-made, not Mac’s. The project existed more as an idea, with playlists created by Mac, but it never progressed to completion.
It’s rumored that Mac Miller was close to finishing Balloonerism and had plans to release it, but his former label, Rostrum, supposedly shelved it for being too “out there.” This would make sense considering the album shared sessions and borrowed tracks to Faces, which also leaned into a wild and unconventional style.
The completion and formal release of Balloonerism comes as welcome news for Mac Miller’s fans, following his tragic passing from an accidental drug overdose in 2018. The album will be his second posthumous release, following Circles four years ago.
Danny Brown didn’t have the best words to say about Mac Miller in the early 2010s, but they both later became close and spent some time together.
During a conversation with HipHopDX before a show at Los Angeles’ Masonic Lounge on December 8, Brown explained that he had to start avoiding Mac because they used to “get a little fucked up and shit” every time they linked up and he was trying to get his life back in line at the time.
However, the “Really Doe” artist planned to kick it with Mac right before his demise. “At that time, I was trying to fix myself up, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Man, I know Mac — every time I hang out with him, we kinda do get a little fucked up and shit,’” he said. “And I wasn’t trying to be like that, so I didn’t wanna go … and the day I was supposed to leave to go hang out with him, on the radio, they announced [that he had died].
“And it was just like, I don’t know … it just kinda hit me kinda hard, ’cause it was like damn, y’know? It just let you know how easy or how quick some shit could just happen like that, y’know? So yeah, obviously I didn’t get clean at that time, but that just really scared me and shit.”
Madlib confirms his long-awaited joint EP with Mac Miller is on the way. Madlib and Talib Kweli were recently speaking on Sway In The Morning to promote their new collab album Liberation 2, where the former revealed his future plans that include Mac’s project. He added that the Mac’s estate was okay with the release.
“Right now, I’m finishing up the Mac Miller album, Planet Asia album, Erykah Badu album, different stuff,” Madlib revealed. “[Erykah and I] just started on an album…We have a lot of unreleased stuff.”
