Our staff here at DC has been hearing a loud buzzing noise going on for just over a month now, and it can’t be our fire alarms because we’ve already taken those out due to our daily habits of chiefing. After a brief meeting, we realized its simply been our bedside alarm clocks awakening all the people sleeping on Mac Miller’s new album GO:OD AM.
The 23-year-old rapper (yes, he’s still only 23) made his 2015 debut by way of a 17-track studio album with a title representing a new day for the Pittsburg artist. Not only is this a new day for Mac Miller, it’s also a new deal. In Fall 2014, it was revealed that Miller had inked a deal with Warner Bros. Records for his label REMember Music, for $10 million dollars to be exact. Considering this significant business move and the amount time between his past album release and now, the stage was set for Mac Miller.
And he executed.
GO:OD AM is a tasteful mix of high quality production, expressive lyrics, and catchy flows. You can tell Mac really went into his own during the creation of this project. Many fans were concerned with Mac Miller’s drug use over the past couple years, and the Pittsburg emcee was not afraid to address it.
GO:OD AM begins with a joyful tune titled Doors, produced by none other than Tyler, The Creator. Miller immediately expresses his feelings with his worrisome fans, friends, and family. In the first line he states: “I know it’s been a minute since I’ve been awake/didn’t mean to cause you pain I just needed to escape/they saying that I’m sober I’m just in a better place/I’m on my way over I’m just runnin kind of late.”
Well there it is, that’s all you need to hear right? Wrong. There’s a lot more.
Nearly every song on GO:OD AM includes a well-composed combination of vocal samples, horns, and live-drum instrumentation. It also quickly becomes apparent that Mac Miller and his audio engineer have mastered the layering of his own voice and the technique of ad-libbing, translating to a perfect adhesive for his songs.
As far as subject matter, there are a few key points that hold the majority of time on GO:OD AM.
Mac Miller displays an in depth expression of his inner-demons on this album, producing a therapeutic and personal experience for the listener. On tracks like 100 Grandkids he speaks on his drug use asking, “What’s a god without a little OD,” and stating, “I put the hero in heroin.” A very common trait in artists.
Mac Miller also sheds light on his struggles with his powerful-yet-consuming train of thoughts on songs like “The Festival,” stating he is: “Somewhere in between the crazy and the conscious.” These short phrases allow a glimpse into Mac Miller’s world; however, the second half of the double track titled “Perfect Circle/God Speed” is hands-down the most honest and personal song on the GO:OD AM. During this track, Mac Miller pens a letter to the public that quite possibly uncovers the most vulnerable side of the rapper that any fan has experienced. Instead of reading an excerpt from the song here, give it a listen and nod your head to Mac Miller for putting everything out on the table for the world.
Between the heavier lyrics of personal expression and psychoanalysis on GO:OD AM, there’s some hard-hitting rap with some raw ass motha-fuckin’ bars ya dig? There are also just some-simply put-fun songs. The first 10 records on Mac Miller’s new album are a breeze for any listener and come with some dope features.
Ab-Soul rekindles his grip on the hip-hop crown with his verse on “Two Matches” and Miguel lets his pipes loose on Weekend. Instead of rapping, Mac Miller uses Juicy J to simply pump energy filled ad-libs throughout the songs “In The Bag” and “Break The Law,” and it works very well. Mac Miller also throws in some comic relief by way of two hilarious skits featuring Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q. The number one slapper on GO:OD AM has to be When In Rome though. That shit bangs.
GO:OD AM gives its consumer a great balance of feel good hip-hop, serious hip-hop, and hard-hitting hip-hop (or the music that “makes white people mad” according to Mac). For its length of 17-tracks, Miller does a admirable job at keeping things interesting yet cohesive. There are a few moments when the lyrics seem to be very simple and almost dumbed down, which may deter some listeners away, yet GO:OD AM still very much argues to be in the conversation of 2015’s best hip-hop albums. At the young age Mac Miller is at, expect to see a lot more top-tier material from the Pittsburg rapper in the future.
Keep fucking hoes and drinking tiger blood Mac, it’s working. Written by Mike T.
