Mac Miller’s Final Album Swimming Hits Double Platinum
Almost two years after his death, Mac Miller’s last studio album has reached double-platinum status. On June 7, the RIAA awarded the Pittsburgh native Swimming with the certification, which means the project has sold over two million units in the United States.
Miller’s Last Studio Album
On his fifth full-length album, Miller threw off the frat-rap stereotype and explored introspection with a more mature tone. Sonically, Swimming continues 2016’s The Divine Feminine with a more profound, silky vibe akin to the L.A. alternative soul scene. With contributions from a host of acclaimed producers (including Kanye West collaborator Jon Brion) and the help of singer-songwriter Anderson. Paak, Swimming is an ambitious sonic landscape that carries the burden of heavy emotions while remaining engaging and accessible to audiences.
While the album’s lead single, “Self Care,” is a jubilant celebration of the rapper’s newfound sobriety and reconnection with his family, the rest of the project deals with a more complicated, darker side to addiction. In songs like “Ladders,” Miller describes his all-or-nothing relationship with drugs. He also talks about craving just one more minute under the influence, all while sounding so cheery in his vocal delivery. In 2018, it was easy to find heartbreaking music about drug addiction from Drake, Future, and Post Malone, but this album dives in headfirst with considerably more focus.
In the final track on Swimming, Miller uses a line from Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five to conclude the album. The phrase, “So it goes,” explains that no matter how good or bad life may be at any given moment, the end will eventually come for everyone. The sentiment feels particularly poignant as we lose artists of all genres yearly. It serves as a reminder that no matter how much fame or success you achieve, you cannot control the outcome of your journey.
