Malcolm James McCormick was born on January 19, 1992. He began making music at a young age and by 15 was already releasing mixtapes. One of the first true viral superstars, his early records earned him a rabid legion of die-hard fansâas well as a few noteworthy detractors. But despite his undeniable success, Miller was plagued by struggles with substance abuse and depression, both of which fueled his raw and genre-defying music, yet ultimately led to his demise.
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Through detailed reporting and interviews with dozens of Millerâs confidants, Paul Cantor brings you to leafy Pittsburgh, seductive Los Angeles, and frenzied New York, where you will meet Millerâs collaborators, producers, business partners, best friends, and even his roommates. Traveling deep into Millerâs inner circle, behind the curtain, the velvet ropes, and studio doors, Most Dope tells the story of a passionate, gifted young man who achieved his lifeâs ambition, only to be undone by his personal demons.
Most Dope is part love letter, part cautionary tale, never shying away from the raw, visceral way Mac Miller lived his life.
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Praise for Most Dope
"A tender, studious remembrance." âThe New York Times Book Review
"An insightful exploration of his life . . . painstakingly reported by Cantor, who interviewed more than 100 people during a three-year process."Â âUSA Today
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"An inside look at Miller's life through the eyes of his friends and industry peers, tracking the musician's life journey as he quickly ascended the ranks."Â âDaily Beast
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
January 18, 2022 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781647005221
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781647005221
- File size: 3355 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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January 31, 2022
In this engrossing debut, journalist Cantor unpacks the complex legacy of Mac Miller (1992–2018), “a rapper who spent his life... explor the space between his own madness and genius.” Born Malcolm McCormick in Pittsburgh, Pa., Miller grew up in a house “full of art and music.” By his teens, he was rapping at his Jewish summer camp’s Shabbat Concerts and, in 2008, he released his first album with his hip-hop group, Ill Spoken. After going solo under the moniker “Mac Miller” (Miller was a family name), his freestyling prowess got him signed to the indie label Rostrum Records. Cantor briskly recounts how this catapulted Miller from Pittsburgh’s underground rap scene to becoming an international sensation, before inking a $10-million deal with Warner Bros. in 2015, and releasing “the best album of his career” with 2018’s Swimming. While he extols Miller’s outsize talents, Cantor also candidly reckons with the rapper’s inner demons: his fame, for one, plagued him, and while “his openness about his battle with substance abuse endeared him to many,” it was Miller’s addiction that led to his fatal accidental overdose. In doing so, Cantor offers a raw look at the struggles that fueled Miller’s most enduring creations. Fans won’t want to miss this. -
February 4, 2022
Literary and media critic Cantor wrote this first biography of rap legend Mac Miller (1992-2018) without the participation of Miller's family and estate but manages to provide a respectful and moving account of Miller's career and complicated life. Raised in affluence, Miller knew by age 15 that he wanted to be a rapper. An unabashed self-promoter, he mastered social media (he was one of the first to use Twitter). Miller wanted his music to reflect the concerns of everyday kids, and his songs were a mixed bag of sentimentality and crassness, as he wrote about his mother, his grandparents' love story, and the wealth of Donald Trump. Cantor touches on Miller's brief reality show on MTV, his romantic relationship with Ariana Grande, his struggles with addiction and visits to rehab, and his death at 26 due to an overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol, but the focus is on Miller's development as an artist and the relationships that helped his career evolve. VERDICT While Cantor relies heavily on previously published interviews, he does provide fresh insights from Miller's professional acquaintances, and the result is an honest, cautionary tale about a troubled musician gone too soon.--Lisa Henry
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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