Malcolm James McCormick, known as Mac Miller, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. At the time of his death Mac was working on an album that would have been a complimentary album to his last project ‘Swimming’. Swimming in circles was the concept, two different styles blending together and making a complete album. Jon Brion, the producer that Mac worked with for swimming, and Mac’s family took it upon themselves to finish this album and give Mac’s fans one last chance to say goodbye to him.

I’ve heard this album a couple of times now and here are my thoughts on it-

• Circles- On the track, Mac speaks on being directionless, feeling as though his life is in cycles and that he cannot do anything to get out of them. The song and the record’s title are in reference to the last verse off “So It Goes” from Swimming “My god, it go on and on, Just like a circle, I go back to where I’m from”. This song hits you right in the feels. Listening to it I felt like Mac knew that the tragic incident is around the corner and this is him telling us that he is alright.

• Complicated- over a simple Melody oriented by multiple synths Mac talks about the complications of daily life and how he’s trying to cope with them. Mac says that he’s too young to think and deal with all this and keeps trying to find ways to get out of them. The way Miller talks about these things speaks to me more than anyone else. I’ve always been a fan of his honest portrayal of himself and the struggle he’s been facing.

• Blue World- the song starts with a snippet from a song from ‘It’s a blue world’ by the Four freshman and has Mac talking about the trails and tribulations of life. The production on this was handled by Guy Lawrence who’s a member of the electronic duo ‘Disclosure’.

• Good News- this track was the first single to this album and broke the news out of a new and last Mac Miller album. This track features similar themes to Mac’s previous album ‘Swimming’. On this Miller is about people only wanting to know the good things and telling him to be good even when he has no idea what good exactly is. This song broke me down and memories of Mac Miller kept coming back to me. There has been a major difference in my reaction to this song. When I first heard it, it made me feel sad but not it gives a smile on my face and gives me a sense of satisfaction.

• I Can See- probably featuring vocals by Ariana Grande this song is really beautiful. The production on this song is dreamy and feels like Mac is talking to us from above. Every song in this album has a similar vibe to it. Mac Miller is talking to us from the beyond and is telling us to be together and be alright.

• Everybody- this is an inspired cover of Arthur Lee’s 1972 single ‘Everybody’s Gotta Live’. The instrumental begins with minimal piano keys, with drums, bass, and layered vocals building the instrumental further by the first verse. Mac Miller is one of the best artist to have ever lived and you can see that in how beautiful he has covered this song.

• Woods- Mac talks about fading relationships on this song. How we keep on moving from one person to another and the memories keep fading away. Looking at the larger picture this could have also been about fame and how it fades away in no time. On a minimalistic beat Mac Miller expresses himself beautiful and it’s a really good song.

• Hand Me Downs- this for me is the best song on this album. The hook on this song hits me hard and it’s beautifully sung by Baro, making it the highlight of the album for me. The instrumental features a thumping beat, melancholy strings, and synth flourishes throughout the song. Whenever I’m going to miss Mac this song is what I’m going to listen too. Mac Miller talks about having children and passing his genes on as hand me downs. This song is definitely going to make you melt.

• That’s On Me- this song has a beautiful guitar being strum in the background. I’m running out of adjectives to describe this because this is such a beautiful record. Regardless from the fact that where this coming from and the story behind it, it’s such a beautiful record and each song of this shows how good Mac was as an artist. This will leave you wanting for more.

• Hands- this is the only song on the record that can be classified as a traditional Rap song. With the beat having playful keys and pitched up vocals as a part of it Mac Raps about his own behavior, questioning whether he’s doing the right things or not and how it’s going to shape his future.

• Surf- this song is the longest song on the album and is primarily built around an acoustic guitar with all the other elements following it. Jon Brion has done a terrific job here and this song is so beautiful that it keeps hitting you right in the feels. If you keep listening to this you’ll realize how beautiful Mac’s music was and just at the age of 26 he had a sense of maturity that not a lot of musicians don’t have.

• Once A Day- by the time you reach this song you start realising that this is probably the last songs that you’re going to hear from Mac Miller and it’s sad because he was such a beautiful artist working to put out his thoughts to us in the best way possible. Mac was a genuine talent and you can see that in how beautiful this album flows to this point and even the last song on this album is so hauntingly beautiful that you can’t get it out of your head.

I don’t think I’ll be able to rate this album because I don’t think I’m worthy enough to do that. I just consider myself lucky that I’ve been able to hear this beautiful album and will be able to hear it again and again. Mac Miller was a genius and I started listening to his music when I was 14 years old. Mac’s untimely demise felt like I lost a friend. This album to me was a hug from him, telling me to be fine and keep fighting even when times get tougher and I don’t have any reason to keep fighting. Mac will always be an inspiration to me, a friend whom I never met and one of my favorites. Rest in peace brother, I hope you’ve found peace where you are. I’ll always miss you and vibe to your music till the very end. Thank you.