Saturday, Sept. 7, marked the first anniversary of Mac Miller’s overdose. Malcom James McCormick, more commonly known by his rap name “Mac Miller”, established his presence in the rap game in 2007 with his first rap name, “Easy Mac,” and his first mixtape But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy, all at the age of 15. In 2010, Mac won Best Video Award at the Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards for his single “Live Free.” Mac signed with his first record label, Rostrum Records in the summer of 2010. In 2011, Mac was one of 11 rappers to appear on XXL’s “Freshman Class” annual list, a list of the year’s upcoming rappers. On Nov. 8, 2011, Mac released his debut studio album, Blue Slide Park, which went certified gold in the US and Canada. 

Mac Miller went separate ways from Rostrum Records in 2014 and released his tenth solo mixtape, Faces. Mac was picked up by Warner Bros. Records in Oct. 2014 and had his final three studio album releases: GO:OD AM, The Divine Feminine and Swimming Pools, underneath them. Mac rapped about life, difficulties with drugs, friends and the typical party scene. Several musicians came to commemorate Mac’s life and career, including longtime friend and mentor Wiz Khalifa, another prominent Pittsburgh rapper.  

The anniversary comes in light of Mac’s drug dealer, Cameron Pettit, being arrested Wednesday for distributing counterfeit oxycodone, Xanax and cocaine, with the counterfeit oxycodone also containing lethal amounts of fentanyl. Mac was found unresponsive in his Studio City home by his assistant, three days after acquiring the drugs from Pettit. He had all three drugs he bought from Pettit in his system at the time of his death, including the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl. 

Mac was open about his struggle with drug addiction throughout his music career. He went into detail about his problems with drugs in many of his songs. Benji Grinberg, founder of Rostrum Records (Mac’s first record label), knew Mac well and talked about drug abuse with him throughout the years. 

“He had sort of made a turn after the making of Blue Slide Park, where I think he got a little bit deeper into drugs and was talking about it,” Grinberg said. 

Warner Bros. Records also released a statement shortly after Mac’s death.

 “All of us at Warner Bros. Records are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news of Mac Miller’s untimely passing,” Warner Bros. said, “Mac was a hugely gifted and inspiring artist, with a pioneering spirit and sense of humor that touched everyone he met.” 

Mac knew the problems that came with constant drug use. In 2016, Mac starred in the documentary, Stop Making Excuses, which dove into drug use and the consequences. Shortly into the 12-minute interview, Mac can be heard saying, “I’d rather be the corny white rapper than the drugged-out mess that can’t even get out of his house. Overdosing is just not cool. There’s no legendary romance. You don’t go down in history because you overdosed. You just die.”

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, here are a few resources that may help.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poison Help Hotline at 1-800-222-1222

Reach the Drug Abuse Hotline at 1-866-948-9865

Substance abuse and mental health service at 1-800-662-Help (4357)