Mac Miller - Swimming (Explicit) (2 LP)

Double vinyl LP pressing. 2018 release, the fifth studio album by rapper Mac Miller. Includes the single "Self Care." Mac has accomplished every goal he ever set for himself. At least that's what the magazines say about the Pittsburgh kid, and they're right enough. With his first album, he became a grassroots rap megastar. With his second he bared his weird soul and was praised for it. His 11 mixtapes boast a couple bucket lists' worth of collaborators, from Bun B and Kendrick Lamar to Rick Ross and Juicy J. And in the same year that he toured the U.S. backed by a psychedelic soul band, he rapped all over Europe with Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz. He did indie. He's doing major. He even bought himself a ridiculous house in the Los Angeles hills and made a TV show about it. Hell, he made a jazz record.

Following 2016's ode to love The Divine Feminine, Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller avoids treading water and continues his artistic maturation on his fifth full-length, Swimming. As flowing as the title suggests, Swimming undulates with laid-back slacker soul and hypnotic production, like a lava lamp bobbing along calm waves. Inspired by events preceding the album's release, Miller's moody and introspective lyrics hint at the post-breakup black cloud hovering above his head, while also addressing his struggles with maintaining sobriety. Coupled with his soulful sing-rapping and input from producer Jon Brion, Swimming is one of Miller's more enjoyable and cohesive visions. Throughout, there's an emo-R&B vibe that strongly recalls Frank Ocean, just with less eloquent or evocative lyrics. Highlights include the popping, Pharrell-assisted "Hurt Feelings," the synth-funk bounce of the Snoop Dogg and Thundercat collaboration "What's the Use?," and "Self Care," a narcotic cloud rap gem that benefits from co-writers Dev Hynes and J.I.D. The woozy production and marble-mouthed delivery can sometimes be a slog (similar to one of Drake's or Post Malone's overly long albums), but every now and then there's something -- be it the surprise jazz piano on "Small Worlds" or the orchestral sweep of "2009" -- that pulls everything back into focus. Licking his wounds after a rough first half of 2018, Miller realizes "You could have the world in the palm of your hands/You still might drop it" on closer "So It Goes." With an eye on the future, Swimming is ample evidence that Miller can pick up the pieces and continue evolving, his grasp on thoughtful, introspective hip-hop getting stronger by the album.

"I JUST NEED A WAY OUT OF MY HEAD, I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR A WAY OUT / OF MY HEAD." R.I.P. Mac Miller. Swimming is his 5th album, and it's a sombre look at the inner workings of the troubled-but-beloved rapper. His very high-profile break-up w/ Ariana Grande as well as a DUI arrest serve as the inspiration for most the 13-tracker, and he reflects on his struggles with drugs, mental health, and other troubles over silky instrumentals. Dam-Funk, Flying Lotus, Dev Hynes, DJ Dahi, Jon Brion, + Miller himself as Larry Fisherman handle production w/ help from a slew of others, and Thundercatalso lays down ultra-funk basslines on some of the tracks. Regarding the work, Miller has said that he is "just talking about things" he is "afraid of, or things that are just thoughts and emotions." He delivers his thoughts and emotions through calm-but-intricate raps and melancholy-tinged singing (glad he is leaning into more singing after 2016's The Divine Feminine), and despite the arching sadness, there are glimpses of positivity & optimism, as it is clear that Miller is longing for for healing, growth, and self-love, regardless of how slow that process to might be. It would have been interesting to hear his follow-up project.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Rap & R&b : Jazz
• Double black vinyl
• Remember, for our lowest prices, always order directly from our official JocoRecords website!

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Tracklist