Tyler, The Creator took a heartfelt moment to honor the late Mac Miller while performing in the rapper’s hometown of Pittsburgh on March 28th, during his Chromakopia Tour stop at PPG Paints Arena.
Reflecting on his connection to the city, Tyler shared with the audience, “What a special place. I had a friend that’s from here. His name was Malcolm. Safe travels, rest in peace to him.” He then fondly remembered Mac, recalling a cherished memory: “The last time I was here, he rode me around the city. It was great.” The emotional tribute continued as Tyler dedicated the night’s performance to Mac, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Tyler and Mac had a long history of collaboration, with one of their most notable projects being their 2013 song “O.K.” Additionally, Mac appeared on Tyler’s former Adult Swim series Loiter Squad, further cementing their bond.
Tyler’s Reflection on Mac Miller’s Influence
Last year, Tyler discussed Mac Miller’s legacy in an appearance on Maverick Carter’s SpringHill podcast. When speaking about some contemporary white rappers in hip-hop, Tyler expressed his frustrations with viral artist ian, who he felt was mocking the genre. “There’s this kid right now, this white kid, regular Caucasian man, and he’s like mocking Future and Gucci Mane, like rap music. And people are like, ‘This shit hard!’” Tyler explained.
He then contrasted this with artists like Mac Miller and Eminem, who, in Tyler’s eyes, approached hip-hop with sincere respect. “This is like weird and I’m looking at it and something about it don’t even sit well with me, in comparison to someone like a Mac Miller or Eminem who didn’t seem like they were mocking it; they had a genuine love for it.”
Mac Miller’s Continued Influence
Mac Miller’s influence continues to resonate, particularly with the release of his posthumous album Balloonerism in January. The album, which includes a feature from SZA, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, amassing 81,000 equivalent album units in its first week.
Tyler’s tribute during his Pittsburgh show was a testament to the deep friendship and respect he had for Mac, ensuring his legacy remains alive in the hearts of both fans and fellow artists.
