Mac Miller tragically passed away last year due to a drug overdose, but he has not been forgotten. The rap star who grew up in Pittsburgh before moving to New York has been the subject of many tributes and now he has been immortalized on the streets of Brooklyn thanks to artists BKFoxx and JMZ Walls.
A two-toned Miller mural showed up and Complex interviewed the artists to learn the motivation behind it.
“I think Mac Miller’s death had been kind of overlooked. It was such a shitty thing, he was only 26. And when someone ODs, it hurts,” BKFoxx said. “Because in my generation, there’s been so much of it, we’re so used to burying friends and family members for that reason. And because I think to myself, how bad is living in this world for you that you just can’t? Especially as an artist—I can say from experience it’s really difficult to be creative in a society that values money and trends more than culture and real individuality.
“[The piece] is meant to be a representation of how we are complex and can be more than one thing at the same time. We can show one face to the world while hiding another. Something I find helpful to be aware of when thinking about other people.”
Miller had embraced the Brooklyn community after relocating to New York City, so the tribute is more than fitting.
“He loved NYC, he moved here like a year after me. Just him and I living in Brooklyn exploring the city,” his DJ and longtime friend DJ Clockwork previously said.
You can check out the mural below.
The artists also previously put together a mural to honor another late-rap star, XXXTentacion.
Malcolm James McCormick, best known by his stage name Mac Miller was an American rapper, singer and record producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He who was born on January 19, 1992 and raised in the Point Breeze part of Pittsburgh. Malcolm would go on to attend Winchester Thurston School and Taylor Allderdice High School.
First breaking into the industry with a mixtape But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy in 2007. In May 2018, Miller was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and hit and run after allegedly crashing into and knocking down a power pole and fleeing the scene with two passengers.
