Malcolm James McCormick, 26, died on Sept. 8 from an overdose in California four days after his album “Swimming” was released. Professionally known as Mac Miller, releasing five studio albums, one live album, twelve mixtapes and
thirty-one singles in his career; McCormick struggled with drug use for years.

Editors note: a collection of excerpts from McCormick’s albums and
documentary reveal his long-standing struggles.

I’d rather be the corny white rapper than a drugged-out mess who can’t even get out of his house.

Overdosing is just not cool. There is no legendary romance. You don’t go down in history because you overdosed. You just die. McCormick said in “Stopped Making Excuses” a documentary produced by The Fader.

It started by me just sitting inside all day. Then you get bored. Then you’re just like “I could be high and I could have a whole adventure in this room.” “Stopped Making
Excuses.”

If someone’s just like “hey you wanna try this?” I’m always like just like “yeah sure.” And then it just kind of messes you up once you have a bunch of money. If you try a drug and you like it, you can buy a lot of it. So I went through about everything. “Stopped Making Excuses.”

Doing drugs is just a war with boredom but they sure do get me. Sit at home and drink by myself, my thoughts harassing me. A shame that my tragedy, my masterpiece, yeah. It’s the last day of my life. Party like it’s the last day of your life.

“Funeral,” Faces.

And I don’t know how I’m supposed to look into my parents eyes when I’m scared to die. My eyes same color as a cherry pie. ”Ascension,” GOOD AM.

Yeah, I got a bad attitude, playing ‘til I’m out of moves. Yeah, nine times out of ten I get it wrong. That’s why I wrote this song, told myself to hold on. I can feel my fingers slippin’ in a instant, I’ll be gone. The world is so small ‘til it ain’t, yeah I’m building up a wall ‘til it break. “Small worlds,”
Swimming.

Hallelujah, thank God I have a future. Praying I don’t waste it getting faded cause I’m smoking ‘til I’m coughing up tar. But me, I’m still trapped inside my head it kinda feel like it’s a purgatory. Three years ago to now, it is just not the same. I’m looking out my window ashing on the pane. Wonder if I lost my way. Won’t give a blank about tomorrow if I die today. I’ll greet the devil with a smiling face. That God fellow may reside in space. “Star Room,” Watching Movies with the Sound Off.

I just need a way out of my head. I’ll do anything for a way out of my head. “Come Back to Earth,”
Swimming.

Once they start to realize that I’m actually crazy. Shoot I’m actually crazy! Um… and… “It Just Doesn’t Matter,” Faces.

Check myself intro rehab. Yeah, um… I might die before I detox. At the rate I’m getting high, it’ll be hard for me to find tomorrow. But I just pray that I’ll survive tomorrow. I started messing with drugs and now I’m a junkie. “Malibu,” Faces.

I’m a bit surprised that I’m even still alive. Mixin’ uppers and downers, practically suicide. “Grand
Finale,” Faces.

Suppose I’ll die alone from an overdose of some sort. “San Francisco,” Faces.

I got all the time in the world, so for now I’m just chilling. Plus, I know it’s a, it’s a beautiful feeling, in oblivion, yeah, yeah. Can’t trust no one, can’t even trust yourself, yeah. “Self Care,” Swimming.

Before things come together, they have to fall apart. It’s been a while since I’ve been sober. This life can be so hard, I’d rather talk about you. You just don’t know how beautiful you are. And baby that’s my favorite part. “Favorite Part,” Divine Feminine.

And you, always wonderin’ what we’ll be, I say we sound better than you or me. “We,” Divine Feminine.

I’m having some trouble, can you give a hand? I never thought that it would feel this way. You never taught me how to heal the pain. I wish you caught me on a different day. When it was easier to be happy. “Objects in the Mirror,” Watching Movies with the
Sound off.

It’s a dark science, when you’re friends start dying. Like how could he go, he was part lion. Life goes on, tears all dried in. Couple years are gon’ by, bye then. Life is short, don’t ever question the lengths. It’s cool to cry, don’t ever question your strength. This life move’s fast, I never knew that yours wouldn’t have lasted. “REMember,” Watching Movies with the Sound Off.

If there’s a party in heaven I plan to leave wasted. “Star Room,” Watching Movies with the Sound Off.