“GO:OD AM” Sees Its Tenth Anniversary
Album Review ★ Alyssa Bushman ★ @lissyb_21 ★ 2 Minutes
Mac Miller was an artist of an inconceivable caliber. Before he tragically lost his life in 2018, Malcolm McCormick, aka Mac Miller, had managed to take the rap world by storm with albums like K.I.D.S., Blue Slide Park, and The Divine Feminine. These albums showcased Miller’s incredible talent for production and lyricism. His style shifted as he grew as an artist as did his fanbase.
GO:OD AM album / promotional art from 2015
GO:OD AM was released in 2015 with Lil B, Chief Keef, and Miguel on the album's guest list. And according to his bio on Spotify, “single ‘100 Grandkids’ peaked appropriately at number 100, while ‘Weekend’ was certified gold. GO:OD AM ascended to the Top Five of the Billboard 200 and rap charts.”
On the 10th anniversary of the album, Mac Miller’s estate released a special of the album with three new tracks and a few new visuals. The Mac Miller estate has done a picture perfect job at releasing work posthumously. The estate has set a precedent of only releasing work that Mac either already released on mixtapes or planned on releasing while he was still alive. This process keeps the fans fed with what feels like new music, while respecting that his music is his music.
One song that hurt to listen to when I was reminiscing was Perfect Circle/God Speed. The first half is Perfect Circle and that is another one of my favorite Mac production-heavy songs, but the second half is what really gets me. In the God Speed half of the song he discusses his drug problem in a really honest way. The lyrics start to feel like a letter left by a loved one where they knew what their future held. It’s dark and it’s vulnerable and especially following his own tragic demise it is absolutely haunting.
As for the three new tracks, Royal Flush (feat. Vinny Radio), Cable Box, and Carpe Diem, they blend super well with the album and are placed perfectly. My personal favorite of the three was Cable Box. With the help of writer Eric Dan, this song was brought to life with Mac’s iconic flow and production that carries through seamlessly. These songs paired with interesting new visuals and merch for the album feel like a thank you letter from Mac from beyond the grave. We will continue to let his music live on.
