Mac Miller’s estate has announced the arrival of a second posthumous album, Balloonerism, sparking excitement among fans eager to experience more of the late rapper’s artistry. The announcement was unveiled in dramatic fashion during Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles this past weekend, where an exclusive trailer for the album played between sets by Sampha and The Alchemist.
The two-and-a-half-minute trailer, featuring stunning CGI visuals, offered a glimpse into the project with snippets of two unreleased tracks: The Song That Changed Everything, reportedly featuring SZA, and 5 Dollar Pony Rides. The cinematic preview concluded with the word “Soon” and revealed an album cover showcasing abstract, balloon-inspired artwork. The cover is a painting of Mac Miller by artist Alim Smith, who shared a similar piece on Instagram in 2018. At the time, Miller himself commented, “Need this,” just weeks before his passing.
Balloonerism is said to have been recorded over the span of a single week in 2014, preceding the creation of Miller’s acclaimed mixtape Faces. In the 2022 book The Book of Mac: Remembering Mac Miller, the rapper’s longtime manager, Quentin Cuff, described the album as an experimental and eccentric body of work.
“Mac and [engineer] Josh [Berg] were tucked away in the basement studio at his L.A. house,” Cuff shared in an excerpt published by Passion of the Weiss. “They were crafting bizarre, otherworldly creations that really stood out. People loved it. Balloonerism emerged during that period, separate from Faces. It’s its own distinct vibe. There were so many albums conceived during that time.”
While the release date and additional details remain under wraps, Balloonerism will follow Miller’s first posthumous album, Circles. Released in January 2020, Circles was completed by producer Jon Brion, who worked on the project following Miller’s death in September 2018 from an accidental drug overdose. The album was conceived as a companion piece to Swimming, Miller’s fifth studio record, which debuted just a month before his passing.
The announcement of Balloonerism offers fans a bittersweet opportunity to connect with Mac Miller’s unique vision and creativity, solidifying his enduring impact on music and culture.
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