26-Year Old, Pittsburgh-born rapper Malcolm James McCormick, better known by his stage name Mac Miller, has died of an apparent drug overdose, TMZ reports. Miller was found by a friend around 12 p.m. (PST) earlier today in his San Fernando Valley home, and was reported dead at the scene upon officials arriving.
TMZ reports that,
Miller has had trouble with substance abuse… in the wake of his breakup with Ariana Grande. The rapper wrecked his Mercedes G-Wagon by wrapping it around a utility pole back in May and was arrested for DUI and hit and run. He fled the scene but cops say he later confessed at his home. He blew two times the legal limit.
After his arrest Ariana tweeted, “Pls take care of yourself” and was clearly concerned about substance abuse.
After their breakup Ariana made it clear… his substance abuse had been a deal breaker in their two-year relationship.
Mac Miller signed his first record deal with Pittsburgh-based record label, Rostrum Records. The following year his debut studio album, Blue Slide Park, hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, making it the first independently distributed debut albums to hit the #1 Billboard spot since Tha Dogg Pound’s 1995 album, Dogg Food. Miller went on to start his own record label, REMember Music, eventually merging with Warner Bros. Records. Mac Miller frequently collaborated with Pittsburgh brother Wiz Khalifa, saying, “Wiz has been a big brother to me with this music thing so far. Our relationship is beyond music. He really is just my homie, whether I will be making music or not.”
Miller recently released a new studio album last month, Swimming, with positive reviews from his fan base.
We send our thoughts and prayers to Mac Miller’s family and friends. Godspeed, Mac.