An ode to Mac Miller

Almost everyone who grew up in this generation has heard of Mac Miller, whether it was through his music or being featured in one of countless songs by other artists spanning multiple genres. For people like me, Miller was the soundtrack to my high school years and his music touched me and so many others in ways that I can’t adequately explain. He was such a positive influence in the music community and through his life as a whole.

A month after his death, a benefit concert was held in his honor at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles to commemorate his life and the launch of the Mac Miller Circles Fund. A YouTube stream of the concert was broadcasted and I, of course, tuned in to watch the show. It was more than just a concert, it was a “Celebration of Life” —  and it definitely felt like a celebration. Miller fans were able to witness the incredible influence he had in the music industry firsthand through the sheer number of artists who performed.

The event featured 19 artists including Juicy J, Action Bronson, Vince Staples, Anderson Paak, John Mayer, Rae Sremmurd, Schoolboy Q and Chance The Rapper, just to name a few. The concert was run in a festival style with artists performing one or two songs before the next artist came out and, by the end of the stream, the concert had gone on for roughly three hours.

In addition to the artists who performed on stage, there were a number of artists that sent in videos sharing their own stories of how Miller affected them and what he meant to their lives. I had no idea that Miller had had such an effect on so many artists. Artists like Lil Wayne, Pharell Williams, G-Eazy, Tyler The Creator, A$AP Ferg and so many many others sent in videos, and they had only good things to say. People who weren’t even a part of the music industry, like Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl Anthony-Towns and Jason Sudeikis, had things to share about their friend.

The concert proved that for many, his influence will never die. I will continue to listen to his first album, “Blue Slide Park,” and reflect on all the great memories I have of hanging out in my friend’s garage, singing along with every song. Not only was this concert a celebration of Miller’s life, but it was also an ode to everything he had done over his short time with us.

One message that was clear throughout the entirety of the performance was that Miller was more than an artist. He was a friend, brother, son, influencer and comedian, as well as a fun loving and positive human being. The influence he had on his friends, his fans and the music industry was, just like Miller, legendary.