“Enjoy the best things in life because you ain’t gonna get to live it twice.” If you recognize this quote, then most likely you are familiar with the 26 year-old rapper and producer, Malcolm James McCormick, more commonly known as Mac Miller, who unfortunately, on the seventh of September, was found without a pulse in his San Fernando Valley home from a suspected drug overdose. Heartbreak has struck the hearts of millions across the world as the news has spread to his peers and followers who have been with him since his career took off in 2010.

Miller was an inspiration to many and impacted countless lives with his touching lyrics and raw honesty about his struggles with drug addiction, the hardships of anxiety, and his auspice of death. According to the recently published article, ‘The Tragic Death of Mac Miller, A Musician Who Never Stopped Evolving’ in The New Yorker, “Honesty was Miller’s default. He stumbled and learned in public, even as the intensity of the public glare increased his pain.” Miller’s transparency was what helped others feel as though they were not alone, whether it was about drugs, or even just about having thoughts or feelings that were often perceived as unusual. He poured his struggles into his music, giving fans an insight into where he currently was in life and often making them feel closer and more connected to him.

 Miller so appealing because he was relatable to so many. Most had been following him since the beginning and had grown up listening to him, which is why losing him has felt “more like the loss of a friend rather than just a celebrity”, according to a fellow classmate. “It saddens me to see yet another young rapper dead. He was actually a good person, unlike most of today’s artists who promote drug use and violence,” he adds when asked his opinion regarding the rapper’s tragic death.

It can be clearly seen through the numerous mournful posts from not only Miller’s fans, but his celebrity peers as well, such as Khalid, J.Cole, Chance the Rapper, etc., the impact that Mac Miller has left in this world. A beautiful soul taken too soon, serving as yet another reminder of the brutal reality in the world of addiction.