Way Back: K.I.D.S. (2010)
You ain't nothin' with your wack rap
Used to be the class clown, but now I get the last laugh
- Mac Miller on “Get Em Up”
On August 13th, 2010, Mac Miller released his fourth mixtape, K.I.D.S., on Rostrum Records. The title is both an acronym (kickin’ incredibly dope shit) and an allusion to the 1995 film, KIDS, that is referenced throughout the project.
Like Soulja Boy had done several years beforehand, Mac worked to push his brand forward via videos on youtube. It’s rare for an artist to have so many music videos for a mixtape, but it worked for what was becoming an increasingly visual audience.
Nothing about the videos is grandiose, it’s Mac and his friends walking and partying around his hometown. The schools, parks, streets, and backyards are his old Pittsburgh neighborhood, and much like the movie KIDS, the inhabitants of these motion pictures are all kids in Mac’s age bracket. We get a slice of life from their perspective, with no interference from the older generation. The camera work and editing of his Most Dope crew were legitimate enough to help the videos gain real traction. Each of the music videos released on his channel tallied more than a million views, enough attention to cause Lord Finesse to sue Mac Miller for the sampling of one of his old records on “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza”.
Yeah, I've done a little traveling, circling the globe
Always keep it moving, inertia on these hoes
We can’t pretend the subject matter here is too complex, the raps are primarily about cutting class, getting famous, smoking, drinking, and sex. It’s not that different from what rap has become. But unlike many of his contemporaries, Mac was never short on skill. Even in these seemingly elementary tracks, Mac was sneaking in an impressive vocabulary, homage, timely punchlines, and a practiced flow that felt effortless.
Young people don't see you as an equal
They just see you as deceitful, tryna send you back to preschool
You only gettin' one shot, no redo
Tell them haters keep they mouth shut, eat glue
Bitch, who the fuck you think you playing with?
I'm Justin Bieber meets Jadakiss
“Nikes On My Feet” was an underground hit that helped to ingratiate him with the budding legion of sneakerheads and the subculture of hardcore collectors
Young boss, bitch, paper in my pockets
I got a closet filled with shoeboxes
Mom said my spending habit little bit obnoxious
But a pilot stay fresh up in his cockpit
He showed a remarkable amount of belief in the trajectory of his career, even as he was still very much a normal kid. The songs sound prophetic now considering the star that he became.
Had the whole regular life I can tell you that I'm done with that
Try to build a mil' off a couple stacks
Own my own business, investin' all I got into these fuckin' raps
Probably the most impactful track is “Poppy”, where Mac sends a brief tribute to his deceased grandfather who played a pivotal role in his upbringing. Over a Pete Rock and CL Smooth sample, you can see that he can use his skills to broach more serious topics.
And maybe I am a little bit over my head
But I'm feeling so alone tryna cope with your death
Holding my breath, wishing I had one more day
Wishing you could be there when I graduate
It’s not hard to see why this project jump started Mac Miller’s career. When a high school-aged kid displays skill like this, people take note. Spin K.I.D.S. today to hear one of the last great projects from the mixtape era.
