Mac Miller's estate releases posthumous album "Balloonerism"

Mac Miller's estate has released Balloonerism, the late rapper's second posthumous album since his death in 2018, on Prime Video, along with a new album by Samuel J. Short film directed by Samuel Jerome Mason.

"Balloonerism" is Miller's experimental mode, from the loose jazz of single "5 Dollar Pony Rides" to the hazy, meandering 12-minute finale "Tomorrow Will Never Know." "Balloonerism" has been the stuff of legend for years, with fans speculating that Miller originally recorded the project around the time he released "Faces" in 2014. Multiple songs purportedly from Balloonerism were leaked online, and fans assembled their own versions of the album on streaming services, but nothing ultimately came of it.

But last November, "Balloonerism" was teased at Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles, which included SZA's "DJ's Chord Organ," which was originally thought to be "The Song That Changed Everything" because SZA was on The song was mentioned in a subsequent article. Tweet deleted.

In a social media post last November, Miller's estate described the project as "very important to Malcolm - he commissioned artwork for it and regularly discussed when the project released, but ultimately 'GO:OD' AM' and subsequent albums ultimately took precedence.

"We believe this project showcases his broad range of musical talent and fearlessness as an artist," the post continued. “Given that unofficial versions of the album have been circulating online for years, and Malcolm has often stated that releasing Balloonerism was important to him, we thought it would be most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”

Miller's estate also plans to release a short film about Prime Viceo to coincide with the album's release. The film opens in advance in the U.S. on Wednesday and internationally on Thursday. It's produced by Miller's independent label Remember Music in conjunction with Warner Records and Bumblebee Studios, and is directed by Mason, who directed Miller's 2021 video for Colors & Shapes. Executive producers include Michael Feder, Greg Bedard and Hana Shimuzu, with producers on the project including Heather Hardin and Stephanie Demeautis.

Listen to “Hot Balloon Doctrine” below: