Last Friday, Mac Miller unexpectedly passed away, barely a month after dropping his Swimming album. Fans were immediately left reeling from the loss, and proceeded to rally around the man's vast musical repertoire. As a result, Mac's streaming numbers experienced a 970% increase, according to a report from Billboard, who cite Neilsen Music as a source. On September 7th (the day of his death) Mac's music went from 3.04 million to 32.5 million.
Singles "Self Care," "Donald Trump," "Hurt Feelings," "Best Day Ever," and the Miguel assisted "Weekend" rounded out the top five, a wide array of eras spanning across his varied catalog. It's not uncommon for a rapper's music to skyrocket posthumously, and it wouldn't be surprising to see his name popping up on next week's Billboard charts.
While some might examine the streaming boost through a cynical lens, the united crowd remains a testament to Mac's artistic prowess. It's still hard to believe that we'll never receive new music from the young rapper, and while he has certainly provided us with ample content, the finality remains difficult to process. Rest in peace Mac Miller.