Balloonerism

‘Balloonerism’ captures Mac Miller's exploratory 2014 phase, recorded concurrently with his ‘Faces’ mixtape and issued posthumously as his second such studio album. The recording merges dense, sample-based hip-hop with live jazz and funk instrumentation—prominently featuring Thundercat's basslines—and includes vocal contributions from SZA and Miller's pitched-up alter ego, Delusional Thomas. Its surreal and introspective lyrical themes reflect a pivotal, experimental period in his songwriting that earned generally favorable reviews upon its release.