Mac Miller 'The Divine Feminine' review

Image: Mac Miller

When you think of Mac Miller you don’t necessarily think of heartfelt love songs and tales of passion, but his fourth album The Divine Feminine helps show the rapper in a whole new light. Throughout the album we see a more open side of Miller, recounting provocative stories over jazz-infused, G-Funk beats in a way that only he could master.

This new side of the Pittsburgh rapper may stem from his recent relationship with pop singer, Ariana Grande. The 23-year-old singer does feature on the album, adding to an impressive roster of collaborators including Anderson .Paak, Bilal, CeeLo Green and the ever impressive Kendrick Lamar.

Philadelphia’s own Bilal helps bring in the album on ‘Congratulations’ over some soft piano keys with Miller reflecting on past relationships. This state of mind spills over onto to the G-Funk bass thrusted ‘Dang!' - which also features Anderson .Paak taking hold of the ridiculously groovy beat.

Mac has certainly taken a risk with this album, taking his music in a new direction and singing on the majority of tracks. This new style has taken the place of his well-known intricate raps, but as he pours his heart out over the synth infused ‘Soulmate’ all can be forgiven.

‘Skin’ is certainly a risk for the 24-year-old rapper who slows things down, taking a leaf out of Luther Vandross’ book of love. This is also reflected on ‘My Favorite Part’ as he sings “you just don’t know how beautiful you are” and also touches on his recent sobriety. 

Mac Miller has often expressed his love for jazz music and this comes across in ‘Stay’ - which entwines smokey sax and female orgasm screams without measuring on the cringe barometer.

‘God Is Fair, Sexy Nasty’ hooks in genre enthusiast Kendrick Lamar - cementing the track as a cut above the rest and of course ending The Divine Feminine on a huge K.Dot high.

The album does not contain as many catchy hooks or up-beat tracks as fans of Mac Miller may have been accustomed to, but that does not mean that The Divine Feminine does not stand out amongst Miller’s finest work. It’s slow, methodical and proves that there is so much more to Mac Miller than meets the eye.

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