Mac Miller’s GO:OD AM: Review

Mac Miller and I have had a weird relationship, but in the end I always find positives on anything he makes, even Blue Slide Park. Coming off the major success that was Watching Movies with the Sound Off, Mac Miller’s highly anticipated third album is much less anticipated for myself. But trust me there are some positives.

GO:OD AM is eclectic in sound from start to finish, but when Mac raps, he can get redundant at points. A big theme Mac includes is of being rich at a young age. This comes from Mac’s recent distribution deal with Universal, where Mac got 12 million dollars. On “Two Matches” Mac brings along Ab-Soul for a verse. After killing it on “Vice City,” off of Jay Rock’s album 90059, Soul comes in with his usual “spiritual flow and rhymes,” or so he says.

In my lifetime, my whole M.O. was to get this M.O.N.E.Y.

Sabotage the wealthy and enrichen the poor (Soul)

Long story short, that’s one of my long-term goals 

Ab-Soul opens his verse with these bars indicating some sick shit to come, but it’s problematic when you get to Mac as he becomes forgettable when his braggadocios verse isn’t as clever as Mac can be. The album has its upsides with songs containing two parts, one for the better and one for the worse.

“100 Grandkids” does this for the better. Mac raps with some slick bars on the first half of the track, then something new for the second half. Mac’s transitions are clean and he gets to the point with some slick metaphors, which were what had me hyped for the album.

Lil B also makes a surprise appearance here providing some spiritual-spoken word in interludes on the song “Time Flies,” a track about Mac’s hustle from frat-rap to druggie-rap. I mean I dig it. All Hail The BASED GOD right?

The biggest issue here is that as interesting as this track list looks on paper, the value of it is nowhere near that of his second album. On his second album Mac goes in different directions. He even gives us a nice guitar solo on the track “REMember.” But on this one, Mac only seems to show he maintains dominance, but he cares more about the sound then the content.

Some songs like “Break The Law,” come off as generic and unoriginal for the young Mac. But “In The Bag” preludes it with some fire. The song has a low tempo with a smooth flow.

Though surprisingly enough Chief Keef provides a verse, that in retrospect is better then Mac Miller’s on the track “Cut the Check,” which is also about making money and the hustle.

Now I wrestle with racks, bitch I’m Mick Foley

Shit made me go woo like Rick Florer

I mean Ric Flair bitch boy I’ve been player

You a bench warmer boy I’ve been playing

I mean, damn does Keef go in. It is peculiar for me to say this considering his past. But shit….

But in all seriousness, Mac knows how to transition his tracks smoothly. I’d say on paper this album looks great, but not every song lands hard. It’s a good listen for sure, but don’t be expecting too much.

Be on the lookout for some nice Juicy J appearances here and there.

6/10