{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Balloonerism | type = studio | artist = Mac Miller | cover = Mac Miller - Balloonerism.png | border = yes | alt = A painted picture of a blue sky. A silhouette of a person hangs onto a large balloon of Mac Miller's head. Some of Miller's facial features are distorted, such as his left ear and nose being upside-down and his eye turned sideways. | released = {{Start date|2025|01|17}} | recorded = 2014–2016<ref name="liner" /> | studio = The Sanctuary (Los Angeles)<ref name="liner" /> | genre = {{hlist|Neo-soul<ref name=Economic>{{cite magazine|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/mac-millers-balloonerism-a-posthumous-masterpiece-unveiled-seven-years-after-his-passing/articleshow/117336102.cms|title=Mac Miller's 'Balloonerism': A posthumous masterpiece unveiled seven years after his passing|magazine=The Economic Times|date=January 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name=Black/>|jazz<ref name=Economic/><ref name=Black/>|psychedelic hip-hop<ref name="RStone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/mac-miller-balloonerism-review-1235239107/|title=Mac Miller's 'Ballonerism' Offers a Hazy Sense of Solace|date=January 17, 2025|last=Georgi|first=Maya|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Pitchfork"/>|experimental music<ref name=Black>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bhpioneer.com/a_and_e/music-review-mac-millers-lost-album-balloonerism-is-airy-and-experimental/article_dd20e728-59a3-5310-b082-e8607206e3d1.html|title=Music Review: Mac Miller's lost album 'Balloonerism' is airy and experimental|first=Mark|last=Kennedy|magazine=Black Hills Pioneer|date=January 21, 2025}}</ref><ref name=Rice>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2025/01/review-balloonerism-is-a-graceful-tribute-to-mac-millers-legacy|title=Review: "Balloonerism" is a graceful tribute to Mac Miller's legacy|first=Charlie|last=Cruz|magazine=The Rice Thresher|date=January 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bcheights.com/2025/01/22/mac-miller-balloonerism-review/|title=Mac Miller's 'Balloonerism' is an Experimental Rejection of Drug Culture|first=Isabel|last=Kase|date=January 22, 2025|website=The Heights|access-date=January 24, 2025}}</ref>|psychedelia<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/mac-miller-albums-ranked-list/|title=Every Mac Miller Album Ranked|first=Greg|last=MacArthur|date=January 20, 2025|website=Screen Rant|access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref>}} | length = 58:43 | label = Warner | producer = * Larry Fisherman * Jameel Bruner * Ronald Bruner Jr. * Taylor Graves * Dylan Reynolds * Thundercat | prev_title = Circles | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | name = Balloonerism | type = studio | single1 = 5 Dollar Pony Rides | single1date = January 9, 2025 | single2 = Funny Papers | single2date = January 17, 2025<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://earone.com/post/35fe6daf7b28|title=Funny Papers – Mac Miller|date=January 17, 2025|first=Gianluigi|last=De Rosa|language=it|work=EarOne|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> }} }} '''''Balloonerism''''' is the seventh<!-- We do NOT KNOW if Miller's label will release another album by him; "and final" is speculation, so do not add it. --> studio album by American rapper Mac Miller, and his second posthumous album following his death in 2018. Miller recorded the album in 2014, around the time his mixtape ''Faces'' was released. The album was released on January 17, 2025, under license to Warner Records, exactly five years from the release of his first posthumous album ''Circles'', and features guest appearances by SZA and his alter ego named Delusional Thomas. Later the album received Grammy nominations for Best Recording Package in the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
== Background == ''Balloonerism'' was teased on November 16, 2024, at Camp Flog Gnaw with an animated trailer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenke |first=Tyler |date=November 17, 2024 |title=Camp Flog Gnaw Trailer Teases Release of Posthumous Mac Miller Album, ''Balloonerism'' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/teases-release-posthumous-mac-miller-album-balloonerism-1235831661/ |access-date=November 23, 2024 |work=Billboard}}</ref> Days later, on November 21, Miller's estate formally announced the album on social media. They released a statement that the album had great importance to Miller, and that he had commissioned artwork for the album and regularly had discussions concerning its release prior to his death. Familiarity of the project within his fanbase, due to unofficial versions circulating online for years, contributed to the decision to release the project in an official manner.<ref name="Announcement">{{cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/new-mac-miller-album-balloonerism-announced/|title=New Mac Miller Album ''Balloonerism'' Announced|date= November 21, 2024|accessdate=November 21, 2024|work=Pitchfork}}</ref>
The album was recorded in 2014, around the time Miller released his mixtape ''Faces''.<ref name="Announcement" /> The cover art features a painting of Miller by artist Alim Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J.| date=November 21, 2024 |title=Mac Miller's ''Balloonerism'' Album Release Date Announced |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/mac-miller-balloonerism-unreleased-album-release-1236212571/ |access-date=November 23, 2024 |work=Variety}}</ref> ''Balloonerism'' was released by Warner Records on January 17, 2025.<ref name="Announcement" /> A short computer-animated film based on the album and directed by Samuel Jerome Mason was also released the same day on Amazon Prime Video.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bernstein|first=Elaina|date=January 16, 2025|title=Mac Miller's 'Balloonerism' Film To Land on Amazon Prime Tonight|url=https://hypebeast.com/2025/1/mac-miller-balloonerism-film-release-info|access-date=January 16, 2025 |work=Hypebeast}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 2025|title=Balloonerism - A Film Based On the Album by Mac Miller|url=https://www.balloonerism.film/|access-date=January 16, 2025 |website=Balloonerism.film}}</ref>
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | ADM = 7.4/10<ref name="ADM">{{cite web|url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/14179/Mac-Miller-Balloonerism.aspx|title=Balloonerism by Mac Miller reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=January 22, 2025}}</ref> | MC = 77/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/balloonerism/mac-miller|title=Balloonerism by Mac Miller Reviews and Tracks|website=Metacritic|date=January 17, 2025|access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/balloonerism-mw0004431743|title=Balloonerism - Mac Miller {{!}} Album|website=AllMusic|last=Staff|first=TiVo|date=January 17, 2025|access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Clash'' | rev2score = 8/10<ref name="Clash">{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/mac-miller-balloonerism/|title=Mac Miller – Balloonerism|website=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=January 17, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Independent'' | rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="The Independent">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/mac-miller-posthumous-album-balloonerism-b2680231.html|title=Mac Miller's posthumous album is a wonderful, if unsettling, reminder of a talent lost|last=Brown|first=Helen|website=The Independent|date=January 17, 2025|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Line of Best Fit'' | rev4score = 8/10<ref name="TLOBF2">{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/mac-miller-balloonerism-emotional-plaintive-entry|title=Balloonerism is an emotional and plaintive posthumous entry for Mac Miller|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Williams|first=Lana|date=January 17, 2025|access-date=April 29, 2025}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Observer'' | rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="observer">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/17/mac-miller-balloonerism-review-poignant-second-posthumous-album|title=Mac Miller: Balloonerism review – poignant second posthumous album|work=The Observer|last=Empire|first=Kitty|author-link=Kitty Empire|date=January 17, 2025|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Paste'' | rev6score = 7.5/10<ref name="Paste">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/mac-miller/mac-miller-floats-above-reality-on-balloonerism|title=Mac Miller Floats Above Reality on Balloonerism|first=Gavyn|last=Green|date=January 27, 2025|website=Paste|access-date=January 28, 2025}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev7score = 7.4/10<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mac-miller-balloonerism/|title=Mac Miller: Balloonerism|first=Matthew|last=Strauss|date=January 22, 2025|website=Pitchfork|access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev8score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="RStone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/mac-miller-balloonerism-review-1235239107/|title=Mac Miller's 'Ballonerism' Offers a Hazy Sense of Solace|date=January 17, 2025|last=Georgi|first=Maya|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> | rev9 = ''The Standard'' | rev9score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mussen |first=Maddy |date=2025-01-17 |title=Mac Miller – Balloonerism: a vital missing piece of the rapper's creative journey |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/mac-miller-balloonerism-review-b1205322.html |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> }}
''Balloonerism'' was met with positive reviews.
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 77 based on ten reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="MC" />
=== Year-end lists === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Publication !Accolade !Rank ! class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- |''Billboard'' |The 50 Best Albums of 2025 |38 |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-10 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2025: Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-albums-2025/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Consequence'' |The 25 Best Rap Albums of 2025 |20 |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-16 |title=The 25 Best Rap Albums of 2025 {{!}} Consequence |url=https://consequence.net/list/25-best-rap-albums-of-2025-annual-report/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''HotNewHipHop'' |The 40 Best Rap Albums of 2025 |13 |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-09 |title=The 40 Best Rap Albums Of 2025 |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/962374-40-best-rap-albums-2025 |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> |- |} == Commercial performance == In the United States, ''Balloonerism'' debuted at number three on the US ''Billboard'' 200, behind Bad Bunny's ''Debí Tirar Más Fotos'' and SZA's ''SOS'', earning 81,000 album-equivalent units (including 41,000 copies in traditional album sales) during its first week. This became Miller's eighth US top-ten album. <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-second-week-number-one-billboard-200-chart-1235883855/|title=Bad Bunny's ''Debí Tirar Más Fotos'' Spends Second Week Atop ''Billboard'' 200|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=January 26, 2025|access-date=January 26, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2025-02-01/|title=February 1, 2025|website=Billboard|access-date=January 28, 2025|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The album marked the highest debut of the week and was the best-selling album of the week, with 41,000 units sold, with 32,000 on vinyl marking Miller's his best sales week ever on vinyl and ''Balloonerism'' bows at number-one across multiple ''Billboard'' album charts, including Top Album Sales, Top Rap Albums, Vinyl Albums and Indie Store Album Sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mac-miller-tops-album-sales-rap-charts-balloonerism-1235886317/|title=Mac Miller Tops Album Sales, Rap Albums Charts With ‘Balloonerism’|website=Billboard|access-date=February 22, 2026}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = ''Balloonerism'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Tambourine Dream | writer1 = Malcolm McCormick | extra1 = Larry Fisherman | length1 = 0:33 | title2 = DJ's Chord Organ | writer2 = {{Hlist|McCormick|Solana Rowe|Stephen Bruner}} | extra2 = Fisherman | length2 = 5:15 | note2 = featuring SZA | title3 = Do You Have a Destination? | writer3 = {{Hlist|McCormick| Taylor Graves}} | extra3 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|Graves}} | length3 = 3:24 | title4 = 5 Dollar Pony Rides | writer4 = {{Hlist|McCormick|Jameel Bruner|S. Bruner|Ronald Bruner Jr.}} | extra4 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|J. Bruner|R. Bruner|Thundercat}} | length4 = 3:42 | title5 = Friendly Hallucinations | writer5 = {{Hlist|McCormick|S. Bruner|Graves|Marlon Williams|Antonio Hardy}} | extra5 = {{Hlist|Thundercat|Graves}} | length5 = 4:45 | title6 = Mrs. Deborah Downer | writer6 = {{Hlist|McCormick|S. Bruner|Graves|Ashley Sousa}} | extra6 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|Thundercat|Graves}} | length6 = 4:04 | title7 = Stoned | writer7 = {{Hlist|McCormick|Malcolm McLaren|Anne Dudley|Trevor Horn}} | extra7 = {{Hlist|Fisherman}} | length7 = 4:03 | title8 = Shangri-La | writer8 = {{Hlist|McCormick|Graves}} | extra8 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|Graves{{ref|a|[a]}}}} | length8 = 2:49 | title9 = Funny Papers | writer9 = {{Hlist|McCormick|S. Bruner|Graves}} | extra9 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|Thundercat|Graves}} | length9 = 4:23 | title10 = Excelsior | writer10 = McCormick | extra10 = Fisherman | length10 = 2:23 | title11 = Transformations | writer11 = {{Hlist|McCormick|S. Bruner|J. Bruner|Graves}} | extra11 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|Thundercat|J. Bruner}} | length11 = 3:04 | note11 = featuring Delusional Thomas | title12 = Manakins | writer12 = McCormick | extra12 = Fisherman | length12 = 3:09 | title13 = Rick's Piano | writer13 = {{Hlist|McCormick|S. Bruner|Dylan Rectenwald}} | extra13 = {{Hlist|Fisherman|Thundercat|Dylan Reynolds}} | length13 = 5:08 | title14 = Tomorrow Will Never Know | writer14 = {{Hlist|McCormick|S. Bruner}} | extra14 = Fisherman | length14 = 11:53 | total_length = 58:43 }}
=== Notes === * {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} indicates an additional producer * "Friendly Hallucinations" contains excerpts and samples of "Just Rhymin' with Biz" written by Antonio M. Hardy and Marlon Williams.<ref name="liner" /> * "Stoned" contains a sample of "Buffalo Gals" written by Malcolm McLaren, Anne Dudley, and Trevor Horn.<ref name="liner" />
== Personnel == Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes |title=Balloonerism |others=Mac Miller |date=January 17, 2025 |publisher=Warner Records}}</ref> * Malcolm McCormick – lead vocals (all tracks), percussion (track 1), drums (track 6, 9, 11), recording (tracks 11, 13) * Thundercat – bass (tracks 2, 4–6, 9, 11, 13, 14), additional vocals (track 2) * Taylor Graves – keyboards (tracks 3, 5, 6, 9, 11), drums (track 5), background vocals (track 8) * Jameel Bruner – keyboards (track 4) * Ronald Bruner – drums (track 4) * SZA – additional vocals (tracks 2, 5) * Ashley All Day – additional vocals (track 6) * Dylan Reynolds – additional vocals (tracks 12, 13), guitar (track 13) * Josh Berg – recording, photography * E. Dan – mixing * Mike Bozzi – mastering * Alim Smith – cover * Rex Arrow – photography * Bráulio Amado – design, packaging
== Charts == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Balloonerism'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2025-01-27|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=January 27, 2025|access-date=January 24, 2025}}</ref> | 12 |- ! scope="row"| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2025-01-27|title=ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=January 27, 2025|access-date=January 24, 2025}}</ref> | 2 |- {{album chart|Austria|9|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 30, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|1|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|11|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2025}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|5|artist=Mac Miller|rowheader=true|access-date=January 28, 2025}} |- ! scope="row"| Croatian International Albums (HDU)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-9-tjedan-2025/|title=Lista prodaje 9. tjedan 2025.|date=February 24, 2025|publisher=HDU |language=hr|access-date=March 12, 2025|archive-date=March 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312111625/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-9-tjedan-2025/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 17 |- {{album chart|Denmark|10|M|url=https://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=3&y=2025&list=a40|title=Album Top-40 Uge 3, 2025|publisher=Hitlisten|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 29, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|3|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 25, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Finland|36|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 25, 2025}} |- {{album chart|France|33|M|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=4|title=Top Albums (Week 4, 2025)|publisher=SNEP|artist=Coldplay|album=Moon Music|rowheader=true|access-date=January 27, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Germany|8|id=545905|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 24, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Hungary|23|year=2025|week=4|rowheader=true|access-date=January 30, 2025}} |- ! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/ | title = Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 4 – 2025 | publisher = Plötutíðindi | language = is|trans-title=The Music – Albums – Week 4 – 2025|access-date=January 28, 2025|archive-date=January 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124235309/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 33 |- {{album chart|Ireland3|19|date=20250124|rowheader=true|access-date=January 24, 2025}} |- ! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/archivio-classifiche-settimanali/archivio-classifiche-per-settimana/?tipo=2&anno=2025&settimana=4|title=Album – Classifica settimanale WK 4 (dal 17.01.2025 al 23.01.2025)|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> | 45 |- ! scope="row"| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s4-3/|title=2025 4-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|language=lt|publisher=AGATA|date=January 24, 2025|access-date=January 31, 2025}}</ref> | 16 |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2025-01-24|title=Official Top 40 Albums|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=January 24, 2025|access-date=January 24, 2025}}</ref> | 3 |- {{album chart|Norway|24|M|url=https://topplista.no/charts/albums/2025-w04/|title=Album 2025 uke 04|publisher=VG-lista|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 25, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Poland2|5|date=17 January 2025–23 January 2025|rowheader=true|access-date=January 30, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|11|date=20250124|rowheader=true|access-date=January 28, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Spain|29|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2025}} |- ! scope="row"| Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/234/?dspy=2025&dspp=4|title=Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 4|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> | 9 |- {{album chart|Switzerland|6|artist=Mac Miller|album=Balloonerism|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2025}} |- {{album chart|UK2|16|date=20250124|rowheader=true|access-date=January 24, 2025}} |- {{album chart|UKR&B|1|date=20250124|rowheader=true|access-date=January 24, 2025}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|3|artist=Mac Miller|rowheader=true|access-date=January 28, 2025}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|1|artist=Mac Miller|rowheader=true|access-date=February 22, 2026}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Mac Miller|rowheader=true|access-date=January 28, 2025}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''Balloonerism'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums/|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> | 78 |} {{col-end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Mac Miller}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2025 albums Category:Mac Miller albums Category:Albums published posthumously Category:Warner Records albums