Faces

the take

Back in 2010/2011, I first heard Mac Miller through Best Day Ever, but I wasn’t really a fan. I didn’t think he was bad—it just didn’t click, and I never felt the need to dig deeper. Fast forward to late 2015: I’m listening to the Odd Future station on Dash Radio, and “Insomniak” from Faces comes on, featuring Rick Ross. My first thought: “This is insane… and this is Mac Miller?” I had to check the full project. Not long after, I did—and Faces blew me away. More than ten years later, my appreciation has only grown. Mac (Malcolm) is incredibly open about his mental state here, but it never feels forced or like he’s asking for sympathy. He just speaks honestly, like this is his reality—even when it gets dark. Looking back now, some of it hits even heavier, but there’s still a sense that he’s trying to make the most of things. What really elevates Faces is the production. The jazzy, laid-back sound perfectly complements his writing and delivery, pushing everything to another level. While “Insomniak” introduced me to the tape, it’s hard to pick a favorite—mine changes every listen. The features all deliver too. You’ve got expected names like Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt, and Vince Staples, plus a surprise from Mike Jones that actually works really well. I’ve always said this was my favorite Mac project, even before diving into the rest of his catalog. I still think Swimming is his best overall, but Faces will always be special to me for being the one that made it all click.