Faces (mixtape) explained

Faces
Type:mixtape
Artist:Mac Miller
Cover:MacMillerFaces.jpg
Released:May 11, 2014
Recorded:2013–2014
Length:85:38
Prev Title:Live from Space
Prev Year:2013
Next Year:2015

Faces is the eleventh mixtape by American rapper Mac Miller. It was independently released for free download on May 11, 2014. The mixtape is the follow-up to Miller's second studio album Watching Movies with the Sound Off (2013), and is considered by many to be his magnum opus for its dark and personal exploration of Miller's struggle with drug addiction and mental illness.[1] [2] On October 15, 2021, Faces was commercially released on streaming platforms and vinyl.

Miller produced most of Faces himself and moved towards creating more psychedelic and jazzy instrumentals for his increasingly dark lyrical themes. Its jazziness is not a departure from Miller's previous work, as it echoes the project he released under the alias Larry Lovestein titled You that was also centered around jazz instrumentals. It continues to build upon and experiment with the psychedelic sounds of Watching Movies with the Sound Off. The mixtape features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Earl Sweatshirt, Schoolboy Q, Mike Jones, Sir Michael Rocks, Vince Staples, Ab-Soul and Dash.

Faces was named "Mixtape of the Week" by Stereogum on May 14, 2014,[3] given a 7.3 rating by Pitchfork,[4] and noted by Billboard on May 11, 2014.[5]

Background

Mac Miller serves as the executive producer under his production pseudonym "Larry Fisherman", serving as the sole producer or co-producer for over half of the songs on the track list. ID Labs handled production for two songs, while Earl Sweatshirt produced the songs "Polo Jeans" and "New Faces v2" under his own production pseudonym, "randomblackdude". Thundercat, DrewByrd, Rahki, THC, Big Jerm and 9th Wonder produced one song each on the mixtape.

Faces includes various spoken word and movie samples interspliced throughout the album. These include Charles Bukowski on "Wedding", Hunter S. Thompson at the beginning of "Funeral", and Bill Murray from the 1979 comedy Meatballs at the beginning of "It Just Doesn't Matter". These samples had been credited as the reason that Faces had not been released on streaming services until 2021 despite high demand. Many of these samples were removed for the official release.[6]

On September 15, 2021, Miller's estate announced that the mixtape would be available on streaming platforms and vinyl for the first time on October 15, 2021. Alongside the announcement, a video for the song "Colors and Shapes", directed by Sam Manson, was released.[7]

When Faces came to streaming platforms on October 22, 2021,[8] it came as an 'updated' version. This new version included a new bonus track, "Yeah - bonus", after what was previously the final track of the tape, "Grand Finale".[9] Grayson Catlett wrote that given the circumstances of Miller's death in 2018, it would be surprising how many times Miller references his own death.[8]

Critical reception

Faces was met with critical acclaim upon release, and noted for its themes and exploration of psychosis, addiction, and mortality.

Faces was rated the eighteenth best rap album of 2014 by Rolling Stone.[10]

Commercial performance

Upon its commercial release in October 2021, Faces debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, earning 67,000 album-equivalent units during its first week, of which 34,000 were traditional album sales. It was Miller's seventh album to debut in the top ten.[11] Its 32,000 vinyl sales in the first week set a record for an R&B/hip-hop or rap album, since MRC Data began tracking sales in 1991.[12]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[13]

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[14] 40

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] 88

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EOrtiz . Mac Miller - Watching Movies With The Sound Off . HipHopDX . June 19, 2013 . May 10, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170513075657/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2098/title.mac-miller-watching-movies-with-the-sound-off . May 13, 2017 . dead .
  2. Web site: Fairfax . Jesse . Mac Miller - Faces (Mixtape) . HipHopDX . May 15, 2014 . October 5, 2021.
  3. Web site: Mixtape Of The Week: Mac Miller Faces. Stereogum, a member of Spin Music, a division of SpinMedia. May 14, 2014. August 23, 2014. Breihan, Tom.
  4. Web site: Mac Miller Faces. Pitchfork Media. May 22, 2014. August 23, 2014. Jenkins, Craig.
  5. Mac Miller on New Mixtape 'Faces': 'Don't Tell My Mama I Got a Drug Problem'. Billboard. May 11, 2014. August 23, 2014. Stutz. Colin.
  6. Web site: 2015-03-20. Mac Miller Sued By Aquarian Dream For Uncleared "Faces" Sample. 2021-11-13. HipHopDX.
  7. Web site: September 15, 2021. Mac Miller's Faces Coming to Streaming Services and Vinyl for the First Time. September 15, 2021. Pitchfork. en-US.
  8. Web site: Mac Miller's 'Faces' Raises Questions About Posthumous Music . 2022-07-05 . www.34st.com.
  9. Web site: 2021-09-28 . Mac Miller's 'Faces' will Release on Spotify with New Bonus Track, "Yeah" . 2022-07-05 . This Song Is Sick . en-US.
  10. Web site: Mac Miller, 'Faces' | 40 Best Rap Albums of 2014. Weingarten. Christopher R.. December 23, 2014. Rolling Stone. May 10, 2017.
  11. Young Thug's 'Punk' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. October 24, 2021. October 27, 2021.
  12. Mac Miller's 'Faces' Makes Record-Breaking Vinyl Debut. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. October 26, 2021. October 27, 2021.
  13. Faces. Vinyl liner notes. Mac Miller. Warner Records. 2021.
  14. Web site: 2021 42-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). Lithuanian. AGATA. October 22, 2021. October 22, 2021.
  15. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 4, 2021.

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