Jewish Rapper Mac Miller Tops Billboard Chart
It’s not often that a Jewish rapper tops the Billboard album chart, so it seems worth noting the sudden rise of Mac Miller, a 19-year-old hip-hop star straight outta Pittsburgh.
Miller, whose real name is Malcolm McCormick, debuted in the No. 1 spot with debut record “Blue Slide Park,” selling more than 144,000 copies since last week. Without other major new releases, Miller beat out Top 10 releases from major stars such as Adele, as well as Christmas albums by Justin Bieber and Michael Buble.
The International Business Times attributes Miller’s strong sales in part to his savvy use of social media, and calls him a “serious musician who can play instruments,” despite song titles that include “Donald Trump” and “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza.”
The International Business Times identifies Miller as Jewish, as does the rapper himself, who says he was raised Jewish and had a bar mitzvah.
The name McCormick, in case you’re curious, comes from the rapper’s non-Jewish father.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO