The family of Mac Miller released a statement on Instagram slamming the writer of a bio about their son’s life that they never authorised.
“This book is not authorized or endorsed by Malcolm’s family and has been written by a writer with whom Malcolm did not have a relationship,” the statement on Instagram reads.
“Furthermore, the writer had no meaningful access to those that were closest to Malcolm—friends, family, collaborators etc. In fact, the writer of this book was made aware at the outset of the process of writing this book that the family and friends of Malcolm were uncomfortable with him authoring this biography, yet he chose to proceed against our polite insistence that he not do disservice to Malcolm’s legacy through writing a book without legitimate primary sources.”
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Notably, the release date is slated for January 18, the day before Miller’s birthday, a move the family labelled as “marketing tool [which] is exploitative and incredibly disappointing.”
It was only recently that the family praised writer Donna Claire for penning a book about the late rapper’s life, The Book of Mac, due for release in October this year.
From Year of Mac to Book of Mac, it's been an incredible journey documenting Malcolm's music and legacy. Thank you to the 30-plus people I interviewed, to the family, and to the fans for trusting me with this story. This one's for you. pic.twitter.com/8vIM6KNNhL
— Donna-Claire (@DonnaCWrites) April 26, 2021
Donna-Claire interviewed upwards of 30 people, and she had access to friends and family close to the rapper’s life. Seemingly, the same cannot be said for Most Dope: The Extraordinary Life of Mac Miller by Paul Cantor.
Cantor, who has previously written for Billboard and Rolling Stone, defended his book and denied it was exploitative. As he told Page Six, “My credibility is unimpeachable and I don’t take his family’s claims lightly. It’s unfortunate that they feel this way…I sat through countless hours of long interviews, many of them emotional and revealing.”
If you’re at a crossroads to choose which book to read, Miller’s family requests “those that wish to support Malcolm and his legacy to abstain from purchasing this new book” and instead support The Book of Mac.
You can read more about this topic over at the Hip Hop Observer.
Check out ‘Good News’ by Mac Miller:
