By Gavin Godfrey, CNN
Editor's Note: Listen to the complete interview above and join the conversation below.
(CNN) – Mac Miller just might be the biggest recording artist you've never heard of. At just the age of 20, the Pittsburgh native has a number one debut album under his belt and he recently made the Forbes list of top hip-hop earners in the last year, netting $6.5 million.
Even though Miller's first album, "Blue Slide Park," was the first independent debut to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since 1995, there are some critics who questioned whether his being white can make or break his success.
MTV News's senior Hip-Hop Writer, Rob Markman, doesn't see it that way:
[5:10] "It wasn't like radio stations and the radio programmers said, 'Hey here's this white kid, we want to support him.' It doesn't work like that. I think Mac kind of found his niche and galvanized his audience."
Yet Miller tells CNN that the whole race thing has been a two-way struggle he can't ignore:
[5:57] "It's funny because I'll read tweets and someone will be like, 'The only reason people listen to Mac is because he's white,' and then the next tweet will be like, 'The only reason people don't listen to Mac is because he's white.' I'll be like man you can't win over here!"
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There's a wealth of different types of independent hip-hop thriving in Pittsburgh right now, Mac is just one of many. Case in point: my Pittsburgh-based independent hip-hop label released this EP today from an underground MC named Jack Wilson. Does it really matter what color they are, as long as they're dope? http://pstrix.com/photophobia
Mac Miller is garbage, smh @ CNN and any clown that supports him
This is a sick joke. CNN lost.
This is pathetic. Caucasians know nothing about Hip-Hop. Shut up. This is not only an offense to Hip-Hop (no one with any serious credibility respects Mac) but an offense to The Beatles. Whoever suggested this fails.
you are the type of one minded person that makes me lose hope for humanity
I don't agree with the Caucasian part, but the dude is right. This whole article is retarded
Aerosmith and run dmc broke down walls with the remix of "walk this way", And are you saying caucasians weren't around when hip hop started, since you have it down to a science explain why caucasians don't know hip hop. Mac is rich because just like wiz people like what they put down. you can only make up so many songs about hoes and big rims.
in short: No
I respect his ability to achieve such high sale numbers without a major record company backing him but this comparison is ludicrous.
White, Black, or Latin...Mac is the shit nuff said I hope he get's bigger and turns Hip-Hop/Rap inside out
More like he is shit. Nuff said
Shit, his music influenced my life! Lansing michigan.
If you're serious then your life must suck