Mac Miller talks ‘Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza’

Mac Miller just turned 19, but this rapper knows a thing or two about life.

The Pittsburgh native jump-started his career by rhyming about everyday events, and developed a hip-hop niche that pays homage to down-to-earth topics like pizza and Nikes.

Yes, Miller dubbed his hits, “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza” and “Nikes on My Feet.” These subjects may not set the world on fire, but they are relatable. And that’s making the rapper a hot commodity.

Thursday, Miller shows off his street-wise rhymes at the Fox.

“I’ve always had a passion for music,” Miller said. “I started writing songs when I was seven, and at eight I was writing songs with bridges and hooks. I was experimenting with all kinds of music like indie, rock and rap — it was all across the map.

“I didn’t decide I wanted to be a rapper until I was 13 and got real heavy into freestyling. I liked using words and what goes into composing lyrics.”

Miller has a passion for all kinds of music, and he spends time playing guitar and piano.

“I consider myself a rapper, but one of my main goals is to bring everything together through one genre of music,” Miller said. “The one thing that connects the world is music.”

For now, Miller’s riding his rap career into the spotlight.

Miller knew he wanted to be in the music business, so he hung out with the owners of Rostrum Records. The Pittsburgh label was instrumental in forging Wiz Khalifa’s career.

“One thing about Pittsburgh — people from there tend to enjoy working together,” Miller said. “I told the label I wanted to be on Rostrum.”

Miller’s determination and catchy rhymes enticed the label to sign him up. The young rapper created slice-of-life, homemade videos to accompany his tunes and they’ve scored over 10 million YouTube hits.

“I try not to give myself too many boundaries in my music,” Miller said. “Music is like art and painting, it’s really something to change the world.

“My music’s all about me being a regular kid and writing about positive things that everybody can relate to. ‘Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza’s’ about recreating a hot summer day, walking around meeting people and doing things.”

Miller’s tunes touch a chord with his fans and his career’s blasting off. His street-wise rhymes and his mixtape, K.I.D.S are putting this Pittsburgh rapper on the map.

“My music’s taking off, because it’s something everybody can relate to,” Miller said. “When life gets rough, you can play my music and put a smile on your face.

“It is shocking how fast this has happened, but I’ve been preparing myself for a long time. Life’s gotten hectic and crazy, so I travel with all the friends I grew up with. We take it as we go.”

Miller and his crew are ready to make their Boulder debut.

“I’ve never been to Boulder before, but it’s wild how the music’s taking me to all the places I wanted to go,” Miller said. “Plan on going to a wild and crazy show!

“I plan to rock the show and I hope everybody’s down to sing the lyrics. I love when people sing along with me!”