Mac Miller Hopes No One Thinks He Thinks Trump Is Cool

The prolific Pittsburgh MC/producer/muso Mac Miller (aka Malcolm McCormick) is back with a surprising fourth album. As its title suggests, The Divine Feminine isn't obvious 'dude rap'. But, then again, with so many streetwise male MCs exploring 'feelings', urban culture has shifted. And McCormick welcomes that.

"I feel like what people think a hip hop record sounds like is changing - or it should change," McCormick says. "You shouldn't expect anything. It's music! So expectations to me are the worst thing for music."

The groovy single Dang!, featuring Anderson .Paak, sets the mood for a romantic R&B opus. "The concept is just 'love' - it's simple, but the most complex thing that is around. There's so many sides to it and so many different emotions that create that feeling."

"That song did a lot for me, so I don't regret it at all."

In the past McCormick, 24, has struggled with anxiety and an addiction to the codeine drink lean, but today he's content. He and R&B star Ariana Grande recently went public about their relationship - their slow-burning romance surely rivalling that of Drake and Rihanna. In fact, the two initially became friends when McCormick rapped on Grande's 2013 break-out The Way. McCormick confirms that 'Ari' provided inspo for The Divine Feminine. "She definitely influenced the vibe of the record," he laughs. "I think it was interesting because, just us getting back in the studio and working again — we hadn't in a while, so there was a lot there to talk about." Grande sings on My Favorite Part - a "love song". "I wrote it with her in mind," McCormick says.

Most outre is the album's finale, God Is Fair, Sexy, Nasty - McCormick teaming up with Kendrick Lamar and producer Tae Beast. "We were just in a studio in New York and the music kinda spoke - like the beat came on and we both went to a place and the song just evolved and evolved... Love is a religious experience so, for me, bringing God into it is always a nice touch!"

McCormick hopes to return to Australia next year, last January's dates cancelled "due to exhaustion". Signed to the indie Rostrum Records, McCormick broke out with 2011's mixtape Best Day Ever - spawning his notorious, aspirational single Donald Trump. Later that year he enjoyed a US #1 with his debut Blue Slide Park. Ahead of 2015's GO:OD AM, McCormick bounced to Warner in a reputed US$10 million deal. This June, Rostrum cannily issued a fifth anniversary commercial edition of Best..., recirculating Donald Trump.

Ironically, McCormick and Trump are now embroiled in a peculiar beef. At first, The Donald was chuffed about Donald Trump, praising McCormick as "the next Eminem". However, the tycoon subsequently threatened legal action. In turn, McCormick has been progressively critical of Trump - decrying the racism of his Presidential campaign. Does the rapper believe the Republican could win? "I think that it's terrifying that the answer is 'yes'!", he replies. Yet McCormick doesn't rue making the track. "Nah, hell no, man - that song did a lot for me, so I don't regret it at all. But I hope no one thinks that I think he's cool."