Diablo (song)

For the Simon Curtis song, see Simon Curtis (actor).

"Diablo"
Single by Mac Miller
from the album Faces
Released	September 3, 2014
Genre	Hip hop jazz rap
Length	3:18
Label	REMember Warner
Songwriter(s)	Malcolm McCormick Josh Berg Duke Ellington Irving Mills Manny Curtis
Producer(s)	Larry Fisherman Berg
Mac Miller singles chronology
"Watching Movies" (2013) "Diablo" (2014) "100 Grandkids" (2015)
Music video
"Diablo" on YouTube

"Diablo" is a song by American rapper Mac Miller. It was first released on February 10, 2014 via SoundCloud, ^[1] before being officially released on September 3, 2014 as the lead single from his eleventh mixtape Faces (2014). ^[2] Produced by Miller himself (as Larry Fisherman) and Josh Berg, the song contains a sample of "In a Sentimental Mood" by Duke Ellington.

Composition and lyrics

"Diablo" is a jazz rap song ^[3] that find Mac Miller rapping about topics such as his superior lyricism over many rappers, ^[4] disillusionment with fame ("How do the famous function? The A-list can't be trusted / I strong-arm 'em like I play the trumpet"), ^[3] drug abuse, angst and depressive thoughts, ^[5] albeit in a laid-back state ^[6] and including some humor in his lyrics; he also references the incident of Justin Bieber urinating in a bucket and the singer's album Journals . ^[5]

Music video

The music video was released on September 5, 2014. It sees Mac Miller on a street in Los Angeles, surrounded by a crowd of locals. ^{[6] [7] [8]} He wears a bright red jacket and captain's hat, ^[6] clutches flowers and cupcakes, ^{[8] [9]} and raps from the roof of a food truck ^[9] which the people are gathered around. ^[6]

References

1. "Listen To Mac Miller "Diablo"". The Source . February 10, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
2. "Diablo – Single by Mac Miller". Mac Miller. September 3, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2025– via iTunes Store.
3. Edwards, Luke (11 May 2024). "'Faces': Why Mac Miller's Mixtape Is A Jazz-Rap Masterclass". Dig! . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
4. Elibert, Mark (September 8, 2018). "Mac Miller's Best Songs: Celebrating the Late Rapper's Top Tracks". Billboard . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
5. Chesman, Donna-Claire (October 15, 2021). "Mac Miller Found Freedom on Faces". Vulture . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
6. Hughes, Josiah (September 4, 2014). ""Diablo" (video)". Exclaim! . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
7. "Mac Miller - Diablo". Hypebeast . September 5, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
8. Chiu, David (September 5, 2014). "Watch Mac Miller Rap on an L.A. Street in His New Video "Diablo"". The Fader . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
9. Breihan, Tom (September 5, 2014). "Mac Miller – "Diablo" Video". Stereogum . Retrieved 2 February 2025.