‘GO:OD AM (10th Anniversary)’ Album Review: Mac Miller Still Resonates a Decade Later

Upon its initial release, “GO:OD AM” awakened a new chapter in Mac Miller’s artistry; a decade later, its 10th anniversary edition now revisits one of the late rapper’s most essential albums. When Miller’s original studio hip-hop album debuted in 2015, it featured artists like Ab-Soul, Lil B, Miguel, Chief Keef, and Little Dragon, underscoring his evolving reach and versatility. The 10th-anniversary edition reopens that chapter, prompting reflection on how posthumous releases can reshape and recontextualize an artist’s legacy. The reissue arrives with three previously unreleased tracks — “Royal Flush,” “Cable Box,” and “Carpe Diem” — each recorded during the original sessions but left unheard until now.

Featuring Vinny Radio — alongside Franchise, one half of rap duo The Come Up — “Royal Flush” opens with a bold-faced tune that retains Miller’s usual emotional feel. The beat of the song sits in higher energy compared to quieter songs in the album such as “Doors” or “The Festival,” while still bearing enough of the album’s jazz-soul undercurrent. Throughout the song, Miller and Radio utilize the vivid imagery of a game of poker, expressing life’s gamble and referencing the losses that come without taking risks in unpredictable situations. The chorus describes other players giving up their chances of winning money, while Miller has the highest ranking hand: a royal flush. Although lyrically a bit flat, figuratively, Miller and Radio well-express the feeling of earning success by risk-taking and staying composed, even when one is a solo-player.

Following the theme of success, “Cable Box” offers Miller’s measured reflection and the quiet of success. Overall, the track sounds ambient and mellow; the production’s lo-fi textures echo the balance between glamour and fatigue that is present throughout the rest of the album. With the moderate tempo and smooth transitions, his voice seems relaxed, creating a more laid-back vocal delivery compared to “Royal Flush.” In the pre-chorus Miller says, “That money good, but that pain is not / They said, ‘Damn, you changed a lot,’” to highlight the contrast between Miller’s internal reflection and the external perception of his success. The track altogether enriches the album’s narrative, reinforcing Miller’s change and introspection from this era.

The third new track and 20th track overall, “Carpe Diem,” closes the set with a calm and resigned analysis — a foreshadowing of Miller’s more contemplative studio album released in 2018, “Swimming.” Miller’s lyrics search for an authentic answer to what freedom should feel like beneath all the success. The instrumentation in this track is spacious, allowing Miller’s melodic voice and melancholic tone room to breathe. “Carpe Diem” is more about the mood, aligning it closer with the subdued side of his catalogue. The song’s opening beats and smooth baseline creates an atmospheric sensation that captures the essence of deeper introspection. The light touch of reverb produces a textural balance that maintains intimacy — a quietly powerful addition and conclusion to the album.

In the end, the new release raises questions on how posthumous additions affect an artist’s legacy and how much of the original intent remains when the artist is no longer present to guide selection. With “GO:OD AM (10th Anniversary),” the new tracks feel respectfully chosen, curated in a way that preserves the album’s integrity; the tracks complement the original album’s arc without undermining it. Although not very novel or revelatory, each of the three tracks approach Miller’s introspection of success via distinct lyrical and musical techniques. This deluxe edition doesn’t simply commemorate — it listens. The album affirms that Miller’s voice, alive through these recordings, continues to matter a decade later.