I Am Who Am (Killin' Time)

Album: Watching Movies With the Sound Off (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This cut finds Miller spitting rhymes over instrumentation supplied by West Chester, Pennsylvania, based beat producer Alex "AdoTheGod" Lipinski. Mac told Artist Direct how the track was created: "That song was actually made because I went on all of these runs in the studio where I'd be living there for a couple of weeks at a time," he said.

    "During that one, I was sleeping in the studio and staying there. Then, my homie came in, and he had a beat. It's funny because the night before I had just been thinking of rapping on a beat like that. It was kind of weird. I woke up to that beat playing and instantly started writing. The song is the idea of being trapped inside of this room and trying to get everything."
  • The song features vocals by Niki Randa, who was the singer of Blank Blue. The Los Angeles Alternative Hip-Hop band released an album, Western Water Music Vol. II, in 2008. She has also sung on several cuts by American electronic producer Flying Lotus.
  • The Rex Arrow-directed video finds Mac performing the song sitting in a mirrored room with his legs folded and barefoot. "I'm basically secluded and trapped in this room all day and the room with mirrors, you're in a room with only yourself, but there's a bunch of people in the room but it's all yourself," the rapper explained to MTV News. "It's kind of like this fantasy idea and the star room, this peaceful place, a room that looks like something out of an imagination."

    Miller added that he didn't see a single camera during the shooting of the clip, as they were all situated behind two-way mirrors. "When we filmed it they actually locked me, drilled holes and locked me inside of this box that had four mirrors in it. It was crazy," he said. "I couldn't see the camera, which is the idea of this paranoia that someone is kind of watching you. I'm in the room doing the verses and all I can see is reflected images of myself. I can't see the camera; I'm not rapping to the camera."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.