I’ll be upfront: I’ve been a Mac Miller fan for a long time. I met Mac in 2010 when he released a mixtape called K.I.D.S that you and a few million other radio listeners have probably heard. Although Miller didn’t sign with Rostrum Records or drop K.I.D.S until 2010, he’s been a busy man since 2007.

Malcolm James McCormick and I were both born in 1992, and maybe that’s why I connect with his music: In an abstract sense, we’ve both grown up together. Watching and listening to Mac Miller grow has been a pleasure in itself. But seeing him live this past weekend filled my heart with gratitude that I’ve been able to be even a minuscule part of his adventurous journey. In 2011, I bought Blue Slide Park on iTunes with a gift card that I had received for my 18^th birthday. Five years later, I finally saw Mac Miller live when he stopped in Dallas on The Divine Feminine Tour.

Having only read about Miller’s stage presence until last weekend, experiencing it for myself filled me positive energy. He expressed gratitude throughout the show, making sure we in the crowd knew that he was having so much fun. “Man, guys, this is so much fun, it really is…” he told the audience innocently, as if still surprised that performing is what he gets to do for a living. From the second he stepped on stage at the Bomb Factory in Dallas, he connected with the crowd. He passed out bottles of water to some lucky audience members towards the front of the stage, and gently encouraged them all to share the water since it was hot inside the building. “Be careful you guys, share it, share it” he asked humbly, the sound of Pittsburgh still heavy in his voice. I immediately felt his sincerity because I was witnessing Miller share a piece of himself with us in the audience. It is easy to see that his eagerness to connect and share have both contributed to his success, which fuels the clear picture that Mac Miller wakes up in the morning and gets to do what he loves.

Having mentioned growing up together, you can hear the growth in Miller’s music. Each album has explained where he is in life at the time. The Divine Feminine not only shows growth but is a masterpiece and a launchpad for a new phase in his career.

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As The Divine Feminine Tour unfolds taking him across the nation, here’s 5 things to know about Mac Miller:

1) He doesn't drink.

With some help, Mac Miller got sober last year and is still living a life of sobriety today. When asked how sobriety has changed his life, he told all in an interview with Rolling Stone: “This planet has a certain gravity, man – it rises in the morning, it sets at night, and I never really followed that. But now I go to sleep at night and wake up in the day, and that's been a beautiful balance in my life. Along with not feeling like shit.”

2) He credits sobriety for the new found peace and clarity heard in his voice.

In the same interview with Rolling Stone, he notes that his music and the process he goes through making it have changed. “I'm not forcing anything. I used to never be able to walk away from a song unfinished, so I'd stay up for days at a time working on one song. And my voice is a lot more of an instrument now, and I just sound more awake.”

3) Honesty is his top priority in music and in life this year.

“If I had to pick something, what I'm going for this year is just being 100 percent honest with everybody in my life.” -Rolling Stone

4) He doesn’t deny the existence of privilege

“Have I thought about whether being white has caused me to be more or less successful in certain things? Of course. It's a real thing. But my right to make music, no one can really give or take that away. In America, race has a huge thing to do with what your experience is, but I just try and make music for everybody.”- Rolling Stone

5) He's not denying those rumors that he's dating Ariana Grande.

Not even a little bit. When asked about Ariana Grande he replied, "That is a true thing in my life, she's amazing". In a radio interview with The Breakfast Club, of the tracks that feature her on The Divine Feminine he stated, "Just because we are two people who are in love and have a great relationship doesn't mean that I'm gonna get weird about this incredible music that we also make together. All I'm saying is, 'Yeah we're together, cool.'"

After she won the AMA for Artist of the Year yesterday, he posted on Instagram to share his pride with the world: “I’m so proud of you. Thank you for bringing so much light into my life. Congratulations on the beautiful bond you have created with people all over the world. Continue to be you, because you puts a smile on the face and hearts of so many. Artist Of The Year.”

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I was excited to finally see Mac Miller in concert because I love his music. As the days have passed, though, now more than ever I’m even more excited to watch him in this new phase of his career as an artist. Gratitude looks good on everyone, and I am grateful to Mac Miller for reminding me of that just days before Thanksgiving.