For a long time, the goal of making hip-hop in Pittsburgh was to have fun, get some local notoriety, and to give one’s creative energies an outlet. There was plenty of talent, but the possibility of making it to the big-time, and getting national attention, was so remote as to be ridiculous.

That was before Mac Miller — looking appropriately ridiculous last month in a leopard-print coat on the cover of Billboard magazine. “Blue Slide Park” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 144,000 copies. It was the first independently distributed debut album to hit No. 1 since 1995.

more from the trib article after the jump
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