Mac Miller, the 26-year-old rapper known for his canny wordplay and artistic reinvention,

died Friday at his Los Angeles home. The apparent cause of death was a drug overdose.

“Malcolm McCormick, known and adored by fans as Mac Miller, has tragically passed

away at the age of 26,” his family said in a statement. “He was a bright light in this world

for his family, friends and fans. Thank you for your prayers. Please respect our privacy.

There are no further details as to the cause of his death at this time.”

The County of Los Angeles medical examiner said in a statement Friday, “In the late

morning of Sept. 7, Malcolm McCormick (dob 1/19/92) was found unresponsive in his

home located in the 11600 block of Valleycrest Drive in Studio City. Authorities were

called and Miller was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:51 a.m. At this time, an autopsy

is pending and a cause of death has not been determined.”