When Machine Gun Kelly first came into the game, he was a rowdy, rapid-fire flower from Cleveland. However, all boys must become men, and MGK’s latest album, bloom, finds him largely shedding the ways of his youth in favor of thoughtful musings over sophisticated production.
The greatest moments on bloom are when Kelly lets his vulnerability onto the tracks. On “At My Best,” which features powerful vocals from acting/singing darling Hailee Steinfeld, MGK waxes poetic about emotional pain. Lines like “I been hurt, I seen the scar tissue/If I show you, would you run away?/Do I gotta hide ‘em for you to wanna stay?” are universally relatable. “Go For Broke” flirts with pastry puff depth but James Arthur’s vocals and the cut’s uplifting guitar licks are nonetheless catchy. The heart-heavy “Rehab,” also is backed by acoustic guitar licks, but they’re melancholy as MGK delves into the tangled web of love and addiction. “I spent my night at the strip club/I pay them girls just to get love/I pay them to lie to me/One of them girls gave her line to me,” he raps. Such lyricism is impactful for both its honesty and the way Kelly is able to find remarkable depth in common experiences.
bloom shows growth not only lyrically, but also in Kelly’s delivery and the production. The opening stomper “The Gunner” finds MGK snarling over a thumping bass and ominous keys, but his braggadocio is more methodical, the beat more deliberate. While this is a refreshing change, it would have helped if he’d had a track or two hearkening to his original style to provide some energy. It’s clear that Kelly aimed to balls deep his slowed approach and his focus is admirable. However, a song like the braggadocious “Golden God,” would have been stronger with added gusto. The track, however, is at least compelling enough for a listen or two. The same can’t be said for the cliché-ridden “Wake + Bake” and plodding “Can’t Walk,” which stop the album dead in its tracks. A saving grace comes in the form of the zealous “Bad Things” (featuring Camila Cabello), which is a welcome avenue for MGK and displays his surprising penchant for pop. The record is perhaps the most endearing escalation on bloom and makes the album not only more accessible but also more balanced. With more hits like these, MGK may sign a lengthy lease with mainstream radio.
Machine Gun Kelly rounds out the album with “27”, which sums up bloom’s purpose. MGK’s acknowledgment of mortality belies acceptance that nothing lasts forever, and he is determined to make his mark in the world. Admiringly, it’s taken him his entire career to get to this point and a project like this finds him breaking out of the box he’s occupied since arriving on the scene.
Mgk gotta get away from puff. Continue the rap/pop style and get those big radio records out. He’s white wich means his potential for numbers is high because they actually buy albums and support..unpopular to say but true.
You very likely would not know this dude if it wasn’t for puff. And Puff signed him because every since Em, every label been looking to repeat the great white hype success. A decent white rapper will sale twice as much than other rappers because, it’s simply twice asz many white Ppl in the U.S. Em was going diamond with songs dissing boy bands, his mom, bm and other pop stars. Your right, the white rapper is easy money, no doubt. Puff knows and mgk knows he needs puff backing… Anyway S/0 to Tidal. I heard the album a couple times. It isn’t really for me but an OK album.
“A decent white rapper will sale twice as much than other rappers because, it’s simply twice asz many white Ppl in the U.S”
Not true in the slightest. If that were the case, Atmosphere, Ill Bill, Vinne Paz, Necro, Evidence, El-P, Aesop Rock, and a long ass list of other White Rappers would have been platinum back when they all started in the 90s.
Eminem sells because when he came out, no one was rapping like he was. A trend he continued throughout is career.
true but vinnie paz isn’t white.. we’ll replace him with diabolic or ra the rugged man
Vinnie Paz isnt white? so what is he? pink?
He’s Italian
He’s Sicilian by birth and white by ethnicity but what does it matter? People act like there aren’t any whites left in the slums. I mean yeah there aren’t many of us left but I don’t know why we gotta always be conflated with a bunch of rural white racists or even middle class whites. Race is a product of biological circumstances, culture on the other hand has to be imparted through your family and the community that raised you. Paz and Eminem may be white from a genetic perspective, but they certainly reflect the culture that raised them.
Great album, there was songs I didn’t like, like moon walkers and can’t walk but the overall album is definitely worth the listen and should help boost his career, with so many songs in her feeling like classics he mix rap, pop and rock so well
How the fuck you give it a five outta five when there are songs you didn’t like. That should lower the score (also the albums trash)
Well I would have given it a 4.5 or something like that but it doesn’t give u that option and tbh I love the album it shows best work and even with those two songs he makes up for it, and he shows off his vocals, his lyricism, guitar skills, and much more in this album,he really shows you him not only maturing as a rapper but as a artist
Great new release switching up his style mixing rap with rock beats and changing up the game. While hardcore rap fans won’t like all the tracks on here – there is plenty of good lyrics for them and explores new avenues of music
“changing up the game” ? hoswso
Lmaoo right?? MGK ain’t doing nothing that hasn’t been done before. Smdh…
Rap music for rednecks and white trashes. No thanks
“white trashes”…
Love it
I loved it, complete work of art from front to back and there is a song for EVERYBODY on this album
This album is incredible, versatile, and a far cry from any of MGK’s other works. As a fan for several years, I’ve been able to see him grow exponentially in his art and that’s exactly what this cd is – Art. For those who find issue with the change from strictly rap to a more “pop” sound, there has to be credit given for the lyrics and the man’s ability to tell a story. If what MGK is doing was easy, everyone would be doing it. If he “made it” because of Puff, why didn’t he make it a long time ago? There are always going to be people who like an album and those who don’t, those who applaud growth and those who complain. I can respect either side when valid reasons are given, but MGK being white or the fact that his music is evolving are not valid reasons.
Best album of 2017
Well, that’s a bold statement.
MGK is a nice rapper but his music always sounds like weak ass Eminem. All the theatrical songs sound like they could have been made by Eminem and Sia/Skylar Grey. Rhymes are the same… they sound like wannabe Detroit grime. Just cuz you’re white doesn’t mean you have to rip of Em at every turn.
Each to their own, I really like this dude, I do but come the f@#k on, what is this & the last album. ‘Lace Up’ was the shit. WTF happened.
Love him man
good improvement mgk
Just like every MGK album has like 3 decent songs and the rest is trash
A welcome change from the basic modern rap going around
This IS the basic, modern rap “)going around.
**rap going around. Stupid typos..
top album!
He just always gon come off as corny trying too hard and just lame.He got his cult following of emo fans that support his shit but the hip hop heads and streets never gon fuk with it he mad as shit bout that could tell when charlamagne said he didnt feel his bars I lmao at mgk’s broken hearted face.Eminem and yelawolf can give me angry white boy rap a lot better and a lot more lyrical.RA The Rugged Man and Rittz can give me white boy double time spit super fast bars a lot better.I dunno the appeal of any of his shit
…these is outmans vital proof,take a close view,insitly…its worth coming back to life…i love MCK…