Few people can aptly code-switch between musical genres & creative pursuits, but Colson Baker — known to the masses as Machine Gun Kelly — not only does a respectable job as an actor (he had a small but memorable role in Bird Box, and his depiction of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in Netflix’s The Dirt was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise shitshow of a film), he does a fine enough job behind the mic.
Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on how messy you like your rap beefs — what’s been getting the most attention are his returned potshots towards Eminem. And Hotel Diablo, while a fine Hip Hop album that seamlessly blends elements of alt-rock with introspective and raw lyrics, is no exception.
This is not to say that Hotel Diablo isn’t a good album. To the contrary: Hotel Diablo is a very good album. It’s just that, after what seems like a million years of a rivalry between two rappers (but, in actuality, is a kerfluffle that’s not even a year old), it can feel like watching the Peter Griffin vs. The Chicken fight on a loop for hours on end.
The proverbial elephant in the room is, of course, MGK’s latest arrow across Marshall Mathers’ brow, “Floor 13,” in which he snarks, “I just spent the winter livin’/After someone tried to send a killshot, missin’ me” — a reference, of course, to Slim Shady’s “Killshot” single. When it was picked up by Genius, MGK was shocked — shocked, we say — that this is what fans chose to pay attention to. Which, to be fair to our boy Colson, is a valid question, especially considering he has so much more to offer on this album.
Gems like “I Think I’m OKAY,” for example, was added to Spotify’s 2019 Summer Songs Predictions list and features a star turn by both YUNGBLUD and Blink-182 drummer/not-so-secret Hip Hop head Travis Barker. And the Naomi Wild-assisted “Glass House” packs precisely the type of dual reach that keeps MGK on the charts and respected amongst his peers.
“Burning Memories,” meanwhile, explores MGK’s vulnerable side and side-swipes his estranged mother with such lyrics as “This one’s for the mama that I never knew/I took acid just to burn all of my memories of you/How’d you leave your only child at nine for another dude?/I hope he got some kids because your only son is dead.” Let’s avoid the obvious comparisons to another certain someone, who also has his fair share of maternal trauma because this stands on its own just fine.
But Hotel Diablo is at its best when MGK just lets down his hair and has a grand old time, as he does on “A Message From The Count” and “Truck Norris Interlude,” the two “breaks” on the album, in which we hear him in a semi-behind the scenes type of environment just cutting loose and enjoying the party. And why not? Hip Hop is supposed to be fun.
And though one wouldn’t go so far as to call Machine Gun Kelly a “party rapper,” he’s someone whose music is quite enjoyable, and frankly, it’s nothing but a goddamn good time.
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“I’m writing this at 5:3666 in the evening”
Gay
I like that
1000 times better than binge
Trash MC
Relateable alb, Kell’s really opened up on this one.
Pretty soon there be no Ice Cube just Vanilla Ice fuck..da’
Hotel Diablo is lyrically introspection like few artists can achieve. MGK shows us his demons, his faults, the pressures, and his feelings. As always, his flow is flawless.
Musically the album spans and even bends genres. He delivers soulful songs, head-bobbing beats, and even a couple rock numbers. And while no two tracks are similar, each song adds value to the overall project.
Every MGK fan will love this album, and most music fans will find this a worthy addition to their collection.
How much they paying you write this stuff? This is right out of the fake review dick riders manual.
It’s funny how eminem stans disrespect the hiphop culture. Posting negative comments without even listening, disliking videos before airing,fake editing vids; you got to be better than this. Be mature and learn to give respect where its due. He scrapped an entire album and created this masterpiece puttin his soul into and its reflected in every track #AOTY #HOTELDIABLO
You don’t have to love Eminem to think MGK is horrible. I like how literally nobody has commented about Eminem on here yet .. except for a MGK fan complaining about Eminem fans. The irony is great. You guys like to act like Em didn’t make him relevant.. yet even his fans.. all they can talk about is EMINEM. Lmfao. That shit is soo pathetic.
I like how there’s 6 comments before you mentioning Eminem and you really just said “nobody has mentioned Em” his fans talk about plenty only time Em gets brought up is when a bunch of butthurt stans wanna trash the album without even listening and yes its extremely clear whether or not they’re an Eminem fan they type with all emotion no intelligence
Check the time stamps dipshit.. no one had mentioned it once. Only people talking about Em on here for a minute we’re MGK fans. Crying about Eminem fans.. the irony of you bitches.
Not an mgk fan but this is gold ?
Liked it a lot. Its an emotional roller-coaster
Your an emotional bitch
Great album
Bomb. Roulette is fire, and death in my pocket. Top to bottom great lyrics. But why two chop sticks, no lo mein? Like you throwing chop sticks in eye balls?? ??
SO bad honestly, no substance.
You love Eminem, don’t you? It shows.
Lol who mentioned Eminem? Maybe dude just thinks he sucks??? Damn even MGK fans love to keep Em in they mouth.
“No substance” biggest bunch of bullshit I’ve read today its extremely clear you didn’t even listen to it
The production. The depth in the lyrics. Every flow. Every cadence. The EMOTION. Machine Gun Kelly poured his heart and souls into this album, and it’s apparent. He fought demons to make this album. He literally wanted to die, but instead of dying, he made this album. And it SHOWS. This is purely beautiful music and if you think otherwise, you either didn’t even listen to it, or you ride Eminem too much to appreciate meaningful music because of a beef from a year ago.
The depth of your butt must be deep as hell. “The EMOTION”?? Lmfao you sound like a diva. You have to be Machine Gun Kelly himself talking like that. “He wanted to die but instead he made this album”?? Do you realize how dramatic and unrealistic that sounds? And of coarse in true MGK fashion, make sure to mention Eminem at the end so this can get some attention.
?
As an Eminem fan I went into this desperately wanting to hate it and slate it but it’s pretty good and the content is more relatable than anything Em’s done off last 2-3 albums!!
Thought the same thing on listening to it. The album has passionate moving music that Em has been unable to make for more than a decade.
Looks like killshot hit it’s target ? head on. Mgk new album first week sales 30-35k FLOP
I thought it was a good album overall, definitely more relateable than a lot of stuff out there. I don’t think I hit the skip button even once. And I think people need to get over the whole beef thing, regardless of who you think won. There’s extreme fans and extreme haters on both sides, people should grow up and realise that you can like more than one person. Whilst I feel Em might have won the battle and Kamikaze was a return to form, for me Hotel Diablo has more depth and meaning (even if the numbers bomb).
Trash
To be real I did not expect an album as deep as this. Him dropping a fire diss track, but after releasing the project BINGE, I thought MGK would never top an album like Lace Up or Bloom ever again. By this album? For sure is 5/5, 10/10. (In my opinion) I can not only play bloom front to back, but Hotel Diablo I can for sure play front to back. Great album.
great album, nice rock rap feel. I can see how some people would dislike it though, not for everyone. As for myself, it is my kind of music.
Only stans of MGK or Eminem have reviewed this so I’ll keep it real. This is a very marginal album. Just like Kamikaze by the way. I don’t mind the emo crap on the record but it’s not rap music. Just make an album with Travis and Tim Armstrong already man. For the actual rapping, it’s decent. Not terrible not great. MGK reminds me of Drake. He seems to be better in a different genre but is considered just a rapper. Guy should be in a pop punk band and not attempting true rap albums. Same with Drake. Dude should just make a bunch of tracks catered to chicks and sing instead of rapping. Whatever.
Shits weak
Mans trippin
So MGK Made the album Eminem tried to make with Revival but succeeded.
People need to get over the whole beef thing. At this point it’s getting childish. The album is absolutely brilliant with wonderful production, raw lyrics and concise flows. MGK raps about real life struggles that everyone will be able to relate to and makes beautiful music in the process. 5/5
Everyone should give this album a listen at least once. The moody production and somber lyrics reminded me of Joe Budden’s Mood Muzik series.
forgot to rate
Hotel Diablo is lit AF. I don’t think he really consider him a rapper but more as an artist . And your doing a fucking great job at it. My style of music for sure.
XX
This album is a 5/5 for me… however this review is a bit of a joke. Saying this man was having a “wicked good time” on this album is dismissing the vast majority of the core material in the album. His suicidal thoughts, the vicious cycle of addiction, the pain and damage he’s suffered. This isn’t an album made for fun purposes, it’s an introspective journey into MGK’s mind which has a lot of dark material.
Best work since Lace Up imo….better tracks, better beats, deep lyrics.
Fire.
fuck the stans and haters. listen to good music no matter your fav rapper likes the guy or not. this shit is fire af. if you say otherwise you’re deaf my brother. this a 5 star hotel right here.
Great album. Every single song is good.
loved it 10 out of 5 lol ??? EST for life
love the whole album
I enjoyed the album but I wanted to love it, there weren’t any songs that immediately made me want to keep them on repeat. Bloom had 5 songs that I had in heavy rotation when it dropped, even that song “lately” off the Binge ep got a lot of play a few months back, but this album has nothing that I consistently want to listen to. Maybe that will change, but for now I gotta give it a 3.
Glass House is a masterpiece, it alone earned my 5/5, the other songs are also very good
This is better than any Eminem album in the last 10 years
Eminem is so much better than mgk give em the crown
Hands down his best project to date, despite the short run time, each track hits hard enough, and has him being so vulnerable that I’m ok with the run time, but I guess if I wanted something to throw in the negative category that would be it, it’s too bad this album won’t get half of the attention it deserves.
???
Absolutely best album done by him. Lyrically and instrumental. This has been on repeat. I love hearing musicians open up. He’s different, and has his own style. Not the same old trap bullshit music. I love his carefree hippie attitude and he doesn’t care what people thinks. He keeps pushing and making music, telling his story. This album was done very well, and he deserves the credit! I’m ready for another album already!!!
Gadzooks! This album is pretty good.
Whole album was just whining… wasn’t a great idea to bring up killshot like he came up on top of that one. Better than most of his other projects I guess
I have listened to MGK for a couple years now. LOVE Him own all albums. I’ll need 2 listen 2 few more b4 I say alot. Not as original as hoped but ppl are prob pushing and sucking life out of him now. He is about to rewind and give us something amazing next, just wait !! He has only begun ❤ in meantime I’ll enjoy his other 900 thousand hits est4life
Yall dont even give kells a chance.
Awesome album. I’ve had it on repeat in my car to and from work everyday since release.
It’s a phenomenal album. His best to date. (+)
I love the album
To be honest hotel diablo is lit that is pure talent from the gunner l respect that man #est for life i go for 5/5
Est 4 life
first eminem is just painful to listen too these days but least he had a prime mgk has and always will be corny as shit wannabe punk/hipster/rapper.I couldnt care bout his garbage music n beef lyrics im wondering how the fuck he got a full head of hair when his first video i ever seen like 9 years ago he was going bald as shit receeding hairline dresed like solja boi FOH
One of the realest artists out there, he never disappoints. Every song in this album came from the heart and I can feel it.
Its lit???
Such a good album, mgks best work yet
Very emotional and deep. I connected right away. Every song is on my playlist.
Music about pain, every person can relate. Keep it up MGK.
I thought the album was good tbh