Compared and contrasted with other popular genres of music, one of Hip Hop’s most polarizing characteristics is its endless array of life perspectives and narratives delivered through rap. Machine Gun Kelly is the prospect of the moment, as he and his Lace Up movement have catalyzed the likes of a career boosting affiliation with Diddy and the notable cosigns of inclusions in both the BET 2011 Hip-Hop Awards cypher and XXL’s 2012 Freshman list. His new EP Half Naked & Almost Famous is at once a refresher course summarizing his most recent output and a preview of his forthcoming full length LP Lace Up.
Following a back catalog replete with tried and true tales of plight along with dedications to deceased and incarcerated friends, Half Naked & Almost Famous is Machine Gun Kelly’s first real retail release. Its five songs include the online viral smash “Wild Boy,” featuring 1017 Brick Squad chieftain Waka Flocka Flame and an updated version of the title track, a contemporary homage to the relentless Midwestern flow (most popularized by Twista) – with its original singer Livvi Franc replaced by Bad Boy labelmate Cassie. 2012 finds the Bad Boy signee ready for the limelight on “Warning Shot,” (once again paired with Cassie). With only five tracks to prove himself, at times MGK’s energetic attitude and aggression are belied by immaturity and an egregious lack of artistic development (“Wild Boy”). One of the EP’s brighter occurrences is the introspective and moving “See My Tears” produced by the always cinematic J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, a relief proving Kelly cognizant of the need for a more thoughtful balance to his hyperactive inclinations. The artificial crunk vapidity of “Est 4 Life” cements the notion that MGK has yet to establish a distinct sound of his own.
Where previously unaware newcomers could find themselves awestruck by Machine Gun Kelly’s star power, Half Naked & Almost Famous comes as no surprise to the Cleveland native’s already accrued widespread loyalists. Despite maintenance of his undeniable following, MGK remains an enigma of sorts as he has yet to carve out a uniquely identifiable persona. With any hopes, gradual maturity will find his own voice flourishing as he takes a bit of creative license emulating his crunk influences at present.
That review sounds about right. I think this kid is a joke, but I get why younger kids may buy in.
im sorry you were expecting an old boring ass thug emcee that sounds like everyone else?
hes probably the best new rapper out along with hopsin.
DONT RIDE MY DICK!!!
I disagree with this review. I downloaded this album and was actually impressed. I thought MGK was just this gimmicky “wild boy” artist…but the EP gave me a better sense of his point of view. Warning Shot let’s people know he’s a force to be dealt with, See My Tears let’s you know him a bit more and has some substance, Half Naked is truly wear he is in his career and he introduces his team on EST 4 Life. I think this EP was well done! Salute MGK…f*ck the critics!
^^perfect case of “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”.this EP really aint shit compared to his mixtapes.
Bad Boy next failure!
but he is the only 1 on bad boy that is actually doin somethin since B.I.G. you betta recognize dude
white album of tha year. swag
best white rappers.
1. Fred Durst (YMCMB 4 life)
2. Mac Miller
3. Machine Gun Kelly
4. Iggy Azalea
5. Kreayshawn
DUMB..ASS.. yela is better than all them
your a dumb ass for the yela name drop
and feeding the troll “So Icey Boi”
You guys only know mainstream white mc’s.
IF Brother Ali or Slugh (Atmosphere) release an album it will be much better than those kids albums. Not to mention that their lyrics have much more substance..
fred durst? lmfao he the worst kind of anything. eminem, cage, MGK yelawolf and apathy are the best. YMCMB fuckin blows
you guys are fuckin corny.except anonymous he makes sense
Diddy mistakenly thought MGK was Mac Miller
#fail
your corny as fuck for that comment
#fail
lol he should quit rapping! yelawolf = 10x MGK
he is wack as …… so icy boy’s comments!
lol this site should realy ban this bitch(so icy biTch)
you should quit hip-hop.stans that always compare white rappers to eachother = ignorant/shouln’t be aloud to listen to it/hater
get off Yela’s dick
get off MGK’s nutts
this lil EP is nothing compared to his 100 words and runnin,Lace Up & Rage Pack.but still dope 5/5
Amazing EP. Die you haters!
5 stars kid is dope!
i like this kid cause his just being himself making some good music and having fun
Are you arguing that Twista did more for the double-time flow than Bone Thugs?
LMAO where do u get these reviewers from??? He just said the relentless midwestern flow most popularized by TWISTA??? LEAVE THE CRACK ALONE MR FAIRFAX…slap yourself please…I could of swore it was a group of guys who went like 10x platinum with that style but hey who cares right?
I dont fuck with these reviews cause half the time the person or persons who write them dont know what they are talking about(not saying this is the case). I just listen to it and decide for myself, as should you, especially if you are a real fan.
this deserves a perfect rating
nah hiphopdx i don’t agree with y’all….4/5
Wtf. Twista ain’t do shit. With that flow bone thugs did it all Twista cnat even catch the beat properly
River trash
wtf?
you cant tell me youve listened to the lace up mixtape and says he doesent have an identifiable personality,this reviewers wack.
For anybody who thinks Machine Gun Kelly is not gifted , listen to ‘The Return’. One of the realest songs released in hip hop in the last few years.
Bad Boy’s worst act since Dylan.
Love this ep
Hey lil’ buddy.Just wanted to inform you that Twista originated that style of flow since the late 80s when he was called Tung Twista.He was also in The Guiness Book for his speed flowing on the mic.Bone Thugs came out in the summer of 1994 with their EP “Creepin’ On a Come Up”, which I still bump till this day.They(Twista & BTNH) went at it in the 90s over the rapid fire style along with Crucial Conflict from Westside Chicago.I was 15 when that BTNH ep came out so take your lesson from a real hiphop head and keep hittin’ the(90s REAL hiphop)books kid.lol
Blows
hey buddy you rock & everybody has influences!just got your new cd!love it!
ok, now i may be only 22, but i for one don’t listen to these new rappers, me personally i’m into 90’s and early 00’s hip hop, but i am 100% impressed by MGK, he is just a lyrical beast, MGK along with Hopsin, & Kendrick Lamar are the future of the hip hop game
I LOVE MGK . . . LACE UP !
Yelabelly is wack as fuck, Machine Gun Kelly is insane good at everything he does. His songs arnt just good beats and bass, they have dope lyrics to, and meaning behind them! Ok, maybe not Wild Boy, but everything else, like End of the Road and see my tears, and dozens more
normally i wouldnt rate anything like this but MGK is my favorite rapper of all time. Time for you to take over the game my dude.
DON’T GO BUY MY ALBUM IT’S WHACK. TOO BAD I’LL NEVER BE A GOOD AS EMINEM OR YELAWOLF.
one ok song with a crackhead and everyone is on his jock…Or as he would like is a finger in the ass…Anyways he’s not that good. You dont see puffy all in the video like he was with BIG. Wonder why? New hip hop is GARBAGE all sounds the same with 15 people trying to copy other people all sounds the same. From 2000-Current is just awful. Even the established artists are weak cuz they all tryin to catch the new sound instead of sticking to what they are known for and good at!
love ya freestyle