Machine Gun Kelly is an interesting case. He is signed to Bad Boy Records, but he is currently under their Interscope roster (Diddy reunited with L.A. Reid and moved the label over to Epic Records recently). In a stark contrast to the pecuniary flashiness of his New York-reared labelmates French Montana and, of course, his boss, MGK represents the working class ethos of his fellow Cleveland, Ohio residents. And he’s more willing to put his vulnerabilities and internal conflicts on full display in his music, something that is almost entirely different from the ethos that is being aligned with Bad Boy.
But perhaps that sense of “anti” (no relation – or pun – to Rihanna) is why he is affiliated with the house of Combs. It’s reflected wholly in his work ethic; his live shows are a combination of frantic chaos and self-contemplation, and he will sporadically fire off a mixtape with very little warning. He’s now released his sophomore project, General Admission, and as customary he’s eschewed the flashy features of a Bad Boy artist for the likes of Victoria Monét, Lzzy Hale and Kid Rock. The 16-track project can be streamed below.
