Maps of Music

Mainstream Sellout (2022)

Where the lyrics of Mainstream Sellout take you, and where it was really made.

The album started out as Born with Horns, a title Kelly and Barker marked with matching tattoos, and was renamed only in January 2022.

Key places

Mixing at MixStar Studios (2022)

Recording site MixStar Studios — The album was mixed at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach. The point marks the studio building itself, so it is the most precise place on the map for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Engineering at Waiting Room, Omaha (2022)

Recording site Warehouse Productions — Waiting Room in Omaha is credited as a place where the album was engineered. The point is placed at the city center, so the exact studio building is not marked. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Mainstream Sellout: sixth studio album by MGK
• Released March 25, 2022 through Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records
• Second project with drummer and producer Travis Barker, after Tickets to My Downfall (2020)
• Continues MGK's transition into pop-punk

Background

• First announced in August 2021 under the title Born with Horns
• MGK and Barker revealed matching tattoos of that phrase
• Renamed Mainstream Sellout in January 2022 (January 31)
• Lead single 'Papercuts' released August 11, 2021; video directed by Cole Bennett
• In October 2021 MGK described the album as darker and more guitar-heavy than Tickets to My Downfall
• Second single 'Emo Girl' featuring Willow; third single 'Ay!' with Lil Wayne; fourth single 'Maybe' with Oliver Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon (released March 16, 2022)
• Promoted by the Mainstream Sellout Tour throughout 2022

Recording

• Mixed at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach
• Engineered at Waiting Room in Omaha; the map point uses the city center, not a building

Cover

• Physical version: MGK with his skin painted silver to hide his tattoos, leaning over to see his reflection in his guitar
• Digital version: MGK leaning forward in front of a white wall holding a black guitar, pink tomatoes thrown at him
• Cover drew comparisons to Japanese Breakfast's 2021 album Jubilee; Michelle Zauner denied the similarities

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Colson Baker, known as MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor.
• Born April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas; grew up partly in Egypt, Kenya, and Germany, and later in Denver and Cleveland.
• Began listening to rap in sixth grade; DMX, Ludacris, and Eminem were early influences.
• Self-released four mixtapes from 2007 to 2010 before signing with Bad Boy Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, in 2011.

Members

• Solo artist; supported by a backing band with members including Travis Barker on drums (2019–present).

Career

• Debut album Lace Up (2012) peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200; lead single "Wild Boy" was his first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
• Albums General Admission (2015) and Bloom (2017) brought critical praise and commercial success; "Bad Things" with Camila Cabello peaked at number four on the Hot 100.
• Tickets to My Downfall (2020), produced entirely by Travis Barker, shifted to pop-punk and debuted atop the Billboard 200.
• Mainstream Sellout (2022) matched commercial success, with mixed critical reception.
• In 2024 he dropped the Machine Gun Kelly name for MGK and released the collaborative EP Genre: Sadboy with Trippie Redd.
• Seventh album Lost Americana (2025) moved into pop-rock.
• Acting work includes Beyond the Lights (2014), Bird Box (2018), and portraying Tommy Lee in The Dirt (2019).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• NME: positive review, calling it no complacent victory lap from Tickets to My Downfall and praising its relatable angst
• AllMusic: big distorted guitars and Barker's drumming, but lighter on ideas and cohesion than Tickets to My Downfall
• Rolling Stone (Charles Aaron): called the tracks evolving, not-very-joyful noise
• Sputnikmusic (Jesper L.): gave one out of five and wrote a negative review
• The Independent (Helen Brown): called the album dull and formulaic
• The Daily Telegraph (Neil McCormick): negative verdict on the album's impact
• Kerrang! (Jake Richardson): weakest record of MGK's rock era so far, with '5150' called the most effective track
• The Guardian (Alim Kheraj): entertaining but cliched
• Clash (Emily Swingle): a brash but ultimately shallow return, naming 'Sid & Nancy' and 'Twin Flame' as standouts
• Pitchfork (Arielle Gordon): goes deeper into the genre with even less, feeling like a concept album about rock
• Metacritic: average score 55 out of 100 from 10 reviews, mixed or average

Records

• US Billboard 200 debut at number one with 93,000 album equivalent units, 42,000 of them pure album sales; MGK's second US number one
• Following week: number nine with 30,500 units
• UK Albums Chart debut at number two with about 210 units behind Michael Bublé's Higher; his highest LP debut in the UK
• Canada: number one, MGK's consecutive number one there
• Australia: ARIA number one, his first number one in the country
• Nominated for Best Rock Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards
• American Music Awards 2022: nominated for Favorite Rock Album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The cover was revealed through a series of Dolce & Gabbana designed clothing items that showed the song titles.
• The cover drew comparisons to Japanese Breakfast's Jubilee, and Michelle Zauner denied the similarities.
• A preview suggested MGK had shaved his head for the 'Papercuts' video, but it was later revealed to be a bald cap.
• 'Wall of Fame (Interlude)' contains uncredited vocals from Pete Davidson.
• All tracks except 'WW4' are stylized in all lowercase.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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