Lace Up
Standard cover art for the album, deluxe version features the same cover with a red background
Studio album by
Machine Gun Kelly
ReleasedOctober 9, 2012 (2012-10-09)
Recorded2010–12
GenreHip hop
Length63:59
Label
Producer
Machine Gun Kelly chronology
Half Naked & Almost Famous
(2012)		 Lace Up
(2012)		 Black Flag
(2013)
Singles from Lace Up
  1. "Wild Boy"
    Released: September 27, 2011
  2. "Invincible"
    Released: April 24, 2012
  3. "Hold On (Shut Up)"
    Released: August 6, 2012

Lace Up is the debut studio album by American rapper Machine Gun Kelly. It was released on October 9, 2012, by Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records.[1] Puff Daddy, who served as the executive producer on the album, enlisted the guest appearances from Cassie, DMX, Planet VI and Avenged Sevenfold;[1] as well as the production that was provided by Alex da Kid, JP Did This 1 and J.R. Rotem, among others. The album was supported by four singles: "Wild Boy" featuring Waka Flocka Flame, "Invincible" featuring Ester Dean, and "Hold On (Shut Up)" featuring Young Jeezy, along with a promotional single, "Stereo" featuring Alex Fitts.

Reviews for the record were generally positive, but critics felt that it was a disappointment, compared to his previous mixtapes. Lace Up debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 57,000 copies in the United States. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over 500,000 copies.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Wild Boy" was released on September 27, 2011. The song features guest vocals from fellow American rapper Waka Flocka Flame, with production being provided by GB Hitz and Southside. It was initially featured on his fourth mixtape, Rage Pack (2011), and on his debut EP, Half Naked & Almost Famous (2012). The song debuted at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the week of January 28, 2012, and number 49 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It serves as his first song to be charted on both Billboard charts.[2][3]

The album's second single, "Invincible" was released to digital retailers in the United States on April 24, 2012,[4] and was solicited to rhythmic contemporary radio and contemporary hit radio on May 15 to July 31, 2012, respectively.[5] The song features guest vocals from American singer-songwriter Ester Dean, and was produced by British producer Alex da Kid. MGK shot a music video for the single, which features an appearance from the singer Ester Dean, and uploaded the video on YouTube under his VEVO account, on June 3, 2012.[6]

"Hold On (Shut Up)" featuring Young Jeezy, was released as the album's third single on August 6, 2012.[7] The music video was released on November 19, 2012.[8]

Promotional singles

On September 20, 2012, "Stereo" was released with an accompanying music video, as the album's promotional single (although this track was formerly part of the mixtape with same title as the album). The song features guest vocals from Alex Fitts. The track would also be included, alongside "Invincible" and "Hold On (Shut Up)", as part of the MGK's Music Unlimited exclusive EP, titled Lace Up - The Prelude (released on October 2, 2012).[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic69/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
DJBooth[12]
HipHopDX[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
Spin5/10[15]
XXL4/5 (XL)[16]

Lace Up received favorable reviews but music critics found the record overall uneven, compared to Kelly's previous mixtapes. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received average score of 69, based on 6 reviews which indicates generally favourable reviews.[10] Adam Fleischer of XXL praised the production throughout the album and MGK for being consistent with his rapid-fire flow concluding with, "though he may no longer be quite the underdog he once was, rapping like it—at least for now—still works."[16] Fred Thomas of AllMusic also praised the album for its production and putting MGK in the spotlight, calling it "a beast of a debut, and some of the heaviest mainstream-friendly hip-hop happening in 2012, a picture of young energy at its zenith."[11]

Edwin Ortiz of HipHopDX gave a mixed review of the album, praising tracks like "Edge of Destruction" and "D3mons" for their intensity but found "Invincible" and "All We Have" put MGK into "industry purgatory." He concluded with, "Lace Up is an imbalanced project that fails to establish MGK’s grand message. His debut is decent at best, with hope that his following projects yield better results."[13] Phillip Mlynar of Spin felt that the special guests throughout the album were more of a hindrance to the main artist saying, "Instead of turning this debut proper into an expansive listen, the guests seem like they're papering over holes in both the music and the message."[15]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 57,000 copies.[17] It slid down to number 22 in its second week giving it a total of 65,000 copies.[18] Sliding down to number 37 in week three it sold 10,000 more copies.[19] As of September 2015, the album has sold 263,000 copies in the United States.[20]

Track listing

Album credits adapted from official liner notes.[21]

Lace Up  — Standard version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Save Me" (featuring M. Shadows and Synyster Gates)
  • Woodro Skillson
  • Rami Beatz
3:12
2."What I Do" (featuring Bun B and Dub-O)
  • Syk Sense
  • Swirv
4:32
3."Wild Boy" (featuring Waka Flocka Flame)
3:51
4."Lace Up" (featuring Lil Jon)
Drumma Boy3:02
5."Stereo" (featuring Alex Fitts)
  • Baker
  • Alex Fitts
Alex Kickdrum3:55
6."All We Have" (featuring Anna Yvette)
  • Baker
  • Bryan Fryzel
  • Anna Masone
3:27
7."See My Tears"
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League4:10
8."D3MONS" (featuring DMX)
  • Dame Grease
  • Snaz
4:21
9."Edge of Destruction" (featuring Tech N9ne and Twista)
  • Silent Mike
  • Swirv
5:08
10."Runnin" (featuring Planet VI)
2:47
11."Invincible" (featuring Ester Dean)
Alex da Kid3:07
12."On My Way"
  • Baker
  • Jon Bishop
  • Whitlow
  • JRB
  • Swirv
4:10
13."End of the Road" (featuring blackbear)
  • MGK
  • Slim Gudz
4:04
Total length:49:41
Lace Up — Deluxe version (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Half Naked & Almost Famous"
  • MGK
  • Slim Gudz
  • Alex Kickdrum
2:51
15."La La La (The Floating Song)"
  • Baker
  • Jesse Woodard IV
  • Aaron Harry
  • Trevor Bastow
Chase N. Cashe3:54
16."Hold On (Shut Up)" (featuring Young Jeezy)
JP Did This 13:30
17."Warning Shot" (featuring Cassie)
  • Baker
  • J.R. Rotem
  • Peter Ring
  • Jack Bevan
  • Edwin Congreave
  • Walter Gervers
  • Yannis Philippakis
  • Jimmy Smith
3:21
Total length:63:16
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • "Save Me" features additional vocals from M. Shadows.
  • "La La La (The Floating Song)" features additional vocals from Betty Idol.
Sample credits, taken from liner notes.

Personnel

Credits for Lace Up adapted from AllMusic.[22]

Chart performance

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[27] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label
Germany[28] October 5, 2012 CD, digital download Bad Boy, Interscope
Canada[29] October 9, 2012
United States[30]

References

  1. 1 2 Harling, Danielle (August 8, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly "Lace Up" Release Date". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ "MGK Album & Song Chart History – The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ "MGK Album & Song Chart History – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Invincible (feat. Ester Dean) – Single by MGK". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  5. ↑ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Video: MGK f/ Ester Dean - 'Invincible'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. June 3, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  7. ↑ "iTunes - Music Videos - Hold On (Shut Up) by MGK". iTunes Store (US). Apple. January 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Video: Machine Gun Kelly (Feat. Young Jeezy) - Hold On (Shut Up)". WorldStarHipHop. December 4, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  9. ↑ "MGK / Lace Up (The Prelude)". Music Unlimited. Sony Entertainment Network. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Reviews for Lace Up by MGK". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  11. 1 2 Thomas, Fred. "Lace Up - Machine Gun Kelly". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  12. ↑ Slavik, Nathan (October 9, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly - Lace Up". DJBooth. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Ortiz, Edwin (October 25, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly - Lace Up". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  14. ↑ Dolan, Jon (November 9, 2012). "MGK Lace Up Album Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Mlynar, Phillip (October 17, 2012). "MGK, 'Lace Up' Review". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Fleischer, Adam (October 11, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly, Lace Up". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  17. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (October 17, 2012). "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Score Top Billboard 200 Debut, Mumford Still No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  18. ↑ Jacobs, Allen (October 21, 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 10/21/2012". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  19. ↑ Paine, Jake (October 28, 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 10/28/2012". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Digital Booklet - Lace Up". DocDroid. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Lace Up - MGK - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  23. ↑ "MGK Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  24. ↑ "MGK Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  25. ↑ "MGK Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  27. ↑ "American album certifications – Machine Gun Kelly – Lace Up". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  28. ↑ "iTunes - Musik – "Lace Up" von MGK". iTunes Store (DE). Apple. January 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Lace Up (Deluxe) by MGK - Preorder Lace Up (Deluxe)". iTunes Store (CA). Apple. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Lace Up (Deluxe) by MGK - Preorder Lace Up (Deluxe)". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
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