''Black Flag'' is the seventh

mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...

by American rapper

MGK Colson Baker (born April 22, 1990), known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is noted for his genre duality across alternative rock with Hip hop music, hip hop. Machine Gun Ke ...

; it was released on June 26, 2013. The mixtape is supported by five singles; "Skate Cans", "Pe$o", "Breaking News", "Black Tuxedos" and " Mind of a Stoner" featuring

Wiz Khalifa Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 200 ...

Background

On January 28, 2013, MGK announced he would be releasing a new mixtape soon. On February 18, the cover art was released along with the title, ''Black Flag''. MGK would later reveal that

Pusha T Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 20 ...

Kellin Quinn Kellin Quinn is an American singer and musician. He is the lead vocalist and keyboardist of the post-hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens. Aside from his band, he is well-known for collaborating with other artists. Career Quinn is the vocalis ...

, Dub-O,

Meek Mill Robert Rihmeek Williams (born May 6, 1987), known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, ...

French Montana Karim Kharbouch (Arabic: æɾiːm χɑɾbuːʃ born November 9, 1984), better known by his stage name French Montana, is a Moroccan-American rapper. Born and raised in Morocco, he emigrated to the United States with his family when he was 13. ...

, and

would be featured on the project. In response to questions about the mixtape, MGK would tweet: "Black Flag is not a mixtape, it's an album we're giving away for free". On June 4, MGK posted a picture of a letter reading:

"This project is dedicated to love, because for my entire life it has been taken from me. Granted, when it was given, I pushed it right back. I couldn't handle it. This was until I experienced the loss of love for what I love doing most: music. That was the one thing worth fighting for, even more-so than the love of my father. I've found that love again. And I plan on never surrendering it. Find what you love and fight!! Black Flag (sic)"

Promotion and release

On February 18, 2013, Machine Gun Kelly released the song titled "Champions" as a thank you to the fans, the song was not included on ''Black Flag''. On March 28, the music video for the song "Skate Cans" was released. The mixtape was initially going to be released within a month of April near his birthday, but it was eventually pushed back. On May 22, the first official single from ''Black Flag'', "Pe$o" featuring rappers

and

was released. On June 4, Machine Gun Kelly released a statement regarding the concept behind ''Black Flag'' and would later activate a countdown clock on his website that would release new content from ''Black Flag'' such as the album booklet, song previews, and even ''Black Flag'' itself; each time it struck zero. The clock counted down eleven times, with each countdown period being named "Operation:.....". On June 25, the "Operation: Complex Catastrophe" countdown hit zero and Machine Gun Kelly released a new track titled "Breaking News" along with an accompanying music video onto

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

. The next day,'' Black Flag ''was released through the "Operation: Weapon Of Mass Destruction" countdown. Shortly after the release, Machine Gun Kelly would tweet: "To media and to fans: Black Flag is my 2nd ALBUM, please consider it and treat it as such." Physical copies of the project will be available in limited quantities on Machine Gun Kelly's upcoming tour in promotion of ''Black Flag''. On June 27, Machine Gun Kelly personally uploaded, edited, and commented on the lyrics for all the songs featured on ''Black Flag'' for the website

Genius.com Genius is an American digital media company founded on August 27, 2009, by Tom Lehman, Ilan Zechory, and Mahbod Moghadam. The site allows users to provide annotations and interpretation to song lyrics, news stories, sources, poetry, and document ...

. The final countdown, "Operation: Unconventional Warfare" struck zero on July 16 and released a music video for "Black Tuxedo". The countdown clock has since been removed. '' Black Flag'' included a cover of " Swing Life Away". The cover has new verses written by Kelly, and features guest vocals by Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens.

Rise Against Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. The group's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Rooted in hardcor ...

approved of the cover, after Kelly wrote a letter to the band explaining that he "wouldn’t do anything to make them or their song look corny". Originally, Quinn had recorded vocals for an acoustic rendition, but Kelly decided against this, insisting that the cover be more

melodic rock Arena rock (also known as AOR, melodic rock, stadium rock, anthem rock, pomp rock, corporate rock and dad rock; ; ) is a style of rock music that originated in the mid-1970s. As hard rock bands and those playing a softer yet strident kind of po ...

.http://noisecreep.com/machine-gun-kelly-heavy-metal/ Ramirez, Carlos (February 27, 2013). "Machine Gun Kelly: Rapper Reveals Why He's So Influenced by Metal and Punk Music (Interview)". Noisecreep. Retrieved April 9, 2016.

Track listing

;Samples credits * "Raise The Flag" contains a sample of "

Shake It Out "Shake It Out" is a song by English indie rock band Florence and the Machine, released as the first official single from their second studio album, ''Ceremonials'' (2011). It was written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, while production was ...

" performed by

Florence and the Machine Florence and the Machine (stylised as Florence + the Machine) are an English indie rock band that formed in London in 2007, consisting of lead vocalist Florence Welch, keyboardist Isabella Summers, guitarist Rob Ackroyd, harpist Tom Monger, and ...

* "Mind of a Stoner" contains a lyrical interpolation of "

Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" ( edited for radio as "Trick, Don't Kill My Vibe" or simply "Don't Kill My Vibe"), is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album ''Good Kid, M.A.A.D City'' (2012). The song, pr ...

" performed by

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Known for his Progressive rap, progressive musical styles and Social consciousness, socially conscious songwriting, he is often considered one of the most infl ...

. * "Miss Me?" contains a sample of "

Miss Me "Miss Me" is the third single by Canadian recording artist Drake from his debut album ''Thank Me Later''. The hip hop song features labelmate and Young Money founder Lil Wayne. It was produced by Drake's long-time collaborators Boi-1da and 40. ...

" performed by

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals * A male duck People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name * Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * ...

* "Swing Life Away" is a partial cover of " Swing Life Away" performed by punk rock band

. * "Pe$o" features a sample of "

I Need a Dollar "I Need a Dollar" is a song performed by American singer Aloe Blacc, written by Blacc, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon and Jeff Dynamite. It is the intro song for the HBO show ''How to Make It in America'', and was featured as the iTunes Single of ...

" performed by

Aloe Blacc Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III (born January 7, 1979), known professionally by his stage name Aloe Blacc (), is an American singer, songwriter and rapper. He is best known for his singles "I Need a Dollar", " The Man", which topped the charts in th ...

References

External links

* {{Machine Gun Kelly (rapper) 2013 mixtape albums Machine Gun Kelly (musician) albums