Lace Up

Lace Up
Studio album by MGK
Released	October 9, 2012 (see release history)
Recorded	2010–12
Genre	Hip hop
Length	63:59
Label	Bad Boy, Interscope
Producer	Puff Daddy (exec.) Harve Pierre (co-exec.) Alex da Kid Alex KickDrum Aliby Anna Yvette Boi-1da Dame Grease Jazzy Drumma Boy Frequency GB Hitz J.R. Rotem J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League JP Did This 1 JRB MGK Rami Beatz Silent Mike Slim Gudz Southside Swirv Syk Sense Woodro Skillson
MGK chronology
Half Naked & Almost Famous (2012) Lace Up (2012) Black Flag (2013)
Singles from Lace Up
"Wild Boy" Released: September 27, 2011 "Invincible" Released: April 24, 2012 "Hold On (Shut Up)" Released: August 6, 2012

Lace Up is the debut studio album by American rapper MGK. It was released on October 9, 2012, by Bad Boy and Interscope Records.^[1] The album features guest appearances from Alex Fitts, Anna Yvette, Blackbear, Bun B, Cassie, DMX, Dub-O, Ester Dean, Lil Jon, M. Shadows, Planet VI, Synyster Gates, Tech N9ne, Twista, Waka Flocka Flame, Young Jeezy, along with the bands Avenged Sevenfold and The Kickdrums.^[1] The album production was handled by Alex da Kid and JP Did This 1, while Puff Daddy serves as the executive producer on the album.

The album received a generally positive reception but critics felt that it was a disappointment after his previous mixtapes. Lace Up debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200, supported by all four singles including "Wild Boy", "Invincible" and "Hold On (Shut Up)", along with one promotional single: "Stereo".

Singles

The album's lead single, "Wild Boy" featuring Waka Flocka Flame and it was produced by GB Hitz and Southside. The song was initially included on his fourth mixtape, Rage Pack (2011), and on his debut EP, Half Naked & Almost Famous (2012). It debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the week of January 28, 2012 at number 98 and on US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 49. It serves as his first song charted in both Billboard's charts.^[2][3]

The album's second single, "Invincible" featuring guest vocals from American singer-songwriter Ester Dean, while it was produced by an British producer Alex da Kid. The song 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 and July 31, 2012 respectively.^[5] MGK shot a music video for the single, which featured an appearance from the singer Ester Dean, and uploaded the video on YouTube under his VEVO account, on June 3, 2012.^[6]

On August 6, 2012, the album's third single "Hold On (Shut Up)" featuring Young Jeezy, was released.^[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 (though the track was formerly part of the "Lace Up" mixtape). 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
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(69/100)[10]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
DJBooth	[12]
HipHopDX	[13]
Rolling Stone	[14]
Spin	(5/10)[15]
XXL	(4/5) (XL)[16]

Lace Up received positive reviews from music critics. 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

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Save Me" (featuring M. Shadows and Synyster Gates)	Matthew Sanders Richard Baker Brinton "Woodro Skillson" Ewart Rami "Beatz" Eadeh Brian Haner, Jr.	Woodro Skillson Rami Beatz	3:12
2.	"What I Do" (featuring Bun B and Dub-O)	Baker Joshua "Syk Sense" Scruggs Irvin "Swirv" Whitlow Bernard Freeman	Syk Sense Swirv	4:32
3.	"Wild Boy" (featuring Waka Flocka Flame)	Baker Juaquin Malphurs Joshua Luellen Jarrett Mines De'Andre Langford	GB Hitz Southside	3:51
4.	"Lace Up" (featuring Lil Jon)	Baker Christopher Gholson Jonathan Smith	Drumma Boy	3:02
5.	"Stereo" (featuring Alex Fitts)	Baker Alex "KickDrum" Fitts	Alex KickDrum	3:55
6.	"All We Have" (featuring Anna Yvette)	Baker Bryan Fryzel Anna "Yvette" Masone	Anna Yvette Frequency	3:27
7.	"See My Tears"	Baker Erik Ortiz Kevin Crowe Kenny Bartolomei Adrian Broekhuyse Marinus de Goeij Cathy Burton Raz Nitzan Armin van Buuren	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League	4:10
8.	"D3MONS" (featuring DMX)	Baker Damon Blackman Earl Simmons Klaus Badelt Lisa Gerrard	Dame Grease	4:21
9.	"Edge of Destruction" (featuring Tech N9ne and Twista)	Baker Michael "Silent Mike" Brascom Whitlow Aaron Yates Carl Mitchell	Silent Mike Swirv	5:08
10.	"Runnin’" (featuring Planet VI)	Baker Matthew Samuels Timothy Thomas Theron Thomas	Boi-1da Jazzy (add.)	2:47
11.	"Invincible" (featuring Ester Dean)	Baker Ester Dean Alexander Grant	Alex da Kid	3:07
12.	"On My Way"	Baker Jon "JRB" Bishop Whitlow	JRB Swirv	4:10
13.	"End of the Road" (featuring Blackbear)	Baker Matthew "Blackbear" Musto	MGK Slim Gudz	4:04

Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Half Naked & Almost Famous"	Baker Fitts Thom Powers Alisa Xayalith Aaron Short	MGK Slim Gudz Alex KickDrum	2:51
15.	"La La La (The Floating Song)"	Baker Jesse "Chase N. Cashe" Woodard Trevor Bastow	Chase N. Cashe	3:54
16.	"Hold On (Shut Up)" (featuring Young Jeezy)	Baker Jay Jenkins	JP Did This 1	3:30
17.	"Warning Shot" (featuring Cassie)	Baker Jonathan Rotem Jack Bevan Edwin Congreave Walter Gervers Yannis Philippakis Jimmy Smith	J.R. Rotem Aliby (co.)	3:21

Notes

• All song samples, writing and production credits are according to the album booklet.

Sample credits

• "See My Tears" contains a sample of "Rain" written and performed by Armin van Buuren and Cathy Burton.
• "D3MONS" contains a sample of "Sorrow" written and performed by Lisa Gerrard.
• "Half Naked & Almost Famous" contains a sample of "Young Blood", written by Thom Powers, Alisa Xayalith and Aaron Short, performed by The Naked and Famous.
• "La La La (The Floating Song)" contains a sample of "Video in Industry" written and performed by Trevor Bastow.
• "Warning Shot" contains elements of "Electric Bloom", written by Jack Bevan, Edwin Congreave, Walter Gervers, Yannis Philippakis and Jimmy Smith, performed by Foals.

Personnel

Credits for Lace Up adapted from AllMusic.^[21]

Klaus Badlet — composer Kenneth Bartolomei — composer Chris Bellman — mastering Jon "JRB" Bishop — producer Blackbear — featured artist Boi-1DA — producer Michael "Silent Mike" Brascom — composer, producer Leslie Brathwaite — mixing Adrian Broekhuyse — composer J Browz — bass, guitar Bun B — featured artist Sean "P. Diddy" Combs — executive producer Kevin "KD" Davis — mixing M. De Geoij — composer Ester Dean — composer, featured artist Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine — engineer Steve "Rock Star" Dickey — mixing Alexander Diliplane — assistant DMX — featured artist Drumma Boy — producer Dub-O — featured artist Rami Eadeh — composer, producer Briton "Woodro Skillson" Ewart — composer, producer Alex Fitts — featured artist Frequency — engineer, producer Frequency — engineer, producer Brian "DJ Frequency" Fryzel — composer Synyster Gates — featured artist, guitar GB Hitz — producer L. Gerrard — composer Stephanie Hsu — creative director Anthony "DJ Xplosive" Jackson — scratching J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League — producer Alex Kickdrum — producer

Alex Da Kid — producer Byron Kirkland — management Lil Jon — featured artist Livvi Franc — background vocalist for "Warning Shot" MGK — primary artist Juaquin Malphurs — composer Jonathan Mannion — photography Fabian Marasciullo — mixing Manny Marroquin — mixing A. Masone — composer Justine Massa — creative coordinator Matthew "Spordy" McMahon — photography James McMillan — executive producer, management MGK — engineer, executive producer, primary artist, producer Mat Musto — piano R. Nitzan — composer Raz Nitzan — composer Harve Pierre — executive producer Planet VI — featured artist Justin Sampson — assistant, engineer Ben Schigel — mixing Phil Schlemmer — engineer M. Shadows — featured artist, vocals Slim Gudz — engineer, producer Southside — producer SykSense — producer Tech N9ne — featured artist Twista — featured artist Armin van Buuren — composer Ashleigh Veverka — management Waka Flocka Flame — featured artist Irvin Whitlow — composer, producer Anna Yvette — featured artist, producer, vocals

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (2013) Peak position US Billboard 200[22] 4 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[24] 52

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label
Germany[25]	October 5, 2012	CD, digital download	Bad Boy, Interscope
Canada[26]	October 9, 2012
United States[27]

References

1. Harling, Danielle (August 8, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly "Lace Up" Release Date". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. 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. 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. 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. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
10. "Reviews for Lace Up by MGK". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
11. Thomas, Fred. "Lace Up - Machine Gun Kelly". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
12. Slavik, Nathan (October 9, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly - Lace Up". DJBooth. The DJBooth LLC. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
13. Ortiz, Edwin (October 25, 2012). "Machine Gun Kelly - Lace Up". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
14. Dolan, Jon (November 9, 2012). "MGK Lace Up Album Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
15. Mlynar, Phillip (October 17, 2012). "MGK, 'Lace Up' Review". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
16. 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. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
19. Paine, Jake (October 28, 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 10/28/2012". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
20. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
21. "Lace Up - MGK - Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
22. "MGK – Chart history" Billboard 200 for MGK. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
23. "MGK – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for MGK. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
24. "2013 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved December 13, 2013.
25. "iTunes - Musik – „Lace Up“ von MGK". iTunes Store (DE). Apple. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
26. "Lace Up (Deluxe) by MGK - Preorder Lace Up (Deluxe)". iTunes Store (CA). Apple. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
27. "Lace Up (Deluxe) by MGK - Preorder Lace Up (Deluxe)". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved October 5, 2012.