Tag Archives: rap

ALBUM REVIEW: Machine Gun Kelly – Tickets to My Downfall

Posted on by

Whether you know him from his decade-long rap career, role as Felix in Birdbox, spot-on portrayal of Tommy Lee in The Dirt,  comedian Pete Davidson’s BFF, or Megan Fox’s new beau, Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, has left footprints across the entertainment industry.  Hot off a summer full of home-recorded covers and his first MTV Video Music Award, MGK takes another step in a new direction with his fifth studio album, Tickets to My Downfall (Bad Boy/Interscope), wearing his heart on his sleeve for 13 tracks (and 2 interludes) of pop-punk magic. Most fittingly, the new release was executively produced by Blink 182’s Travis Barker, who Baker first collaborated with last summer on  “I Think I’m Okay,”  along with Brit bud Yungblud.  It’s no surprise the album sounds as if it could have been born during the early-2000’s pop-punk heyday.  Though TTMD  is a change of pace from MGK’s typical style, it does not fully abandon his roots, highlighting a multitude of hip-hop guests and beats, party songs, and pop anthems. In fact, he has consistently cited various rock acts as influences, so it was only a matter of time until he fully submerged himself in the genre.

Continue reading →


PODCAST: Episode 88: Hyro The Hero on the Quarantine, Gaming, and New Music

Posted on by

We caught up recently with Hyro The Hero from his home, on lockdown, keeping safe from the pandemic. Sadly, his spring tour plans opening for Asking Alexandria have been canceled. In the meantime, Hyro is keeping that PMA (positive mental attitude) and keeping his spirits up during trying time by staying busy, working on music, catching up on his gaming, and trying to eat right. He is also checking out all kinds of other musicians and rappers plying their game on Soundcloud and other mediums who are respect-worthy. He’s got a good message for fans too, as Hyro has new music coming soon, the follow up to his acclaimed album Flagged Channel, via his label Better Noise, that he is really excited about, and we are too! Follow Hyro and get ready for new sounds later this year.Continue reading →


CONCERT REVIEW: Dax – HunnaV: Live at The Worcester Palladium

Posted on by

Rap and Hip Hop, not what you’d expect from us here at Ghost Cult, but we cover independent artists here as well as a major label! And the “It’s Different Now” Tour is quite literally the definition of an independent tour. Let’s dive into this, shall we….Continue reading →


(Hed) P.E. – Stampede

Posted on by

Evolution is inevitable, resisting it is futile. I have witnessed oodles of bands that have resisted letting their music evolve, getting themselves trapped in a murky impenetrable bubble of monotony and dismal record sales. (Hed) P.E. is not one of those bands. If anything, (Hed) P.E. could be the official spokesmodel for bands who embrace the natural evolution of their music. The latest studio album from (Hed) P.E., Stampede (Pavement Entertainment) is a dynamic testament that the band is categorically fearless in their songwriting and continue to transcend any and all musical pre-conceived notions.Continue reading →


Enablers – Zones

Posted on by

Most people’s experience of ‘spoken word’ music, outside of the Rap genre, is Jim Morrison‘s ‘American Prayer’. Beat Poetry, for this is essentially the format, is a hugely involving yet highly personal style which often resounds with the listener. This is most definitely the case with Enablers: a San Francisco post-Punk four-piece whose beguiling, occasionally fiery music is set to the poetry and narrative of frontman Pete Simonelli.Continue reading →


Beastie Boys Released “Ill Communication” Twenty-Five Years Ago

Posted on by

Beastie Boys were on fo the biggest, most successful groups in the work in the early 1990s when they made Ill Communication (Capitol/Grand Royale), released twenty-five years ago today. Prolific, putting out a new album every 2-3 years, the band was focused on never repeating themselves, and constantly improving. It would have been very easy for them to just keep remaking Licensed To Ill (Def Jam) over and over and that would have been enough for many bands. But Ad-Rock, Mike D, and MCA (RIP Adam Yauch) kept on changing and evolving. As they had on the previous few albums, they played all the instruments, and played them incredibly well on every track, across multiple genes. They had genius guest stars and collaborators (Q-Tip, Biz Markie, Amery Smith of Suicidal Tendencies, Money Mark, Bobo from Cypress Hill) and put the music first, before everything. Even the production on Ill Communication is incredible, all respect due to the B-E-A-S-T-I-E’s and their frequent partner at this time, Mario Caldato (“Mario C”). Continue reading →


PODCAST: Episode 13: Chip Z’Nuff of Enuff Z’Nuff Talks New Album and More

Posted on by

Ghost Cult caught up with rock royalty Chip Z’Nuff of Enuf Z’Nuff to discuss their2018 album Diamond Boy (Frontiers SRL). Chip who become the frontman of the band discussed the writing approach to the new album, performing lead vocals live, all the partying he did in the 1980s and 1990s, working with other artists like Kanye West, and much more. You can purchase or stream the Diamond Boy album here: http://radi.al/DiamondBoy, and check out our pod.Continue reading →


King 810 – Suicide King

Posted on by

The resurgence of 1990s Nu Metal shouldn’t be a real shock to anyone of a certain age. The enduring music put down by Korn, early-Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Snot, and many others funneled the heaviness of metal and the flavor of Hip-Hip from the decade before into an intoxicating blend. And while I love my trad metal brothers and sisters for repping songs about swords, wizards, and dragons; they were likely never stopped and frisked by cops, seen friends die in a hail of bullets, or poisoned by lead in their water. King 810 have, and they have become the flag bearers of what music marketing expert Finn McKenty (The Punk Rock MBA)calls crossover culture. Kids are more genre agnostic than ever, and when a band can filter past influences and present it to modern audiences a new and unique way, they click big-time. Fans love a groove they can latch on too and lyrics that feel authentic. King 810’s last album La Petite Mort Or A Conversation With God showed they were far from the run of the mill. They take it up another notch on Suicide King (KINGNation).Continue reading →


BillyBio – Feed The Fire

Posted on by

Billy Graziadei’s entire career is like a one-man version of Fight Club, though without the toxic masculinity and insanity. He might have some insomnia, based on his creative output and the depth of his repertoire though. As the co-founder of Biohazard, he helped put New York back on the map when it came to nineties metal and hardcore, inspiring many others. As a voice in other bands like Suicide City, Powerflo and in his producing career, Billy is unmistakable as a vocalist and musician. So, his long-gestating solo project BillyBio arrives as a pre-holiday gift and brings a surprisingly fun and upbeat debut with Feed The Fire (AFM Records), as opposed to the typical heavy but dour aesthetic we often get. Continue reading →