It takes a lot to motivate me to write about an emerging artist. With an overflowing inbox filled with records from artists I’ve never heard of, it’s hard to sift through it all and find one that stands out from the pack. While I love the internet and everything it has done for music, it’s still old fashioned word-of-mouth hype from peers and colleagues that puts new artists on my radar. Since moving back to Cleveland earlier this year, it has been nearly impossible to ignore the buzz of a local artist by the name of Machine Gun Kelly (MGK).

Simply put, MGK is the most prolific artist on the Cleveland hip-hop scene. He stands head and shoulders — both literally and figuratively — above the other artists that make up the city’s hip-hop landscape. That’s no slight to Kid Cudi, who just moved 170K units during the first week of his second album release. But Cudi isn’t a Cleveland MC. His emo-driven alternative sound is perfect for the hipsters out in Williamsburg, which is why I’ve always considered him to be an NYC artist. I’m not trying to stir the pot. I like Kid Cudi and respect his creativity, but his sound doesn’t encompass the blue collar griminess of a city like Cleveland. His categorization as a Cleveland MC is only by birthright.

I remember seeing MGK handing out mixtapes and fliers years ago at Cleveland hip-hop shows. As a tall, lanky and tatted up white kid in the clubs, he was hard to miss. Years later, the same kid has elevated himself to local superstar status on the brink of breaking out to a national audience. His fan-first marketing approach is unique compared to other artists trying to buy their way to stardom. This is why MGK consistently packs venues with true die-hard fans who know every line to his songs.

With his latest mixtape release, Lace Up, MGK proves that he’s ready for the major leagues. With a diverse track selection that flirts with commercialism as much as it showcases the rapid-fire rhyme delivery that he is best known for. Everything about this mixtape, from the production to the features, is done right and the final product is nearly flawless.

On the song “Cleveland,” an ode to the city he calls home, MGK shows his love for the streets that raised him. He embraces his position as an ambassador for the city, blatantly sending a message to those doubting the heart of its residents declaring

“…Anybody saying that Cleveland’s dead/ Fuck Ya’ll/ Tell em that’s what Cleveland said!”

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The self-actualizing “End of the Road” is a masterful rap ballad. Using somber piano riffs, the song dives deep into MGK’s upbringing as an artist and does a great job balancing the rhymes of hardships with braggadocio lines about his accomplishments. Mat Musto’s vocals contrast perfectly with MGK’s gritty delivery creating a record that’s easy for both the male and female fans to embrace.

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On the mixtape’s standout track “Make It,” MGK takes an upbeat approach to reflect on the success he’s obtained so far in his career. Sean McGee complements the track with his vocal crooning by delivering a gospel style chorus that fits perfectly into the composition. As a whole, this is the sort of uplifting sound that hip-hop needs more of. It’s reminiscent of records like Kanye West’s “Good Life” and Maino’s “All the Above” (sans the T-Pain hook), but is more identifiable to listeners because it doesn’t feel like a record that is forced by a label simply for radio airplay; it’s real and heartfelt.

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Lace Up is the type of mixtape that has the potential to elevate MGK to a nationwide audience the way So Far Gone did for Drake. Judging from the non-stop work ethic MGK has displayed over the years, it’s unlikely that he’s preparing to sit back and wait for his big break to fall in his lap. Clearly, he realizes the odds are against him as a white MC. He’s not being brought up under the tutelage of a proven legend like Eminem with Dr. Dre. Nor does he try to emulate the gimmicky persona of an artist like Asher Roth. What he’s got behind him is more than a fan base; it’s a tribe that is rapidly expanding and will not be satisfied until they’ve got everyone in the country screaming LACE UP!

Hit the jump for a stream & download links for Lace Up

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