Black Flag (Machine Gun Kelly mixtape)

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22967/title.machine-gun-kelly-announces-black-flag-mixtape-reveals-cover-art|title=MGK preps for new mixtape release |work=HipHopDX.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/machine-gun-kelly-announces-black-flag-mixtape-with-cover-art-news.4568.html|title=Machine Gun Kelly Announces "Black Flag" Mixtape is an album, plus cover art |date=June 11, 2013|work=HotNewHipHop.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} MGK would later reveal that Pusha T, Kellin Quinn, Dub-O, Meek Mill, French Montana, and Wiz Khalifa would be featured on the project.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.24284/title.machine-gun-kelly-black-flag-tracklist-download-mixtape-stream|title=Black Flag to feature Pusha T and Meek Mill among others|work=HipHopDX.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630050633/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.24284/title.machine-gun-kelly-black-flag-tracklist-download-mixtape-stream|archive-date=June 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ddotomen.com/2013/04/05/mgk-reveals-features-on-black-flag-mixtape/|title=MGK reveals Black Flag features |work=ddotomen.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/machinegunkelly/statuses/344239573074866176"|title=It's an album we're giving away for free |date=June 10, 2013|work=Twitter.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} 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)" {{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/aJYF0UCtTc|title=This project is dedicated to... |date=June 4, 2013|work=Instagram.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/video-machine-gun-kelly-skate-cans|title=Machine Gun Kelly releases "Skate Cans" |date=March 28, 2013|work=Complex.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} 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 Pusha T and Meek Mill 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.{{cite web|url=http://promo.mgklaceup.com/blackflag/|title=Black Flag: Countdown to... |date=June 4, 2013|work=MGKLaceUp.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxibtGj8jp8|title=Breaking News |date=June 25, 2013|work=YouTube.com|accessdate=June 29, 2013}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/machinegunkelly/statuses/350661344330133504|title=Black Flag is my 2nd ALBUM |date=June 26, 2013|work=Twitter.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/Machine-gun-kelly/Black-flag|title=MGK contributes lyrics for Black Flag |date=June 27, 2013|work=Genius.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} The final countdown, "Operation: Unconventional Warfare" struck zero on July 16 and released a music video for "Black Tuxedo".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9UVMgx-BJU|title=Black Tuxedo official music video |date=July 16, 2013|work=Youtube.com|accessdate=July 21, 2013}} 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 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.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

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 47:35

| title1 = Raise the Flag

| writer1 =

| extra1 = Slim Gudz

| note1 =

| length1 = 3:06

| title2 = Breaking News

| writer2 =

| extra2 = JP Did This 1

| note2 =

| length2 = 2:58

| title3 = Pe$o

| writer3 =

| extra3 = Burd & Keyz

| note3 = featuring Pusha T and Meek Mill

| length3 = 3:14

| title4 = Black Tuxedo

| writer4 =

| extra4 = TrapMoneyBenny

| note4 = featuring Tezo

| length4 = 2:32

| title5 = Mind of a Stoner

| writer5 =

| extra5 = Dre$ki, Brian Empire

| note5 = featuring Wiz Khalifa

| length5 = 2:49

| title6 = D&G

| writer6 =

| extra6 = JP Did This 1

| note6 = featuring Sean McGee

| length6 = 4:43

| title7 = Skate Cans

| writer7 =

| extra7 = LT Moe

| note7 =

| length7 = 3:01

| title8 = 50 (Interlude)

| writer8 =

| extra8 = Burd & Keyz

| note8 = featuring French Montana

| length8 = 3:28

| title9 = Baddest

| writer9 =

| extra9 = Chizzy, Mike Bass, Sarah J

| note9 =

| length9 = 3:30

| title10 = Miss Me?

| writer10 =

| extra10 = Dre$ki

| note10 = featuring Dub-O

| length10 = 3:16

| title11 = Street Dreams

| writer11 =

| extra11 = Slim Gudz

| note11 =

| length11 = 2:53

| title12 = Swing Life Away

| writer12 =

| extra12 = Cameron Mizell

| note12 = Rise Against cover, featuring Kellin Quinn

| length12 = 3:21

| title13 = Home Soon

| writer13 =

| extra13 = Skewby, Ricky G

| note13 =

| length13 = 3:47

| title14 = Dark Side of the Moon

| writer14 =

| extra14 = Karbon

| note14 =

| length14 = 4:58

}}

;Samples credits

• "Raise The Flag" contains a sample of "Shake It Out" performed by Florence and the Machine
• "Mind of a Stoner" contains a lyrical interpolation of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" performed by Kendrick Lamar.
• "Miss Me?" contains a sample of "Miss Me" performed by Drake
• "Swing Life Away" is a partial cover of "Swing Life Away" performed by punk rock band Rise Against.
• "Pe$o" features a sample of "I Need a Dollar" performed by Aloe Blacc.

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|1404382|name=Black Flag}}

{{Machine Gun Kelly (rapper)}}

Category:2013 mixtape albums

Category:Machine Gun Kelly (musician) albums

Category:Bad Boy Records mixtape albums