MGK is gearing up for a return to rap and is well aware that all eyes will be on him when the moment comes.
Speaking with Complex at the MGK Day Art + Community Festival, the Cleveland native said he’s ready to drop what he believes will be his best rap project yet—despite skepticism from fans questioning his return to the genre. MGK first made waves in the early 2010s as a rapper, but his last three albums—Tickets to My Downfall, Mainstream Sellout, and Lost Americana—have leaned heavily into rock.
“I’m aware of how loud that conversation will be when I drop it, which makes me hyper aware of how great it has to be,” MGK told Complex about his upcoming rap album. “I’m far removed from ego and the urge to fit in. I have to create something timeless—no disguising it with 808s or the usual tricks rap has leaned on over the past decade. I need to make something I can stand on.”
It’s been eight years since his last rap-heavy project, Bloom, and MGK says people have spent that time talking and counting him out. But his return isn’t just about proving himself lyrically—it’s about making sure the production carries the same weight as his words.
“I’m aware of the chatter,” he admitted. “Most importantly, I know how crucial production is to hip-hop. I came up as a wordsmith, freestyling was a big part of my presence, but the beats have to be just as strong.”
As for critics who doubt his comeback after three rock-focused albums, MGK isn’t bothered. He says he never fully left rap and points to the freestyles, features, and constant love for hip-hop he’s been putting out all along.
“I’ve been present this whole time—people can acknowledge it or ignore it,” he said. “If they want to be loud about it, that only makes me better. That makes me hungrier. And a hungry MGK is a dangerous MGK.”
He continued, “All that’s going to do is make my bars sharper and the production colder. I’m not accepting anything less than my greatest rap album this time. Coming off Lost Americana—which I consider my best work in songwriting and guitar playing—I feel untouchable right now. I’m too locked in and too hungry.”
Lost Americana dropped on August 8 with zero features. You can find it on Complex Shop alongside the rest of MGK’s catalog and official merch.
