Machine Gun Kelly Teams Up with Willow for New Collab 'emo girl'

It's been awhile since we've heard any new musical endeavours from the pop punk megastar. Machine Gun Kelly's last song drop came way back in August last year with 'Papercuts' along with the announcement of his forthcoming album, born with horns — which just this week on social media received a last minute name change to Mainstream Sellout. Alongside this recent onset though comes along a brand new single, a collaboration with Gen Z pop sensation Willow Smith titled 'emo girl'.

Okay then. Where do I begin here?

On the plus side, 'emo girl' has a simplistic singalong chorus that'll have you humming along to the melody as soon as you hear it. It sits super well in key with MGK's hugely successful record, Tickets to My Downfall and the mainstream crowd will dig it. Pop punk elites will also have a good time bashing the hell outta this after getting over the initial catchiness of it all.

However, lyrically it just doesn't give a whole lot. The line "I fell in love with an emo girl..." over and over gets exhausting quickly, and the first verse sounds vain as fuck. As a massive pop punk fan who thoroughly enjoyed Tickets To My Downfall, this track feels like a copout, rushed and... basic. Especially when you consider his release from last year. 'Papercuts' was a step in the right direction for Machine Gun Kelly, and we kinda couldn't wait to hear more of this emerging style from the ex-rapper.

After listening to this latest release though, we're beginning to wonder if Machine Gun Kelly's reign in pop punk is nearing its expiry date? He's dropped some stellar collabs with Yungblud and Halsey, but we're trying to figure out what the hell has happened here. Here's hoping Mainstream Sellout is all but a lost cause...

Words by Tamara May @citylightstam

Listen to 'emo girl' (featuring Willow Smith) here