Hotel Diablo

by mgk

Overview

Death hangs over everything on Hotel Diablo, rapper/actor mgk's fourth and most well-executed artistic statement to date. Less aggressive than the 2018 trap EP Binge and more pop-savvy than 2017 predecessor Bloom, Hotel Diablo presents mgk's melding of rap and rock in seamless fashion with balance and finesse. Tortured and introspective, the melodic and genre-fluid set examines childhood trauma, the perils of fame, the demons that continue to haunt him, and creeping mortality. Analyzing his own fast-living lifestyle, he also invokes the spirits of his late friends and contemporaries Nipsey Hussle, Lil Peep, Mac Miller, and Chester Bennington, whose influence looms largest, especially on the Linkin Park-channeling highlight "Hollywood Whore." Clocking in at under 40 minutes, Hotel Diablo is a brisk listen and rarely lags (a pair of comedy interludes halt the momentum somewhat, but they are fortunately short), jumping from the funky, synth-washed intro, "Sex Drive," to aggressive bangers "El Diablo," "Floor 13," and "Roulette." Proving his past hits with female foils weren't just flukes, he recruits guests Naomi Wild, Phem, and Madison Love on a triplet of introspective standouts that delve into suicide, depression, broken relationships, and self-doubt. Much like "Bad Things" and "Home," the vocal interplay amplifies the dramatic depth of his lyrics and helps balance with the more aggressive rap tracks. Of those, Lil Skies provides ample support on the "Sicko Mode"-esque romp "Burning Memories," while Trippie Redd is forced to reflect on his own substance intake with a particularly angsty mgk on the pained "Candy." Throughout, mgk drops a guitar lick in here and there, but it's not until album closer "I Think I'm OKAY" that he truly captures the rap-rock marriage that he's been chasing for years. Along with English upstart Yungblud and drummer Travis Barker, he delivers a bouncy rock blast that hints at exciting new directions. With such variation and conviction, Hotel Diablo is a highly enjoyable piece of cathartic release, a peak in mgk's catalog. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	10/04/2019
Label:	Interscope / Polydor
UPC:	0602577930577

Tracks

1. Sex Drive
2. El Diablo
3. Hollywood Whore
4. Glass House
5. Burning Memories
6. A Message from the Count
7. Floor
8. Roulette
9. Truck Norris (Interlude)
10. Death in My Pocket
11. Candy
12. Waste Love
13. 5:3666
14. I Think I'm Okay

Album Credits

Performance Credits

mgk   Primary Artist
Yungblud   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Travis Barker   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Cook Classics   Bass,Drums,Percussion
Jake Troth   Drums,Percussion
Madison Love   Featured Artist
Bobby Wooten III   Keyboards
Phem   Featured Artist
Julian Dressler   Trumpet
RookXX   Drums
SlimXX   Vocals
Trippie Redd   Featured Artist
Naomi Wild   Featured Artist
Cara Delevingne   Vocals
Lil Skies   Featured Artist
Omer Fedi   Guitar

Technical Credits

Fabian Marasciullo   Mixing
Eric Allen   Composer,Composer
Johnny Cappelletty   Composer
Colin Leonard   Mastering
mgk   Engineer,Producer
Cook Classics   Producer
Chris Malloy   Composer
Earl Johnson   Composer
Jake Troth   Producer
Mark Foster   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Sean Kellett   Engineer
Colson Baker   Composer
John Stary   Composer
Brandon Allen   Composer
Rami Eadeh   Composer,Producer
Tommy Brown   Composer,Producer
Nick Long   Composer,Producer
William Lobban-Bean   Composer
Nick Mac   Engineer
Charles Anderson   Composer
Rory Andrew   Composer,Producer
Madison Love   Composer
Alex Lustig   Composer,Producer
Stephen Basil   Composer
Anton Goransson   Composer,Producer
Zakk Cervini   Additional Production
Blaise Railey   Composer
Dominic Harrison   Composer
Ronald Spence, Jr.   Composer
Ronny J   Producer
Chris Malloy, Jr.   Composer
Alexander Lustig   Composer
BazeXX   Producer,Additional Production
SlimXX   Engineer,Producer,Additional Production
Pete Davidson   Composer
Travis Barker   Producer,Composer
Big Duke   Producer
Michael Foster   Composer
John Story   Composer
India Rain Quateman   Composer
Jacob Troth   Composer
India Quateman   Composer
Kimetrius Foose   Composer
Liv Marsico   Composer
Michael Lamar White IV   Composer
Isabella Sjoestrand   Composer