Man, 2012 was a weird time for music. We were right in the middle of that transition where "blog rap" was dying and the major label machine was trying to figure out how to package raw energy for the masses. When the mgk lace up tracklist finally surfaced, it felt like a collision of worlds. You had this skinny kid from Cleveland with a rapid-fire flow standing next to Diddy, yet the album sounded like a mosh pit in a dark basement.
Most people look back at Lace Up and just see the hits. They see the Waka Flocka feature and think "oh, that era." But if you actually sit with the tracklist, it’s a chaotic, fascinating document of an artist trying to be everything to everyone while staying true to a cult-like fanbase.
The Breakdown: Every Song on the MGK Lace Up Tracklist
If you bought the standard version back in the day, you got 13 tracks. If you were a real one and grabbed the deluxe, you got 17. Looking at it now, the range is actually kind of insane. You’ve got tech-rap legends, rock stars, and R&B singers all crammed into an hour of music.
The Standard Tracks:
- Save Me (feat. M. Shadows & Synyster Gates) – This was such a bold opener. Most rappers were opening with a hard beat; MGK opened with the guys from Avenged Sevenfold.
- What I Do (feat. Bun B & Dub-O) – A nod to the South with a Cleveland twist.
- Wild Boy (feat. Waka Flocka Flame) – Honestly, if you didn't hear this in a club in 2012, were you even there? It’s the definition of "ignorant" in the best way possible.
- Lace Up (feat. Lil Jon) – The title track. High energy, loud, basically a stadium anthem.
- Stereo (feat. Alex Fitts) – A catchy, more melodic vibe that hinted at his future pop-punk pivot.
- All We Have (feat. Anna Yvette) – Very cinematic.
- See My Tears – This is where he got introspective. Produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, it’s one of the most "hip-hop" moments on the record.
- D3MONS (feat. DMX) – This is arguably the darkest song on the album. Hearing X and MGK trade bars about inner demons is still chilling.
- Edge of Destruction (feat. Tech N9ne & Twista) – The "chopper" track. If you like fast rapping, this is the Holy Grail.
- Runnin' (feat. Planet VI) – A struggle anthem.
- Invincible (feat. Ester Dean) – The "corporate" single. Interscope clearly wanted a radio hit here, and while it worked, it felt a bit detached from the "Est 19XX" grit.
- On My Way – More of that underdog story.
- End of the Road (feat. Blackbear) – A beautiful, piano-heavy finish. This was before Blackbear was "BLACKBEAR," which is a cool bit of trivia.
What about the Deluxe Edition?
The deluxe wasn't just fluff. It added "Half Naked & Almost Famous," which was already a fan favorite from his EP. You also got "Hold On (Shut Up)" featuring Young Jeezy, which gave the album some serious street cred. "Warning Shot" with Cassie and "La La La (The Floating Song)" rounded it out.
Why the Tracklist Was Controversial at Release
Critics weren't exactly kind to Lace Up when it first dropped. It got a 69 on Metacritic, which isn't bad, but the "hip-hop purists" hated it. They thought it was too scattered. One second you're listening to a metal-influenced intro, the next you're hearing a radio-ready pop song with Ester Dean.
But that was the point.
The mgk lace up tracklist was a reflection of the "EST" movement. It wasn't supposed to be a cohesive, polished masterpiece. It was supposed to be a diary of a kid who grew up on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, blink-182, and DMX.
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The Industry Purgatory Problem
Some reviewers, like those at HipHopDX, argued that songs like "Invincible" put MGK in "industry purgatory." They felt he was being pushed to be a pop star when his real strength was the raw, fast-paced storytelling found on tracks like "Edge of Destruction."
Honestly, looking back from 2026, those critics were half-right. He did eventually leave rap for pop-punk (and then came back), but Lace Up was the first time we saw those two worlds fight for space on one CD.
Making Sense of the Features
The guest list on this album is a time capsule.
- The Legends: DMX, Bun B, Tech N9ne, Twista.
- The Era-Definers: Waka Flocka, Lil Jon, Young Jeezy.
- The Surprises: M. Shadows and Synyster Gates.
It’s rare to see a debut album with this much "weight" on it. Usually, labels want the artist to carry the project alone to prove they can. But MGK already had the "Wild Boy" momentum. Diddy and Interscope just poured gasoline on the fire.
The Legacy of the mgk lace up tracklist
Does the album hold up? It depends on who you ask. If you're looking for a smooth, lo-fi rap experience, this ain't it. It's loud. It's abrasive. It's very "2012."
But it’s also the foundation of everything he did later. You can hear the seeds of Hotel Diablo in "D3MONS." You can hear the pop-punk energy of Tickets to My Downfall in "Save Me" and "Stereo."
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're revisiting the album or checking it out for the first time, keep these things in mind:
- Listen to the Deluxe: The standard version feels unfinished without "Half Naked & Almost Famous."
- Pay Attention to the Production: People forget that Boi-1da, Alex Da Kid, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League all worked on this. The beats are actually much more intricate than the "club rap" label suggests.
- Context is Everything: This was released when MGK was still the underdog. He was rapping like he had everything to lose because, at the time, he did.
If you want to understand the evolution of Machine Gun Kelly, you have to start here. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetically Cleveland.
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To get the full experience, go back and watch the "Wild Boy" music video right after listening to "See My Tears." The contrast between those two tracks is the entire MGK brand in a nutshell. Once you’ve digested the tracklist, compare the production style to his sophomore effort, General Admission, to see how he moved away from the "industry" sound toward something much darker and more personal.