Lately, I feel Everything album is the latest of singer and actress WILLOW. On this LP, released on July 16, 2021, she ditches her distinctive R&B sound to experiment with pop-punk. Along the way, I discover a resemblance to another artist. Who is it?

It is no surprise that our surroundings shape our past, present, and future. Therefore, WILLOW, raised by two famous parents, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, was destined for the spotlight.

Decades ago, it seemed as if artists had to choose just one path. Namely, solely acting or singing. But within time, actors or musicians have proved it is possible to juggle them both.

Firstly, her father, Will Smith, began his rap career in the mid-’80s as part of the duo “DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.” Beginning of the ’90s, he starred as the lead actor in the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Similarly, her mother Jada starred as an actress in the ’90s before transitioning into a rockstar by the 2000s with her band “Wicked Wisdom.” Hence, two clear examples of fusing both professions into one package.

And that is exactly what WILLOW aimed for since her infancy. Born on October 31, 2000, aged 7, she made her acting debut alongside her father in the action “I Am Legend” (2007).

Three years later, she released her first single called “Whip My Hair.” Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the release of her first album “ARDIPITHECUS” that she was taken seriously as a singer. Especially with her smash single “Wait a Minute!“

Indeed, this boosted her confidence with follow-ups “The 1st” (2017) and “WILLOW” (2019). In addition, she joined forces with singer Tyler Cole for “The Anxiety” (2020).

Lately I Feel Everything album

In 2021, she unleashed her latest project called “lately I feel EVERYTHING.” Once you hit play, you know exactly which genre she is aiming to conquer: pop-punk.

Including 11 new tracks, the LP has contributions from Ayla Tesler-Mabe, Tierra Whack, Avril Lavigne, Cherry Glazerr, and Travis Barker. For some reason, upon listening to the songs, I could hear a young Avril in WILLOW. The resemblance is quite amazing.

Undoubtedly, with his drum skills, Travis Barker once again leaves his imprint on an album. Just as he did on Machine Gun Kelly’s “Tickets to My Downfall.” Like MGK, who conquered the pop-punk scene in 2020, so does WILLOW.

As she enters her 20s, she still has more to experiment with. Both artistically and musically. Keep an eye on her!

Watch WILLOW’s “transparent soul” and listen to “lately I feel EVERYTHING” album in the link below.

1. “transparentsoul” visualizer music video by Willow (MSFTS, Roc Nation, 2021). ↩︎
2. “lately I feel EVERYTHING” album by Willow Smith. Cover artwork by Dana Trippe (Roc Nation, 2021). ↩︎

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Tickets To My Downfall is Machine Gun Kelly’s (MGK) fifth LP, released in the last quarter of 2020. His first four albums fall under the hip-hop category. However, now he switches lanes and aims to conquer the Pop-Punk genre. Does he prevail? Let’s talk about it.

Richard Colson Baker had quite a childhood. Due to his parents, he was constantly moving to different states in the USA to overseas. This led to him always being the new kid on the block, which put a target on his back. Ultimately, he found his go-to place: Hip-Hop.

During the late 2000s and beginning 2010s, he released a range of mixtapes, including “Lace Up.” Followed with positive reviews, this caught the eyes of hip-hop mogul Diddy Combs, owner of Bad Boy Records. In 2011, MGK officially signed to the record company.

In a 2014 interview, he detailed why signing to Diddy was the best choice. Record deals can be deceiving and deadly, but luckily for him, he remains in creative control over his music. The following years saw the releases of Hip-Hop projects “General Admission” (2015), “Bloom” (2017), and “Hotel Diablo” (2019).

A defining point of “Hotel Diablo” was the well-received rock track “I think I’m Okay” featuring Blink 182’s drummer Travis Barker. Consequently, additional studio sessions crafted “Tickets To My Downfall.”

The “title track” sets the mood for what’s about to come, and the follow-up song “kiss kiss” only confirms it. The visuals for “forget me too” and “my ex’s best friend” set a Pop-Punk atmosphere. Overall, the LP is a foolproof mixture of rebellion, love, and melancholic yet uplifting tune. As one of the producers, Travis definitely seals his imprint.

Upon first listening to the album, I got the feeling that I had already heard it before but couldn’t pinpoint a name. Undoubtedly, the last cut minimizes the sample to Paramore.

Moreover, it is worth mentioning that MGK is not the first rapper to switch genres. In 2010, Lil Wayne released a rock album titled “Rebirth.” Hence, that is the beauty of artistry. As time progresses, artists get inspired by one another creating a snowball effect.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that MGK wets his feet in the Pop-Punk world and prevails with a solid body of work, including a full-length musical movie called “Downfalls High.“

Lastly, he not only proves to be versatile in the music industry but also as an actor. His latest role in the action movie “Project Power” was well received. So far, the future seems bright for MGK.

Watch “Bloody Valentine” and listen to “Tickets To My Downfall Sold Out Deluxe” in the link below.

1. “Downfalls High” film by Machine Gun Kelly. Directed by Colson Baker and Mod Sun (Bad Boy, Interscope, 2021). ↩︎
2. “Tickets To My Downfall” album cover by Machine Gun Kelly (Bad Boy, Interscope, 2020). ↩︎

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