And Finally Artist News Legal Releases

Machine Gun Kelly ditches “essentially copied” album artwork

By | Published on Wednesday 9 September 2020

Machine Gun Kelly

Last week, Machine Gun Kelly posted the artwork for his new album ‘Tickets To My Downfall’ online. Although he’s now been forced to ditch the hand-drawn album cover, as it turns out it was copied from someone else’s photo without permission.

The rapper tweeted the artwork and tracklist for the album on Friday. The striking similarity between it and a photograph posted on Instagram by actor Sen Mitsuji earlier this year was quickly pointed out. The main differences being that the album artwork version is drawn and doesn’t feature a cigarette in the subject’s hand.

Addressing the issue on Twitter yesterday, MGK wrote: “Found out that the album cover I released was essentially copied from a photo we do not own. I didn’t make this design, so I apologise to the original artist. I’m in the process of replacing it right now”.

Cue a whole load of other artists posting their own unsolicited artwork for the rapper to consider. Except, it sounds like he already has something else in the works. Given the simplicity of the design he started with, it shouldn’t be too hard to knock something up before the album’s release date on 25 Sep.

Produced by and featuring Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, ‘Tickets To My Downfall’ sees Kelly adopting a pop-punk sound, in a departure from the hip hop of his earlier releases.

Here’s recent single ‘My Ex’s Best Friend’:



READ MORE ABOUT: