Invincible

Album: Lace Up (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A track from Machine Gun Kelly's debut album, "Invincible" features Ester Dean on the hook, which earned her a songwriter credit along with Kelly. The song is about overcoming adversity and blocking out negativity in the quest to succeed.
  • The producer on this track was Alex Da Kid, who has supplied the beats for many successful rap/sung collaborations, including "Love the Way You Lie" and "I Need a Doctor."
  • This song was foisted on MGK by his record company, Interscope, which was following a proven formula: get a beat by a hot producer, add a hook by a female singer, and have a rapper fill in verses about overcoming obstacles. Kelly balked at first. "I hate cookie cutter songs," he told the Tampa radio station WILD 94.1. "I write all my hooks, so when I got this hook I was offended: you guys think I'm a cookie-cutter artist. I don't work like that."

    He came around when he realized how much havoc he was causing by refusing to record the song. By defying his record company, he was putting those who championed him at Interscope in a tough spot, so he acquiesced and did the track. If he held out, the label most likely would have had one of their other rappers like Kendrick Lamar or Yelawolf do it.
  • By the time this song got to Kelly, it was complete except for his raps. He never met Ester Dean or producer Alex Da Kid.
  • In 2012, this was featured in WrestleMania 28, where MGK and Skylar Grey performed it prior to the main event pitting John Cena against The Rock.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.