Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll have joined forces for their new hit single, “Lonely Road,” which recently snagged the People’s Choice Country Award for Best Crossover Song of 2024.
Although the track has quickly gained popularity, MGK and Jelly Roll have a history of animosity. The two artists, who both started out in the rap world, shared that they often felt pitted against each other as some of the few white rappers in the industry.
During his acceptance speech for the Best Crossover Song award, Machine Gun Kelly took the opportunity to reflect on his past feud with Jelly Roll.
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Machine Gun Kelly Addresses Feud With Jelly Roll
Machine Gun Kelly used his time at the People’s Choice Country Awards on September 26 to talk about the transformation of his relationship with Jelly Roll.
“We went from 10 years ago hating each other to elevating each other,” MGK said as he accepted the Crossover Song of 2024 Award for his and Jelly Roll’s collaboration. “Comparison is the thief of joy. There is enough room on the couch for everybody. We found camaraderie in the chaos.”
MGK accepted the award solo as Jelly Roll is currently in the middle of his “Beautifully Broken” tour.
“Last year I was right there, sitting in that seat, watching my boy rock on that stage,” MGK added of Jelly Roll. “And I was like, ‘Man, I hope one day we’re up there.’ And we’re here!”
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Machine Gun Kelly’s Previous Comments On The Feud
This isn’t the first time that MGK and Jelly Roll have discussed their previous feud.
“It is so funny how much I love you now, because God, I hated you so much back then,” MGK told Jelly Roll during the “Jelly Roll: Countdown to Beautifully Broken” podcast.
Jelly Roll responded, “I was just a little spiteful, bitter f–king dude.”
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Jelly Roll And MGK Felt ‘Forced Against Each Other’
The two artists, both of whom began their journeys in rap, mentioned that as some of the few white rappers in the industry, they often felt like they were set up in competition with each other.
“We were kind of automatically forced against each other anyways,” Jelly Roll explained as MGK agreed. “For sure. You were bred to hate each other.”
Jelly Roll then joked that MGK’s looks may have played a part in their feud. “You were just skinny and handsome. I was just a hater,” he said. “You know what I’m saying? I was just a hater, dude!”
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Inside MGK’s Feud With Jelly Roll
As two of the few white rappers in a predominantly black genre, they found themselves caught up in a competitive environment that sparked tensions between them right from the start.
Things really heated up in 2020 when MGK made the bold move to pivot from rap to pop-punk with his album “Tickets to My Downfall,” while Jelly Roll was still hustling in the hip-hop world.
Machine Gun Kelly Compares Welcome Into Country Music to Landing on MoonComments from both artists only added fuel to the fire, leading fans to wonder if the beef was real or just a publicity stunt.
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As time has passed, the two have managed to bury the hatchet. In recent interviews and during award shows, both MGK and Jelly Roll have spoken about their past tensions, focusing on the mutual respect they now hold for each other’s artistry.
Their collaboration on the track “Lonely Road,” which snagged the People’s Choice Country Award for Best Crossover Song of 2024, represents a major turning point in their relationship.
Machine Gun Kelly Compares Welcome Into Country Music To Landing On Moon
Machine Gun Kelly has always been a genre-bender, and he’s grateful for the warm embrace he’s received from the country music scene.
His latest venture into the genre proved to be a successful one, as he snagged the award for Best Crossover Song for his hit single. Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly on the red carpet, MGK opened up about how the country music community has welcomed him with open arms.
“I think it’s like the moon or something,” he told the outlet. “It’s nice to see someone else come and land on it, you know? I feel like we’ve been used to what the moon looks like for a long time, some new boots stepping on it, putting a different type of footprint in the dirt.”
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“To be honest, I’m very humbled and very grateful to be welcomed, I was welcomed with open arms,” he said. “So many times in my career I’ve had to bust a door open and they opened the door very kindly for me. I’m going to step in with class and my job is to be a great musician, so I’m going to bring great music in.”
