Machine Gun Kelly’s new album Lost Americana drops tomorrow, and the track “starman” samples the instantly recognizable early ’90s hit “Semi‑Charmed Life.” According to MGK, getting it cleared was a mission that required more than paperwork.
At a recent pop‑up show in New York, MGK spoke straight-faced about the song. He said securing the Third Eye Blind sample meant navigating the National Guard.
The “cliché” singer literally pleaded with a member of the National Guard, who was blocking off the gated community MGK had to get into, assisting with the wildfires that plagued the area earlier this year.
“It was hard,” said the rapper-turned-pop-punk star. “I said, ‘Will you believe in this mission and let me…'” before cutting himself off, leaving the details tantalizingly vague.
Fans are already digging the singles dropped from Lost Americana including “vampire diaries” and “miss sunshine.” Now, those who heard the viral glimpse of “starman” from this pop up show can’t wait to hear more.
“I’m so looking forward to this album,” one fan commented on the TikTok video. “Now a fan for life as you just sampled one of my favorite songs,” reads another comment. “Each song is better than the last,” another MGK fan said.
MGK isn’t the only modern day artist sampling ’90s chart toppers. Latto sampled Aaliyah’s ’90s classic “Are You That Somebody?” in the slick nod to R&B legacy wrapped in trap vibes that is “Somebody.” Ava Max dives into 1999 nostalgia with the hook from Eiffel 65’s Eurodance earworm “Blue.” David Guetta and Bebe Rexha do the same in “I’m Good (Blue).”
Now MGK’s Lost Americana, dropping Aug. 8, is getting added to that mix. It’s his seventh studio project, co-produced with longtime collaborators like SlimXX and BazeXX.
Will we hear more ’90s hits on the album? You’ll have to stream it to find out.
Why the National Guard Stood Between MGK and This ‘90s Sample on ‘Lost Americana’ first appeared on Men’s Journal on Aug 7, 2025
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
