
š¤ Breaking News: Machine Gun Kelly Demands āNever Gonna Give Upā Be Removed from Streaming Platforms Over Creative Dispute
June 13, 2025 ā Los Angeles, CA
In a surprising and uncharacteristically personal move, genre-bending artist Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) has reportedly demanded that his unreleased track titled āNever Gonna Give Upā be removed permanently from all streaming platforms, leaks, and publishing pipelines. Sources close to the artist reveal that the decision stems from deep creative dissatisfaction and personal conflict surrounding the songās origin and rollout.
This marks the first time MGKāreal name Colson Bakerāhas taken direct legal and public action to distance himself from a piece of music bearing his name. The incident has sparked heated discussions in music and fan communities alike.
š¶ The Track That Almost Was
āNever Gonna Give Upā was initially conceived as part of MGKās 2023 genre-blending EP, rumored to be titled “Midnight Motives”. The song was teased in a series of Instagram stories late that year, with MGK in the studio laying down melodic vocals over a raw, acoustic-driven beat.
Many fans interpreted the track as a return to his emo-rap roots, blending the vulnerability of Hotel Diablo with the grungy, guitar-laced energy of Tickets to My Downfall.
Lyrics from the leaked chorus include:
āYou said Iām broken, but I stayed tough / I donāt need luck, I just need love / Iām standing tall, Iāve had enough / But Iām never gonna give up.ā
Despite fan excitement, the full version of the song never surfaced officially. It later leaked in low-quality form on underground forums in early 2024, followed by unauthorized uploads to SoundCloud, YouTube, and even TikTok sound libraries.
š§Ø Why MGK Wants It Pulled
According to close insiders, MGK has āzero intentionā of releasing the song and believes it reflects a moment in his career that no longer aligns with his artistic identity.
āColson sees āNever Gonna Give Upā as a vulnerable draftāunfinished emotionally and musically,ā one source from his label said. āHe recorded it during a very personal low, and hearing it surface unfinished has triggered frustration.ā
Legal filings submitted last week to streaming platforms and music distributors request an immediate takedown of all digital assets bearing the title or containing the leaked audio.
The official statement from MGKās management reads:
āThe song in question was never meant for release. We respectfully request all media, streaming services, and platforms to remove any and all instances of āNever Gonna Give Upā associated with Colson Baker (Machine Gun Kelly). This is a matter of artistic integrity and mental health.ā
š Tensions Behind the Track
Industry whispers suggest there may be more to the story. Reportedly, MGK had a creative falling out with a co-producer on the songāan unnamed indie artist based out of Chicago who collaborated on several acoustic demo sessions.
Some insiders claim MGK was pressured to include the song on the EP by a former A&R rep at Interscope, with the pitch being that it would ārestore his rap credibilityā while keeping the emotional depth fans had come to expect.
āIt became a song about compromise, not truth,ā a former team member explained. āHe hated that.ā
š„ Fan Reactions: Split Between Support and Confusion
Fans of MGKāoften fiercely loyal and emotionally invested in his evolutionāare split in their reaction.
On Redditās popular r/MachineGunKelly community, many expressed disappointment:
āThat chorus had real heart. I don’t get why he wouldnāt just rework it and own it,ā wrote one user.
Others sympathized:
āIf an unfinished song represents a painful time, itās totally fair to want to bury it. Itās his art. His call.ā
The hashtag #LetMGKHeal trended briefly on Twitter, with fans posting support for the artistās mental health and creative control.
š§ Artistic Identity Crisis?
This incident taps into a larger ongoing narrative around MGKās artistic direction. Since transitioning from underground rap to punk-pop icon status, MGK has faced intense scrutinyāfrom the hip-hop community questioning his credibility, to rock purists criticizing his reinvention.
In a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, MGK hinted at this struggle:
āEvery time I make something true to me, someone calls it fake. So whatās the point in trying to please anyone anymore?ā
Analysts believe this conflict over āNever Gonna Give Upā represents a deeper internal tensionābetween who MGK used to be, and who heās trying to become.
š¤ What Happens to the Leaks?
Despite legal action, the songās leaked version remains in circulation on Reddit threads, Discord servers, and certain unauthorized streaming channels. YouTube channels that uploaded the track have begun receiving takedown notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Still, once a song enters the internet ecosystemāeven in rough demo formāitās notoriously hard to erase.
Music journalist Clara Mendoza explains:
āYou canāt un-leak a song. But you can control the narrative. MGKās making it clear: this track doesnāt define him.ā
š» Will It Ever Get Reworked?
Fans are already speculating whether MGK might eventually rework Never Gonna Give Up into a fully produced versionāpossibly with new lyrics, instrumentation, or even a guest feature.
One rumor suggests Blink-182ās Travis Barker, who collaborated with MGK on two previous albums, had offered to help transform the songās acoustic base into a polished pop-punk anthem. No confirmation has been made.
Others believe the track may never see the light of day again.
š Final Word: The Right to Disown
Artists often struggle with past workāunfinished projects, shelved albums, or leaked demos that no longer represent who they are. From Kanye Westās infamous Yandhi leaks to Billie Eilishās decision to omit entire tracks from final LPs, the idea of “creative erasure” is a growing conversation in the digital age.
MGKās decision to formally disown Never Gonna Give Up is a bold assertion of creative boundaries, especially in an era where artists are expected to deliver content at high speed, even at the cost of emotional clarity.
Colson Baker has always been a divisive figure. Whether you love him, hate him, or sit somewhere in between, one thing is certain: he’s never going to give up fighting for his voiceāeven if it means silencing one of his own songs.
Written by: Sabrina Lee, Senior Culture Editor.
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