Machine Gun Kelly doesn’t want to take a selfie with you

“Part of being a fan is waiting,” Kelly says. “Fourteen year olds growing up in 2015 don’t know what it’s like to be a true fan because social media makes [celebrities] too accessible. They demand a response. I wanted to give [fans] a moment of anticipation, like what I felt from my favorite artists growing up.”

While Kelly’s music has always been rooted in story-telling, he says his new album in particular gives deeply personal, specific details about what he’s been facing the past few years. “[I experienced] a lot of happy moments, a lot of painful moments and some reality checks,” he says.

“There were some moments of seeing five missed calls from my daughter because we were supposed to Facetime, but I got so caught up in recording and getting high that I completely forgot.”

The rapper has been open with his struggles of being addicted to heroin and though he has attended rehab in the past after his habit led him to homelessness, he says he is still using drugs. “It’s just part of the lifestyle. Being on 10-hour drives and late nights leads to temptations. You just can’t escape it.”

Still, there’s plenty about hip-hop culture that he loves, like the fighting words rappers can’t help but throw at each other. When asked what he thinks about the drama going down between Drake and his friend and collaborator Meek Mill, Kelly says, “I love it. That’s what hip-hop is all about. Hip-hop is about being a pit-bull and going for the top spot.” And now that he’s back in the spotlight, he’s ready for haters to take their shot. “I can’t wait for someone to try that bulls—t with me.”