On Monday, rap/rock group, Hollywood Undead teased something big was about to be unleashed. Still riding the high of their February release, New Empire Vol. 1 – Hollywood Undead had fans speculating what the teaser videos could possibly mean. It all started with a 6-second clip simply labeled, 4. Tuesday followed with an 8-second clip that garnishes 3 upon the screen. Until Wednesday brought on the final short clip labeled 2, in addition to the news that a new single was dropping Friday, July 31. Fans blew up Hollywood Undead’s socials with excitement – “Idol”  featuring Tech N9ne would be the next step in their new chapter as a group.

Since the start of their career in 2005, Hollywood Undead had been criticized by critics as being nothing more than just a gimmick. Yet with viral hits, sold-out shows and millions of records and singles sold – perhaps the industry’s opinion of Hollywood Undead was just slightly off base. At the end of 2019, Hollywood Undead began releasing new music that skewed from its original sound. After being a band for nearly 15 years [at that point] and having been through members coming and going, Hollywood Undead was in need of a facelift. With the release of a few singles that would later be featured on their LP, New Empire Vol. 1 – fans bounced around opinions about the tracks. According to George “Johnny 3 Tears” Ragan, “This album is our attempt at reimagining Hollywood Undead, not just a new sound for this release, but a new sound for the band altogether. Our goal from the outset was to make music that stands alone from our other albums, yet seamlessly fits with what we’ve made before. Building upon the old to create a new sound and a New Empire.”  Of course, when it was revealed that Sleeping With Sirens‘ frontman, Kellin Quinn, and Good Charlotte’s, Benji Madden would be featured on the record, fans quickly jumped on board.

“Idol”  featuring Tech N9ne becomes the [assumed] first single off of New Empire Vol. 2. Stripped back are the corny antics that Hollywood Undead once fed into as a general f*ck you to critics, as now its time for business. Hollywood Undead became known for outrageous tracks filled with sharp one-liners and outlandish delivery, yet with “Idol”  they take back their name. Gone are the jokes and games that labeled HU as gimmick – “Idol”  delivers a very straight forward message, “I ain’t your idol, kid.”

It’s no secret that this world was created on a scapegoat – they need someone to blame for the garbage that’s constantly around them – but as Hollywood Undead has been proving for the last 15 years that they aren’t going anywhere, they are fed up with being the music industry’s scapegoat. “Idol”  is delivered is almost a robotic flow to drill home the theme. Surrounded by an EDM aesthetic with an obvious lack of their classic use of guitar and drums, the track busts and whips, creating a new playground for Hollywood Undead to develop on.

Whether you got into them during the Myspace era or realized their brilliance at one of their many sold-out shows – love them or hate them, Hollywood Undead continues to create monsoons within the music industry. They’re rappers, they’re rockstars, they’re Hollywood Undead and they ain’t your idol.

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