On their upcoming sophomore album, “The Quilt: Starting Gym Class Heroes,” due August via Decaydence/Fueled By Ramen, Gym Class Heroes plan on taking a “movie approach,” according to lead vocalist Travis McCoy.
“I can’t speak for everyone but I hate seeing lots of features on an album. So, instead we’re having a movie aesthetic, where everyone is going to be part of the cast as opposed to being featured,” says McCoy. “You won’t know who is on the album just by looking at the liner notes, you’ll know only if you listen and recognize the person’s voice. This way, people know we didn’t do stuff for name sake, but really because that person belonged on that song.”
Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne, Daryl Oates, Kaos and Busta Rhymes are among the guest features while Cool & Dre and Patrick Stump lend their production efforts.
The set includes the Oates-assisted “Fly With Me,” a dedication to McCoy’s cousin who committed suicide last year. “It’s sort of a Romeo and Juliet type of story,” says McCoy.
“Live A Little” is another track that the MC holds dear to him because of the close parallels between the song and his own life. “The song urges people to live in the moment because no one in promised tomorrow. In the situation I was in, if I hadn’t got myself together, maybe I wouldn’t even make it past this summer,” says McCoy, who was released from a detox center for a severe drug addiction over a month ago.
“Catch Me If You Can,” produced by Stump, also appears on “The Quilt.” Although no single has been chosen, McCoy did suggest the Busta Rhymes collaboration is in contention.
Gym Class Heroes’ debut album, “As Cruel As School Children,” reached No. 8 on Top Rap Albums. The set has sold 510,000 copies in the United States so far according to Nielsen Soundscan. Single “Cupid’s Chokehold” climbed to No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart
