Guests Blend Seamlessly On New Gym Class Heroes Disc

Gym Class Heroes are planning on taking a "movie approach" to their sophomore album, "The Quilt: Starring Gym Class Heroes," due in August via Decaydence/Fueled by Ramen, 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," he tells Billboard.com. "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, John Oates, K-OS and Busta Rhymes are among the guest features, while Cool & Dre and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump have assisted with production.

The set includes the Oates-featuring "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," he says.

"Live a Little" is another track that the MC holds dear, because of the close parallels between the song and his own life. "The song urges people to live in the moment because no one is 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 within the past couple of months.

As previously reported, Gym Class Heroes are among the headliners for this year's Vans Warped Tour, alongside Paramore, The All American Rejects and The Academy Is..., among others. The group will also headline their own trek in the fall.

In addition, McCoy is featured on Kelly Rowland's latest single, "Daylight," which is currently No. 32 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Gym Class Heroes' debut album, "As Cruel As School Children," reached No. 8 on Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart. The set has sold 510,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The single "Cupid's Chokehold" climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Source: Billboard.com