ArtistDirect News
Honestav Teams with MGK on Crash First Ahead of Sweet American Boy Album Release
Honestav and rapper‑turned‑rocker MGK joined forces in a punchy new single that drops a week before the Missouri‑based singer‑songwriter’s sophomore album. On June 12, 2026, the track “Crash First” hit streaming services, accompanied by a music video that pulls the eye back onto the road. Directed by Sam Cahill, the visual feast stitches together footage from MGK’s recent Australia and New Zealand tour with the duo’s studio moments, creating a hybrid of live energy and studio polish. The single is the final teaser for Sweet American Boy, slated for release on June 19, 2026.
Honestav—whose real name remains private—cut his teeth on SoundCloud at 17, posting lo‑fi tracks that quickly caught the ear of indie‑folk and hip‑hop listeners. Since 2021, he has built a steady catalog, signing with Rebel Music/gamma and securing touring representation through WME. His music fuses alternative, indie‑folk, hip‑hop, and pop, with a lyrical focus on autobiographical storytelling. The 2024 hit “I’d Rather Overdose” brought him broader recognition, and the singles that followed—“BAD GUY,” “FKN Hate You” (featuring JaYy Wick), “Believe,” “Wasted,” and now “Crash First”—have each showcased different shades of his evolving sound.
MGK, born Colson Baker, has released seven studio albums, most recently Lost Americana in 2025. The album’s tour, the Lost Americana Tour, began on November 15, 2025, in Orlando and wrapped on July 1, 2026, in Ridgefield. The itinerary included stops in Australia and New Zealand, where MGK performed his earlier albums Tickets To My Downfall (2020) and Mainstream Sellout (2022) in full during the first leg. MGK’s catalog traverses hip‑hop, rock, and alternative, and his willingness to cross genre boundaries has made him a frequent collaborator.
The partnership emerged when honestav opened for MGK on the Australian and New Zealand legs of the Lost Americana Tour. According to the release notes, the two artists later reconvened in Los Angeles to record “Crash First.” The track alternates between quiet, reflective passages and more energetic sections, mirroring the contrast that the duo highlighted in the official release notes. Honestav’s intimate vocal delivery sits alongside MGK’s gritty rap verses, while the lyrics focus on personal experience and self‑reflection.
Sam Cahill’s direction for the music video leverages the rawness of touring footage, juxtaposing backstage moments with live performance clips. The video debuted alongside the single on June 12, 2026, and is now available on all major streaming platforms. By tying the song’s creation to the touring experience, the visual narrative reinforces the collaborative spirit that sparked the track.
For honestav, “Crash First” caps a pre‑release campaign that has highlighted the different facets of his songwriting. The single’s release a week before Sweet American Boy positions it as a key promotional asset for both artists. For MGK, the collaboration adds another cross‑genre partnership to a catalog that continues to blend rock and alternative elements. As of June 13, 2026, the track is streaming and the video is online, with the next major event for honestav being the album launch on June 19, 2026.
Honestav—whose real name remains private—cut his teeth on SoundCloud at 17, posting lo‑fi tracks that quickly caught the ear of indie‑folk and hip‑hop listeners. Since 2021, he has built a steady catalog, signing with Rebel Music/gamma and securing touring representation through WME. His music fuses alternative, indie‑folk, hip‑hop, and pop, with a lyrical focus on autobiographical storytelling. The 2024 hit “I’d Rather Overdose” brought him broader recognition, and the singles that followed—“BAD GUY,” “FKN Hate You” (featuring JaYy Wick), “Believe,” “Wasted,” and now “Crash First”—have each showcased different shades of his evolving sound.
MGK, born Colson Baker, has released seven studio albums, most recently Lost Americana in 2025. The album’s tour, the Lost Americana Tour, began on November 15, 2025, in Orlando and wrapped on July 1, 2026, in Ridgefield. The itinerary included stops in Australia and New Zealand, where MGK performed his earlier albums Tickets To My Downfall (2020) and Mainstream Sellout (2022) in full during the first leg. MGK’s catalog traverses hip‑hop, rock, and alternative, and his willingness to cross genre boundaries has made him a frequent collaborator.
The partnership emerged when honestav opened for MGK on the Australian and New Zealand legs of the Lost Americana Tour. According to the release notes, the two artists later reconvened in Los Angeles to record “Crash First.” The track alternates between quiet, reflective passages and more energetic sections, mirroring the contrast that the duo highlighted in the official release notes. Honestav’s intimate vocal delivery sits alongside MGK’s gritty rap verses, while the lyrics focus on personal experience and self‑reflection.
Sam Cahill’s direction for the music video leverages the rawness of touring footage, juxtaposing backstage moments with live performance clips. The video debuted alongside the single on June 12, 2026, and is now available on all major streaming platforms. By tying the song’s creation to the touring experience, the visual narrative reinforces the collaborative spirit that sparked the track.
For honestav, “Crash First” caps a pre‑release campaign that has highlighted the different facets of his songwriting. The single’s release a week before Sweet American Boy positions it as a key promotional asset for both artists. For MGK, the collaboration adds another cross‑genre partnership to a catalog that continues to blend rock and alternative elements. As of June 13, 2026, the track is streaming and the video is online, with the next major event for honestav being the album launch on June 19, 2026.