Corey Taylor has a Slipknot album to promote, a solo career in the rearview, and about a hundred other things on his plate — but when UK rap-rocker Kid Bookie came knocking, he signed on without even hearing his own part yet.
That's the story behind "BLAME," a new collaboration between the two that officially dropped today. It's the latest in a partnership stretching back nearly a decade, and by both accounts, it's the furthest they've pushed themselves together.
A Decade in the Making
Taylor and Kid Bookie's first documented collaboration came in 2019 when "Stuck In My Ways" introduced the Slipknot frontman to the rap-first side of his vocal range — think early knot energy stripped of the nu-metal scaffolding. The track made noise because it was Corey doing something fans hadn't heard from him in years: rapping, bare, without masks or distortion to hide behind.
They've circled back a few times since. 2022's "Game" kept the collaboration rolling, and Kid Bookie has also worked with Corey's son Griffin Taylor of Vended on the track "Get Out" in 2025 — turning this into something closer to a family creative relationship than a one-off novelty.
"BLAME" arrives as the most ambitious entry in that catalog. Kid Bookie has been explicit about what it represents: "YOU GUYS.. THIS AINT JUST ME AND COREY DOING UP NORMAL SHIT. THIS IS BOTH OF US PUSHING OUR OWN ENVELOPE TOGETHER." At nearly five minutes, it's longer than most singles and built with what Kid Bookie calls a "medley" structure — suggesting the track moves through distinct sections rather than looping a single hook.
What Taylor Says
Corey's own statement is worth reading straight:
"Books is one of my favorite people, not just artists, and every time he comes to me with an opportunity to create with him, I'm always excited because I know I'm going to hear something I've never heard before. 'Blame' was so good the first time I heard it, I signed on without even knowing what I'd do. I'm proud of the song, and I'm proud of him, and grateful to be involved."
That line — "I signed on without even knowing what I'd do" — is either a testament to how much he trusts Bookie or a window into how loose Taylor keeps his creative process outside Slipknot. Probably both.
Kid Bookie's press release statement framed the whole track through a lens of accountability and self-examination: "Over the years, facing myself and the reflection that comes with the mirror isn't always an easy one. Accountability is the removal of ego and pride to see beyond your own nose, to allow yourself the room to grow via ownership of your actions."
He added that the song functioned like a therapy session — and that Taylor's willingness to "expose himself so bare" on the record made it possible to go that deep.
What This Means for the Metal Audience
Let's be honest about what "Corey Taylor raps again" signals to a metal audience: it's divisive by design. The segment of the fanbase that wants Taylor in a mask, behind a wall of down-tuned guitars, doing what Slipknot does best, tends to eye-roll at this kind of output. That's not the audience Kid Bookie is playing to.
But there's a real argument that Taylor's most unfiltered moments — emotionally and sonically — have come in these outlier collaborations rather than in the main event. His solo work proved he can write outside the Slipknot framework. "BLAME" suggests he can do it on someone else's turf entirely.
It's also worth noting what Kid Bookie is doing here: pulling one of the most recognizable voices in metal into a creative space that isn't defined by metal's rules. That's a different energy than a guest spot, and Taylor's enthusiasm for it is genuine.
A quick note on the original announcement: early coverage included actress and musician Rose McGowan in the featured artist credits. That was a clerical error. McGowan is not part of this track. The only featured vocalist is Corey Taylor.
Stream It, Decide for Yourself
"BLAME" is out now across streaming platforms. If you've been sleeping on the Taylor-Bookie catalog, "Stuck In My Ways" (2019) is the logical entry point — it gives you the baseline for how far they've moved since.
Taylor's next major commitment remains Slipknot and the new era post-Jay Weinberg, but this collaboration makes clear that his creative orbit extends well beyond Des Moines. Whether "BLAME" broadens Metal Mantra's audience or just divides it is a conversation worth having.
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