Beauty Killer is the debut studio album by American singer Jeffree Star, released on September 21, 2009[3] under Popsicle Records with distribution from Independent Label Group.
Beauty Killer features rock, electronic, dance, and pop elements in its music and lyrics, similar to previous works from Star.
In September 2024, Star announced a 15th anniversary edition of the album with a re-release on CD, vinyl, and digital formats.
"[8] The album is produced by Lester Mendez, 3OH!3's Nathaniel Motte, Luke Walker (commonly known as his alias God's Paparazzi),[4] Simon Wilcox, and Oh, Hush!.
Star wanted the album to "show that [he] had real musical talent" as his previous works were "just thrown together really quickly and there wasn't much effort put into it.
The tracks "Get Away with Murder", "Prisoner" and "Louis Vuitton Body Bag" were recorded at Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, California.
Star also recorded the album's title song, "Beauty Killer", at UVS Labs in Los Angeles, California.
"Lollipop Luxury" was recorded at The Tree Fort and Sound City in Los Angeles, California and Hot Beats in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Lollipop Luxury" was originally released in 2008, as the lead promotional single from Star's second extended play, Cupcakes Taste Like Violence, and went on to become one of his signature songs amongst fans.
Matt Skiba, who had gained notability as the lead singer and guitarist for punk rock band Alkaline Trio, provides guest vocals for the song "Louis Vuitton Body Bag", which is named after the French fashion house Louis Vuitton, which gained popularity mainly for its purses and bags.
Electronic rock duo Breathe Carolina are provide vocals on the track "Fame & Riches, Rehab Bitches", which is featured as the tenth song on the album.
During an interview, Star said of the album's music, "I think in the beginning I was just kinda like joking around and just making shit up – y'know, for fun.
Musically and lyrically it's different then what I've released in the past... it's the perfect CD for anyone who's lost and needs to find their diamond tiara.
The song has received positive feedback, mainly for its meaning and lyrical content, in which Star claims he wishes to change people's opinions as to what beauty really is.
[citation needed] "Love Rhymes With Fuck You" was released as the album's first promotional single, and second total after "Prisoner".
[13][14] "Lollipop Luxury", which features female rapper Nicki Minaj on guest vocals, is a remixed version of a previously released song by Star.
[citation needed] "Fresh Meat" and "Queen of the Club Scene" received mixed reviews from critics, with the majority feeling the two didn't belong on the album.
[15] For example, in the song "Louis Vuitton Body Bag", he sings: "To be ourselves, we have to destroy ourselves" referring to Shannon McFarland's decision to shoot herself to escape her old life.
[16] In an interview with OrangeCounty.com regarding the release date of the album, Star explained that the repetitive postponing was due to him doing "a bit of community service because of a felony weapons charge".
This was shortly followed by "Fame & Riches, Rehab Bitches" making its stream debut on Star's PureVolume account in September.
After the release of the album, Star announced plans to film a music video for the song "Get Away with Murder".
Following the album's commercial success, Star released the song "Blush", an outtake from the original track listing.
[21] A sixth promotional single, "Size of Your Boat", featured Muffy and was released for digital download on June 29, 2010.
"[23] The album cover photo was taken by tattoo artist and now ex-friend, Kat Von D. It features Star with his hair in a ponytail pulled to the side.
Pemberton Roach of AllMusic praised the album, saying it is "a fun, no-frills dance-pop record filled with throbbing house beats, Auto-Tuned vocals, and super-catchy, sexually charged novelty lyrics."
Roach went on to say "Throughout, his lyrics employ all manner of slang of the day to both celebrate and lampoon the basest sectors of pop culture.
In the end, though, Star is clearly all-inclusive, making Beauty Killer a harmlessly naughty guilty pleasure.
Star's awareness of the absurdity of Hollywood culture vulturism grounds the lyrics of "Lollipop Luxury" and "Fame & Riches, Rehab Bitches", a collaboration with shouty electro-thrashers Breathe Carolina (Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio also guests).
"[33] Wonka Vision said "...if Beauty Killer is the best Star can muster for a debut album then perhaps he should consider sticking with the clothing lines and makeup for the time being.
"[34] Beauty Killer was released on September 22, 2009, and became Star's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number 122.