''Cupcakes Taste Like Violence'' is the second EP by American singer, songwriter, make-up artist and model

Jeffree Star Jeffree Star (born Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr., November 15, 1985) is an American makeup artist, media personality and singer-songwriter. He is the founder and owner of Jeffree Star Cosmetics. In 2009, Star released his debut studio album, ''Be ...

. It was released on December 9, 2008, and was the first record to be released under Popsicle Records through Warner Music's

Independent Label Group Independent Label Group was an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. The company was formed in 2006 as an umbrella for various Warner auxiliary labels including East West Records, Rykodisc, and Cordless Recordings. Outside the United ...

. The first

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

, " Lollipop Luxury", was released on November 18, 2008.

Background

After announcing in 2007 that recording was underway for his first

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

, '' Beauty Killer'', Star embarked on his first headlining

tour Tour or Tours may refer to: Travel * Tourism, travel for pleasure * Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service * Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus * Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...

. While on tour, he performed songs written for inclusion on the record, including "Cupcakes Taste Like Violence" and a

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of c ...

of Rockwell's "

Somebody's Watching Me "Somebody's Watching Me" is a song recorded and written by American singer Rockwell, released by the Motown label in December 1983, as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name. It features guest vocals by Michael Jackson w ...

". Star stated in interviews that the latter track featured

Trace Cyrus Trace Dempsey Cyrus (born Neil Timothy Helson; February 24, 1989) is an American musician. The son of country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus and brother of recording artists Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus, he was the backing vocalist and guitarist of ...

and Mason Musso from

Metro Station A metro station or subway station is a train station for a rapid transit system, which as a whole is usually called a "metro" or "subway". A station provides a means for passengers to purchase tickets, board trains, and evacuate the syste ...

. However, due to a feud between the band and Star, they were ultimately replaced with Andrew de Torres from

Danger Radio Danger Radio (sometimes stylized as Danger: Radio) was an American rock band from Edmonds, Washington. Career 2003–07: ''The Difference Between Love and Envy '' Danger Radio's lead vocalist ( Andrew de Torres of The Scene Aesthetic) and dru ...

. During the tour, Star announced the names of several songs which would be included on ''Beauty Killer'', including "Picture Perfect!" and "So Fierce". However, these songs did not make the final cut but a remixed version of "Lollipop Luxury" featuring

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. Regarded as the "Queen of Rap" and one of the most influential rappers of all time, she is noted for her ...

is featured on the album. The following summer, Star debuted " So Fierce" on the

Vans Warped Tour The Warped Tour is a touring rock music festival that toured the United States and Canada each summer from 1995 until 2019, and returned in 2025 for its 30th anniversary. By 2015, Warped was the largest traveling music festival in the United S ...

. The EP was announced with the title ''Cupcakes Taste Like Violence''. Of the title, Star said "I named my EP ''Cupcakes Taste Like Violence'' because it reminded me of myself. I may look sweet, but I'm really scary and violent on the inside."

Working titles

* The track "Cupcakes Taste Like Violence" had the working title of "Cupcakes & Violence (Which One are You Choosing?)". * The track "Picture Perfect!" had the working title of "Mascara + Mistakes = Murder".

Release and promotion

With '' Beauty Killer'' scheduled for release in late 2008, his cover of "Somebody's Watching Me" was chosen as the album's first single. A hot pink

vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl ...

disc was set for release in October exclusively at

Hot Topic Hot Topic, Inc. is an American fast-fashion company specializing in counterculture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music. The stores are aimed towards an audience interested in rock music and video gaming, and most of the ...

locations. However, the album's release date was pushed back to summer 2009.JEFFREE STAR 'CUPCAKES TASTE LIKE VIOLENCE' IN STORES TODAY , Skope Entertainment Inc.
Star then began promoting the release of an EP on his MySpace profile, with "Starstruck", a retitling of his recording of "Somebody's Watching Me", as the EP's first single. To promote the EP, Star announced that "Starstruck" would be released as a free

download In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar systems. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote ...

on MySpace on October 3, 2008. However, the song was made available as early as September 28 on his

Pure Volume PureVolume (formerly Unborn Media) was a website for uploading and streaming of music files, the first independently run of its type. PureVolume was created by Unborn Media, Inc; Mitchell Pavao; Brett Woitunski; and Nate Hudson, all from the Univer ...

profile. The song "Cupcakes Taste Like Violence" was featured on the popular MTV TV show ''

Paris Hilton's My New BFF ''Paris Hilton's My New BFF'' (also known simply as ''My New BFF'' and other alternate titles) is an American competitive reality television series in which Paris Hilton searches for her new BFF ("best friend forever"). It was created by Michae ...

''.

Artwork design

The album cover and booklet photos were taken by Kat Von D with some booklet photos being taken by photographer and filmmaker,

Austin Young Austin Young (born April 12, 1966) is an American photographer, film maker and new media artist based in Los Angeles, known for both celebrity portraits and documentation of sub and trans culture. Young is co-founder of Fallen Fruit, an art c ...

.Austin Young , Fine Art Photography and Film - Music

Track listing

Personnel

– vocals Additional musicians *Lauren Baird – additional vocals on "Cupcakes Taste Like Violence", "So Fierce" and "Heart Surgery" (UVEV Remix) *Jordan Blake – additional vocals on "So Fierce" *Sarah Hudson – additional vocals on "Miss Boombox"

Charts

Release history

References

External links

Official websiteOfficial MySpaceOfficial Popsicle Records websiteOfficial Popsicle Records MySpace
{{Authority control Jeffree Star albums 2008 EPs Self-released EPs