Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) is originally the name that is set for the multi-talented American singer, songwriter, and actor Colson Baker. On April 22, 1990, he was born in Houston, Texas. Due to his father’s military career, Colson used his early years moving often. Due to his independent lifestyle, he traveled to Egypt, Germany, Chicago, Denver, and ultimately Cleveland, Ohio. He now proudly calls Cleveland home. He found his passion for music there. It can be claimed that MGK’s career as an artist began in high school when he began rapping, set off mixtapes, and performed at local venues.
Career Beginnings
MGK, in the early year of 2010, became a well-known rap singer. It happened due to his fast-paced rap delivery and his lively performances. However, in 2012 he released one of his first studio albums, “Lace Up,”. The album featured his breakthrough single. Moreover, “Wild Boy” was also a commercial success. With his unique style he was able to make an image and career for himself in the world of rap. His more albums released like, “General Admission” (2015) and “Bloom” (2017). These albums showed his range as an artist and the depth of his growth. He is also known as the first rapper to win the prestigious talent award at the Apollo Theatre. Consequently, he also produced a mixtape titled “100 Words and Running”. There was a lot of expectation seen from his fans when his career started to take off. With his rising fame in the rap industry, he is continuously trying to maintain a grounded lifestyle. However, his signature piece “Lace Up” soon became a powerful slogan for his fans.
Musical Shift and Reinvention
MGK, in 2020, took a daring step by shifting his rap style to pop-punk with his album “Tickets to My Downfall”. The album was produced by Travis Barker of Blink-182. This project debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. This marks his most commercially successful release and this way he gained a broader audience. In addition, the genre changing brought MGK’s identity over the top in the rap industry. With the shift he also made his comeback with more popularity. This shows that he is able and ready to evolve in the fast paced industry of music.
What Makes MGK Unique
Genre switching and unpredictable artistic choices makes the MGK stand out and unique in his own way. MGK is not like many artists, who remain in one musical lane. He is the one who boldly changed his style from hip hop to punk rock without losing his core stage presence. The reinvention of his music felt authentic. Another thing that shows his uniqueness is that he is known for mashing guitars, climbing riggings and also keeping fans on edge in his stage performances. He makes chaos, often sharing personal emotions in his lyrics. He is able to take risks, challenges and creates unforgettable live experiences. This boldness makes his presence unique in his own ways.
Acting Career
Colson Baker has made a notable presence in acting beyond music. He appeared alongside Emma Roberts and Dave Franco in “Nerve” in 2016. The movie is a thriller and was about an extreme online truth-or-dare game. In this movie MGK played Ty, who was one of the antagonists in the film.
His acting career gained further recognition with his role as Tommy Lee in Netflix’s film “The Dirt” (2019). It was a biopic on the rock band Mötley Crüe. In his further acting career he also featured in “Bird Box” (2018). He starred with Sandra Bullock, and further he has taken on several independent film roles that show his growing range as an actor.
Baker’s performances, though sometimes gritty and intense. His performances reveal a depth that shows his musical career. He proves that he is a multi talented performer, he also plans to establish and make a name for himself in Hollywood which he proved by working in different films.
Personal Life
Machine Gun Kelly’s personal life has often drawn public interest. He gained public interest especially his high-profile relationship with actress Megan Fox. In November 2020, the couple made their red carpet debut. They were seen at American Music Awards, five months after confirming their romance. Their relationship has since remained a frequent highly discussed topic across entertainment media.
In addition, the singer has a daughter named Casie, born in 2008. She was a daughter born from his previous relationship with Emma Cannon’s. While MGK has maintained her out of the spotlight, he has spoken warmly about their relationship. He and Cannon continue to co-parent in friendly ways. Sometimes he goes to public events with his daughter Casie. His personality is further defined by his role as a father.
Controversies
MGK has faced several controversies, most notably his feud with Eminem. The conflict began in 2012 when MGK tweeted about Eminem’s daughter, Hailie. He called her “hot as f***.” The tweet dissed MGK on his album “Kamikaze”. MGK released the song in response to “Rap Devil,” which was a direct parody of Eminem’s “Rap God.” One of the most well-known rappers, Eminem further responded with “Killshot,”, which was a well-publicized rap conflict that split fans.
Conclusion
Machine Gun Kelly a well-known dynamic singer, who is known for not afraid of evolving. His journey started from mixtapes days in Cleveland to topping off the charts was a story to tell. He, however, consistently broke the boundaries. His bold moves into acting, genre changing music and self-expression, has given him a loyal fan base. It is the way he made his name in the industry. However, controversies followed him and so is growth, reinvention and flexibility. He also started focusing on music career while his music career was at the top. The singer had appeared in many films with known stars. He continues to move forward whether someone likes his acting, music or his behavior and personality.