Machine Gun Kelly

Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), is an American musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is noted for his genre duality across alternative rock with hip hop.

Machine Gun Kelly released four mixtapes between 2007 and 2010 before signing with Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records, an imprint of Interscope Records. His debut studio album, Lace Up (2012) peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 was led by the single “Wild Boy” (featuring Waka Flocka Flame), which marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second and third albums, General Admission (2015) and Bloom (2017) were met with critical praise and similar commercial success; the latter was supported by the single “Bad Things” (with Camila Cabello), which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. His fourth album, Hotel Diablo (2019) further experimented with rap rock.

Machine Gun Kelly’s fifth album, Tickets to My Downfall (2020) saw a complete departure from hip-hop in favor of a pop-punk sound and aesthetic, with its production entirely helmed by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. It debuted atop the Billboard 200—the only rock album to do so that year—and contained the single “My Ex’s Best Friend” (featuring blackbear), which peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Its sequel, Mainstream Sellout (2022) served as his sixth album and matched its commercial success, although critical reception was mixed.

Machine Gun Kelly had his first starring role in the romantic drama Beyond the Lights (2014), and since appeared in the techno-thriller Nerve (2016), the horror Bird Box (2018), the comedy Big Time Adolescence and portrayed Tommy Lee in the biopic The Dirt (both 2019).

Machine Gun Kelly Details:

Real Name	Colson Baker
Also Known As	MGK
Date of Birth	April 22, 1990
Birthplace	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Gender	Male
Age	33 years old.
Height	6′ 3” (1.92 m) tall.
Weight	79 kg (approx)
Hair Color	Brown
Eye Color	Brown
Education	Shaker Heights High School
Children	1 (Daughter)
Years active	2006–present
Origin	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, Pop rap, Rap rock, Pop punk
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Drums
Labels	EST 19XX, Bad Boy, Interscope
Associated acts	24kGoldn, Blackbear, Earl St. Clair, Iann Dior, Mod Sun, Kellin Quinn, Puff Daddy, Travis Barker, Travis Porter, Trippie Redd, Yungblud

Machine Gun Kelly Early Life and Education:

Colson Baker was born on April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas, to Christian missionary parents. Baker and his family moved all around the world and he lived in Egypt for the first 4 years of his life. He also moved to Germany as well as throughout the United States, in Chicago, Denver, and Cleveland. Baker’s mother left home when he was nine years old and he and his father moved to Denver to live with Baker’s aunt. Baker’s father fought depression and unemployment. Baker says he had just two school outfits and that he endured bullying from children in his neighborhood.

He began listening to rap in the sixth grade when he attended Hamilton Middle School, a school with an ethnically diverse student body in Denver. While he lived in Cleveland, Baker attended Shaker Heights High School.

The first three rappers that got him into the genre of hip hop as a child were Ludacris, Eminem, and DMX, with Baker gaining interest in the genre after listening to DMX’s “We Right Here” from the album The Great Depression (2001).

Machine Gun Kelly Career:

Musical Career

In March 2009, despite facing eviction, Baker’s fortunes took a turn when he triumphed at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, becoming the first rapper ever to win there. He honed his skills in his home studio, dubbed the “Rage Cage,” and gained exposure through MTV2’s Sucker Free Freestyle, showcasing his talent with verses from his single “Chip off the Block.” Despite this momentum, financial struggles persisted, leading him to work odd jobs like at Chipotle to pay rent, compounded by being kicked out by his father after high school. However, amidst these challenges, Baker found himself transitioning into fatherhood.

By May 2010, his national debut single “Alice in Wonderland,” released via Block Starz Music, marked a significant milestone in his career. Accompanied by a music video, the song propelled him to win “Best Midwest Artist” at the 2010 Underground Music Awards, while its music video snagged the “Best Music Video” award at the 2010 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards. Later that year, in November, Baker dropped his second mixtape “Lace Up,” featuring the anthemic “Cleveland,” which gained traction at Cleveland Cavaliers home games and on local radio. This mixtape, recorded in a fervent burst of creativity over three months, further solidified his presence in the music scene. The following year, in March 2011, Baker’s talent caught the attention of Sean Combs at SXSW, leading to a significant milestone in his career as he signed a recording contract with Bad Boy Records, an imprint associated with Interscope.

Baker’s debut album “Lace Up” was highly anticipated, with the lead single “Wild Boy” reaching gold status and peaking at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album featured collaborations with various artists and debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 57,000 copies. Following its release, Baker garnered recognition, winning the MTVu Breaking Woodie award and being named the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 by MTV. He also made waves with his mixtape “EST 4 Life,” which included a blend of old and new material.

In 2013, Baker released the mixtape “Black Flag” without prior announcement, featuring guest appearances from notable artists. Amidst rumors of his second studio album, Baker confirmed his work on it in early 2014, with the scheduled release year being 2015. He dropped singles like “Till I Die” and “A Little More,” offering insights into his mature perspective and the direction of his upcoming album. Eventually, he unveiled the title of his second album, “General Admission,” slated for release in late September 2015.

Baker announced that his debut album, Lace Up, would be released on October 9, 2012. “Wild Boy” was the lead single and peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 98, becoming certified gold by the RIAA. Another single, “Invincible,” featured co-writer and singer Ester Dean and was used in various commercials and WWE events. Baker was named the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 by MTV and won the MTVu Breaking Woodie award in 2012.

Baker released a mixtape titled EST 4 Life in August 2012 before dropping Lace Up, which debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200. The album featured guest appearances from various artists and sold 263,000 copies as of September 2015. He announced the release of a new mixtape, Black Flag, featuring artists like Pusha T and Meek Mill. In January 2014, he confirmed he was working on his second studio album, with a planned release in 2015.

In 2015, Baker released the song “Till I Die” with a music video, followed by a remix with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He also released a song titled “A Little More” featuring vocals from Victoria Monet. Baker described the motivation behind the song in an MTV interview, highlighting the harsh realities of life in his hometown. He updated the progress on his second album, promising more lyricism and hip-hop influence with live instrumentation.

Baker revealed the title of his second album, General Admission, set for a late September 2015 release. The album aimed to showcase Baker’s growth as an artist with a more mature and stylistically diverse sound.

In February, Baker made a notable appearance at Fastlane, held at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Later in 2016, he collaborated with Camila Cabello on the single “Bad Things,” which peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. The following year, Baker was set to open for Linkin Park’s One More Light Tour, but the tour was canceled due to the tragic suicide of Linkin Park’s frontman, Chester Bennington. In tribute, Baker released an acoustic cover of Linkin Park’s “Numb.”

In September 2018, Baker stirred controversy with the release of “Rap Devil,” a response to Eminem’s diss track “Not Alike.” The song criticized Eminem and addressed past conflicts, notably involving remarks Baker made about Eminem’s daughter in 2012. This sparked a back-and-forth between the two artists, with Eminem responding with “Killshot.” Following this, Baker released the EP “Binge,” which debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200.

In 2019, Baker unveiled his album “Hotel Diablo,” featuring singles like “Hollywood Whore,” “El Diablo,” and “I Think I’m Okay” with Yungblud and Travis Barker. The album debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200, marking his fourth top-ten album. Later in the year, Baker shifted towards pop-punk, releasing singles like “Why Are You Here” and teasing an upcoming project produced by Travis Barker, signaling a new direction in his music career.

In January 2020, Baker revealed his project’s title, “Tickets to My Downfall,” set for a September 25 release. Amidst the COVID-19 lockdowns, he engaged fans with daily recordings, covers, and collaborations in his #LockdownSessions series, showcasing his versatility. Notably, he opened his own coffee house, 27 Club Coffee, in Cleveland in August 2020. The album’s rollout included singles like “Bloody Valentine,” “Concert for Aliens,” and “My Ex’s Best Friend” featuring Blackbear.

Following the album’s release, Baker ventured into creative projects, directing music videos and delving into podcasting with “Halloween in Hell.” He announced a unique cinematic experience for “Tickets to My Downfall” titled “Downfalls High,” a pop-punk interpretation of “Grease,” released in January 2021. Continuing his musical journey, he collaborated with Corpse Husband on “DayWalker” and Kellin Quinn on “Love Race.”

In August 2021, Baker teased his next album, “Born with Horns,” another collaboration with Barker, unveiling the lead single “Papercuts.” He expanded his artistic endeavors by co-directing the film “Good Mourning” alongside Mod Sun, showcasing his multifaceted talents. Amidst these projects, he performed at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game halftime show and announced the renaming of his album to “Mainstream Sellout” in January 2022, signaling a new chapter in his career.

Action Career

Baker embarked on his acting career with a debut in the 2014 romantic drama “Beyond the Lights,” portraying the character Kid Culprit, a self-important rapper. He furthered his filmography with roles in various productions, including co-starring and co-executive producing the Cleveland-set drama “The Land” in 2016. Additionally, he appeared in films like “Nerve” and “Bird Box,” showcasing his versatility across genres. Baker’s acting credits expanded with roles in projects such as “The Dirt,” “Project Power,” and “Midnight in the Switchgrass,” demonstrating his range as an actor. Notably, he also directed and starred in the film “Good Mourning,” marking another milestone in his multifaceted career.

Machine Gun Kelly Personal Life:

In his teens, Colson Baker was in a relationship with Emma Cannon, with whom he has a daughter, who was born in July 2009.

He is open about his use of cannabis and has claimed in many interviews that he smokes daily, describing it as a “source of happiness and a way people can feel a little more love [in their own right]”. He has frequently mentioned cannabis references within sources of his music and rap persona, making it a forefront of both his rap and personal character. For a period prior to the release of Lace Up he had an addiction to heroin. He was also a heavy user of cocaine and alcohol prior to 2020. In November 2020, Baker revealed that he has become addicted to Adderall, and is seeking treatment.

In a 2012 interview, he stated that he identifies politically as an anarchist. In 2022, when he was asked on whether he plans to vote in the midterm elections, he replied: “I have anarchy tattooed on my stomach. I’m not a political person”.

Baker was in a relationship with model and actress Amber Rose for two months beginning in April 2015. He dated model Sommer Ray from March to April 2020. Since May 2020, he has been in a relationship with actress Megan Fox after the two met while filming Midnight in the Switchgrass. On January 12, 2022, Fox announced that the two were engaged. In March 2024, Fox revealed that the couple had called their engagement off.

Machine Gun Kelly Band Members:

Current members

• Steve “Baze” Basil – bass, keyboards (2017–present)
• Brandon “Slimxx” Allen – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–present)
• JP “Rook” Cappelletty – drums (2017–present)
• Travis Barker – drums (2019–present)
• Justin “Jus” Lyons – guitars (2021–present)
• Sophie Lloyd – guitars (2022–present)

Former members

• AJ Tyus – guitars (2017–2021)

Machine Gun Kelly Discography:

Studio albums

• Lace Up (2012)
• General Admission (2015)
• Bloom (2017)
• Hotel Diablo (2019)
• Tickets to My Downfall (2020)
• Mainstream Sellout (2022)

Machine Gun Kelly Tours:

Headlining tours

• Hostile Takeover Tour (2012)
• No Class Tour (2014)
• Alpha Omega Tour (2016)
• 27 World Tour (2017)
• Hotel Diablo World Tour (2019)
• Tickets to My Downfall Tour (2021)
• Mainstream Sellout Tour (2022)

Co-headlining tours

• The Justin Bieber Big Tour (with Young Thug) (2019)

Machine Gun Kelly Filmography:

Machine Gun Kelly Movies:

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2022	Jackass Forever	Himself	Guest appearance
2022	Jackass 4.5	Himself	Cameo
2022	Taurus	Cole
2022	Good Mourning	London	Also director, writer, and producer
2022	One Way	Freddy
2021	The Last Son	Cal / Lionel
2021	Midnight in the Switchgrass	Calvin
2020	The King of Staten Island	Tattoo Shop Owner
2020	Project Power	Newt
2019	Big Time Adolescence	Nick
2019	Captive State	Jurgis
2019	The Dirt	Tommy Lee
2018	Bird Box	Felix
2016	Punk’s Dead	Crash	Credited as Colson “MGK” Baker
2016	Nerve	Ty
2016	Viral	CJ
2016	The Land	Slick	Also co-executive producer
2014	Beyond the Lights	Kid Culprit	Credited as Colson “MGK” Baker

Machine Gun Kelly TV Series & Video Games:

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2023	Bupkis	Himself	Episode 8: “Show Me the Way”
2023	Dave	Himself	Episode 8: “Met Gala”
2022	WWE 2K22	Himself	DLC
2021	Downfalls High	Himself	Also co-director and executive producer
2016	Roadies	Wesley “Wes” Mason	10 episodes
2015, 2018	Hot Ones	Himself	2 episodes
2015	Catfish	Himself	Episode: “Hundra & Emily”
2015	Ridiculousness	Himself	Episode: “Machine Gun Kelly”
2014	Unsung	Himself	Episode: “Bone Thugs-n-Harmony”
2013	Guy Court	Himself	Episode: “Sweepstakes”
2012, 2015, 2017	WWE Raw	Himself	3 episodes

Machine Gun Kelly Awards & Nominations:

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee / Work(s)	Result
2023	Grammy Awards	Best Rock Album	“Mainstream Sellout”	Nominated
2022	American Music Awards	Favorite Rock Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2022	American Music Awards	Favorite Rock Album	“Mainstream Sellout”	Nominated
2022	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rock Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Nominated
2022	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Alternative Rock Song of the Year	“My Ex’s Best Friend” (featuring Blackbear)	Nominated
2022	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Alternative Rock Artist of the Year	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2022	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Alternative	“Emo Girl” (featuring Willow)	Nominated
2022	Newport Beach Film Festival	Spotlight Award	Machine Gun Kelly	Awarded
2022	San Diego International Film Festival	Spotlight Award	Machine Gun Kelly	Awarded
2021	ARIA Music Awards	Best International Artist	“Tickets To My Downfall”	Nominated
2021	American Music Awards	Favorite Rock Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2021	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rock Song	“My Ex’s Best Friend” (featuring Blackbear)	Nominated
2021	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rock Album	“Tickets To My Downfall”	Won
2021	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rock Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2021	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Alternative Rock Album of the Year	“Tickets to My Downfall”	Won
2021	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Alternative Rock Song of the Year	“Bloody Valentine”	Nominated
2021	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Alternative	Himself	Nominated
2021	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Alternative	“My Ex’s Best Friend” (featuring Blackbear)	Won
2020	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rock Song	“I Think I’m Okay” (with Yungblud & Travis Barker)	Nominated
2020	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Alternative	Himself	Nominated
2020	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Alternative	“Bloody Valentine”	Won
2018	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Best Cover Song	“Say You Won’t Let Go” (with Camila Cabello)	Nominated
2017	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rap Collaboration	“Bad Things” (shared w/ Camila Cabello)	Nominated
2017	Radio Disney Music Awards	Best Collaboration	“Bad Things” (shared w/ Camila Cabello)	Won
2014	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	National Noise Maker	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2014	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best National Music Video	“Mind of a Stoner” (shared w/ Wiz Khalifa)	Won
2014	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best National Music Video	“Breaking News”	2nd Place
2014	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best National Collaboration	“Mind of a Stoner” (shared w/ Wiz Khalifa)	Won
2013	MTVU Woodie Awards	Woodie of the Year	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2012	MTV Europe Music Awards	US Artist About To Go Global	Himself	Won
2012	MTVU Woodie Awards	Breaking Woodie	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2012	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best National Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2012	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best National Mixtape/Album	“Rage Pack”	2nd Place
2012	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Collaboration	“Police” (shared w/ Pooh Gutta)	Won
2011	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Mixtape Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2011	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Mixtape	“Lace Up”	Won
2011	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Male Artist	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2011	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Video of the Year	“Cleveland” (shared w/ Dubo)	Won
2010	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Live Performer	Machine Gun Kelly	Won
2010	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Music Video	“Alice in Wonderland”	Won
2009	Ohio Hip Hop Awards	Best Live Performer	Machine Gun Kelly	Won