Last Updated on February 24, 2024
Who is Machine Gun Kelly?
Rapper, Songwriter, Singer, and Actor; A jack of all trades would be an understatement when this man’s career comes to the topic.
Due to his diverse musical tastes, Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), has been tagged “The King of Genre Fluidity.”
He has given a new means to music. He’s known for his inspirational blending of contemporary and alternative hip hop with rock.
Machine Gun Kelly is said to have begun making music in his teens. However, he was recognized in 2009 when he became the first rapper to win amateur night at Harlem’s Apollo Theater.
Between 2007 and 2010, Machine Gun Kelly released a series of mixtapes, followed by a 2011 performance at South by Southwest. It immediately led to a meeting with Sean Combs before signing with Combs Bad Boy Records.
In 2012, his debut album “Lace Up” was released, which emerged at number four on the US Billboard. Following the successes of his second and third albums, General Admission (2015) and Bloom (2017).
He emerged number four on the Billboard hot 100, following his single Bad Things from the Bloom album featuring Camila Cabello. In his 2019 album “Hotel Diablo,” there was an inclusion of rap-rock, which he was subsequently known for.
His next album, Tickets to my Downfall, collaborated with Travis Barker in 2020. It emerged as one of his most outstanding albums after hitting number one on Billboard 200. It was the only rock album to do so that year.
MGK has also starred in movies like Beyond the Lights, Techno-thriller Nerve, The Land, Bird Box, the comedy Big Time Adolescence. He also made an appearance on MTV’s Wild n Out.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Richard Colson Baker |
Popular Name: | Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | April 22, 1990. |
Age: | 32 years |
Parents: | N/A |
Siblings: | N/A |
Birth Place: | Houston, Texas, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | Norwegian (three-eighths), English, German, Scottish |
Education: | Shaker Heights High School |
Marital Status: | Engaged |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
Children: | Casie Colson Baker |
Dating: | Megan Fox |
Net Worth: | $10 Million |
Source of Wealth: | Music |
Height: | 6ft3 (1.92m) |
Weight: | 79kg (174 Ibs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Colson Baker was born in Houston, Texas, in 1990. However, his parents were missionaries, so he traveled often while growing up. His family took up residence abroad, from Germany to Egypt and many other nations worldwide. In the United States, his family lived in Cleveland, Chicago, and Denver.
He settled with his father in Denver when his mother left home, where they both had to live with his aunt named Kelly. From that moment, MGK had a rough and unstable childhood where he was bullied at Hamilton Middle school.
The bullying was because of his father’s battle with depression, unemployment, and the absence of his mother. In the sixth grade, MGK took solace in the art of rap music. The likes of DMX, Eminem, and Ludacris influenced his interest in the genre of hip hop as a child.
As such, he fell in love with rap and started to work on his music. After his father’s departure to work in the army in Kuwait, MGK lived in his aunt’s basement and unfortunately got into drugs. Stamp of Approval,” his first mixtape, was recorded during these times.
MGK quit school, which prompted his father to take him to Kuwait. However, the pair eventually returned to Cleveland, where MGK attended Shaker Heights High School.
While finishing high school in the states, MGK convinced a friend to help launch his career. At this point, he adopted his stage name Machine Gun Kelly referencing his rapid vocal deliveries.
While performing at local venues, even Harlem’s Apollo Theater and MTV2’s Sucker Free Freestyle, he released his second mixed tape: 100 words and running.
Though MGK was gaining exposure, he still suffered financially and was on the verge of eviction. After being kicked out by his father, he too became a father and had to work at Chipotle to support himself and his family.
MGK’s 2012 single “Alice in the Wonderland,” marked a turning point in his career, as things only went uphill from there. In 2010, his mixtape Lace Up was released, which featured the hometown anthem “Cleveland,” which was played at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ home games.
In this tape, he showed a lot of love for Cleveland. Due to this, his notoriety expanded.
In 2012, Sean Combs approached him, and he signed into the famous Bad Boy Records.
From this point, MGK started recording full studio albums where he featured many famous artists, like Camila Cabello, Travis Barker, Ty Dolla $ign. And from there, he rose to stardom.
Machine Gun Kelly’s Net Worth
Over the years, MGK’s music has made valuable contributions to the genre of hip hop, rock, and even pop-punk.
“The Blonde God,” as he calls himself, can be recognized for the dedication and consistency he put into the music industry as an artist. Considering MGK’s achievements as an actor, along with the sales and streams of his five studio albums, it’s no wonder he has a staggering net worth of $10 million.
Lessons from the Life of Machine Gun Kelly
There’s Never a Smooth Road to Success
“Don’t ever look down, be comfortable with who you are, our flaws are what makes us perfect.”
~MGK
As seen in the life of Machine Gun Kelly, the road or journey paved to success has never been a smooth one.He had to face barriers such as bullying, the absence of a parent, financial instability, and drugs before he rose to stardom.
Though these may have been unfavorable conditions for him, they remain the rocky roads or areas he had to cross before he could emerge as a star in the music industry.
Follow Your Dreams
“And if you ever have a dream, don’t be scared to chase that shit, man. You can have whatever you want in this life. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.” – MGK
MGK dreamt of being a rapper ever since he was a child. He followed up this dream and never let it die. He didn’t let his circumstances determine the width of his dreams. He followed it through, making as many moves as he could, and eventually, he rose to stardom.