United States 
New signing: Ghetts
11 years ago
Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), is an American artist who has successfully navigated the music industry across multiple genres, including hip-hop, pop rap, rap rock, and pop-punk, alongside a growing acting career.
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Request A ShowMGK and Dossier have launched a new genderless fragrance called Lost Americana, inspired by MGK's album of the same name. The scent was released in conjunction with the album.
The Cleveland Browns teamed up with Cleveland native MGK on a five-piece merchandise line ahead of the 2025 season.
Ethika is a brand that Machine Gun Kelly has endorsed, forming an investment partnership in May.
Liquid Death is a brand that Machine Gun Kelly has endorsed, forming an investment partnership starting in May.
Machine Gun Kelly launched his own vegan nail polish line, Un/dn Laqr, joining other male celebrities in the beauty industry.
Machine Gun Kelly collaborated with Reebok Classic on a collection, highlighting his bold style.
Colson Baker, born on April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas, spent his early childhood in diverse locations such as Egypt, Kenya, and Germany, before moving throughout the United States. His parents were Christian missionaries, and his early years were marked by frequent relocation and personal challenges, including his mother leaving home and his father battling depression. These formative experiences shaped his artistic perspective. Baker began listening to rap in the sixth grade and developed an interest in hip-hop through artists like Ludacris, Eminem, and DMX. After high school, he started building his music career, recording in his home studio, which he called the “Rage Cage.” In March 2009, he achieved consecutive victories at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, becoming the first rapper to do so. His mixtape, “100 Words and Running,” released in February 2010, introduced his signature catchphrase, “Lace Up.” He gained national attention with his single “Alice in Wonderland” in May 2010, which was accompanied by a music video and earned him the “Best Midwest Artist” at the 2010 Underground Music Awards. His second mixtape, “Lace Up” (November 2010), featured the popular hometown anthem “Cleveland.” These early achievements led to a feature in XXL magazine in 2011.
In March 2011, Sean Combs offered Baker a recording contract with Bad Boy Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, following a performance at SXSW. His debut studio album, “Lace Up,” was released in October 2012, peaking at number four on the Billboard 200 and featuring the single “Wild Boy,” which went triple platinum. The album also included “Invincible,” which was featured in commercials and used as a theme song for WWE events like WrestleMania XXVIII. His second album, “General Admission” (2015), showcased “A Little More” featuring Victoria Monet, which reflected a more mature perspective. His collaboration with Camila Cabello, “Bad Things” (2016), reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2018, he released the extended play “Binge,” which included the diss track “Rap Devil,” responding to Eminem.
Baker’s musical direction shifted with his fifth album, “Tickets to My Downfall” (2020), which fully embraced a pop-punk sound, produced by Travis Barker. This album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single “My Ex’s Best Friend.” Its success was followed by “Mainstream Sellout” (2022). He further expanded his artistic endeavors by co-directing and starring in the film “Good Mourning” (2022) and releasing the collaborative EP “Genre: Sadboy” (2024) with Trippie Redd. In 2025, he released his seventh album, “Lost Americana,” moving into pop-rock with narration by Bob Dylan. Beyond music, Baker has pursued an acting career, appearing in films such as “Beyond the Lights” (2014), “Nerve” (2016), “Bird Box” (2018), and portraying Tommy Lee in “The Dirt” (2019). He began using his birth name, Colson Baker, for film credits in 2021, distinguishing his acting work from his music.
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