Richard Colson Baker, popular as Machine Gun Kelly is an American rapper and actor who gained massive popularity for his unique styles and musical abilities.
He is best known for his rapid fire lyrics flow and his mixtapes, which apparently also gave him his stage name Machine Gun Kelly.
Not to mention, Colson Baker comes in media for his controversies more than his music.
However, after nearly a decade of slugging away, he broke through with a real hit in 2016 with the dark but poppy “Bad Things”.
It’s a duet with Camila Cabello that evokes the Eminem-Rihanna collaborations of yore.
This song of 2016 became a sharp turnaround for a rapper whose career seemed to have nosedived just a couple of years ago.
You guys may know about his professional life, but how much do you know about his personal life?
Early Life
Richard Colson Baker was born on April 22, 1990 in Houston, Texas, United States of America to missionary parents.
He along with his family moved all around the globe and later took up residence abroad from Egypt to Germany.
Baker settled in Denver along with his father after his mother left home.
Later, he along with his father moved in with his aunt.
His father suffered from depression and unemployment.
He was bullied in his childhood by his friends and neighbors.
So he started to listen rap and music for his peace of mind.
Talking about his education, Richard Colson Baker studied at Hamilton Middle School.
Later he enrolled at the Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School.
During his school days he experimented with drugs.
Simultaneously during this time, he recorded his first amateur demo tape ‘Stamp of Approval’.
Career
Richard Colson Baker started rapping while still in high school and quickly gained a large following through the release of his mixrapes.
He joined at the Shaker Heights High School where his musical career began.
Talking about his career, he released his first mixtape ‘Stamp of Approval’ in 2006.
The response was overwhelming and he reached his height of success.
His early break came with the 2009 victory at Apollo Theatre, the first-ever by a rapper.
When he featured on MTV2’s Sucker Free Freestyle, he started to gain the national spotlight.
In 2010, he released his second mixtape ‘100 Words and Running’ where he derived his catchphrase, ‘Lace Up’.
In the same year, he his national debut with the single song ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
This song was released via Block Starz Music on iTunes.
In November 2011, he participated in the first SXSW show in Austin, Texas.
He also signed recording contract with Bad Boy Records and released the music video ‘Wild Boy’.
In mid-2011, Richard Colson Baker signed a deal with Young and Reckless Clothing.
The following year, his debut album ‘Lace Up’ was released. In 2013, MGK came up with the music video for ‘Champions’.
Later after 3 years, Richard Colson Baker released the song ‘Till I Die’. In the following year, he released a 10-track mixtape titled ‘Fuck It’.
Personal Life
In 2015, MGK confirmed dating hip hop model Amber Rose.
Richard Colson Baker and his girlfriend’s relationship did not last for long period of time and the couple split in October 2015.
He is not married and does not have a wife but he has a daughter named Casie who was born in 2008.
He doesn’t have any touch with Casie’s mother but he keeps friendly relationship with her.
Talking about his bad things, he started having drugs at his early age and he has always spoken about it in the media.
To overcome his obsession with drugs, he attended a rehabilitation center and guided by counsellor to combat the addiction.
Moving towards his salary and net worth, the rapper has net worth of 1.2 Millon dollars which he earns through his songs, raps and various other projects.
Awards and Achievements
At the 2010 Underground Music Awards, Richard Colson Baker’s single ‘Alice in Wonderland’ won him the Best Midwest Artist award.
It also gained the Best Music Video at the 2010 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards.
In December 2011, MTV announced Richard Colson Baker as the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011.
The following year, MGK won himself the MTV Europe Music Award for US Artist About To Go Global.
In 2012 and 2013 he won the MtvU Woodie Awards for Breaking Woodie and Woodie of the Year.
In 2017, he won Best Collaboration for ‘Bad Things’.
Filmography and Television Series
He has worked in TV series including WWE Raw, Guy Court, Unsung, Catfish, Ridiculousness and Roadies.
Talking about his movies, in 2014 he contributed to the soundtrack and credited as Colson ‘MGK’ Baker for the movie Beyond the Lights.
He also played role in Punk’s Dead as Crash, Nerve as Ty, Viral as CJ, The Land as Slick.
Baker also worked as a co-executive producer in movies like Captive State as Jurgis and Bird Box as Felix.
