Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker in Texas and raised in Shaker Heights, Cleveland, began his music career in his teens. In 2011, he signed with Bad Boy Records after gaining attention for his mixtapes and winning amateur night at Harlem's Apollo Theater in 2009. His debut album, Lace Up, was released in 2012, followed by a series of successful albums and collaborations with artists like Travis Barker.
In 2020, Machine Gun Kelly's collaboration with Travis Barker on the album Tickets to My Downfall marked a shift to a rock-influenced sound, which garnered critical and commercial success. His sixth album, Mainstream Sellout, released in 2022, continued this trajectory, earning him his first Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. Alongside his music career, Kelly has also ventured into acting, starring in films like The Dirt and Taurus.
