Colson Baker, known professionally as MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly), was born on April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas, and raised in multiple locations including Denver, Colorado, and Cleveland, Ohio. He adopted his stage name from his rapid-fire rap delivery and released his first mixtape, Stamp of Approval, in 2006, building a local following in Cleveland. In 2009, he became the first rapper to win at Harlem's Apollo Theater. MGK signed with Bad Boy Records and Interscope in 2011, debuting with the hip-hop album Lace Up (2012), featuring the single 'Wild Boy.' Subsequent releases include General Admission (2015), bloom (2017), and Hotel Diablo (2019). Transitioning to rock, MGK released Tickets to My Downfall (2020) and Mainstream Sellout (2022), both debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. These pop-punk albums marked a shift from rap, incorporating live instrumentation and alternative rock elements. He received the MTV Breaking Woodie Award in 2012 and Hottest Breakthrough MC Award in 2011. MGK is known for high-energy live performances, stemming from his early Apollo wins and high school tours where crowds required security intervention. His shows feature rapid delivery and fan engagement through the catchphrase 'Lace up.'