MACHINE GUN KELLY BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker (full name Richard Colson Baker), was born on 22 April 1990 in Houston, Texas, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Now 36 years old, he first broke through as a rapid-fire rapper before reinventing himself as one of the defining pop-punk stars of the 2020s.

Active in music since 2006, Machine Gun Kelly has released 7 studio albums, earned a Grammy nomination for his rock-era work, and built a parallel career in film. His seventh album, Lost Americana, arrived on 8 August 2025, and the Lost Americana world tour carried on into July 2026.

Early Life

Machine Gun Kelly was born to missionary parents and spent his childhood moving constantly — living in Egypt and Germany, and across the United States in Chicago, Denver and Cleveland. He discovered rap while living in Denver, where he recorded his first demo, "Stamp of Approval," and later attended Shaker Heights High School in the Cleveland area. Fans gave him the stage name "Machine Gun Kelly": a reference to the 1930s gangster George "Machine Gun Kelly" Barnes, and a nod to his own rapid-fire delivery. He has remained musically active from 2006 to the present.

Rap Breakthrough

Between 2007 and 2010 he self-released four mixtapes, and in 2011 MTV named him the Hottest Breakthrough MC. That same year he signed with Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records, an Interscope imprint. His debut studio album, Lace Up (2012), peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200, and "Wild Boy" featuring Waka Flocka Flame became his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, later certified triple platinum by the RIAA. He followed it with General Admission (2015) and Bloom (2017), whose single "Bad Things" — a duet with Camila Cabello — peaked at number 4 on the Hot 100. His 2018 Eminem diss track "Rap Devil" reached number 13 on the Hot 100, and Hotel Diablo (2019) rounded out his rap era. In March 2024 he parted ways with Bad Boy while remaining signed to Interscope.

Pop-Punk Reinvention

With Tickets to My Downfall (2020), Machine Gun Kelly made a full departure from hip-hop to pop-punk. Produced entirely by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200. Its singles "bloody valentine," "my ex's best friend" featuring blackbear — which reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 — and "forget me too" with Halsey turned him into a rock-era star. His sixth album, Mainstream Sellout (2022), also topped the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Recent Work (2024–2026)

In 2024 he teamed up with Trippie Redd for the genre: sadboy EP, before releasing his seventh studio album, Lost Americana, on 8 August 2025 via EST 19XX and Interscope. Led by the singles "Cliché," "Vampire Diaries" and "Miss Sunshine," the album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, with its trailer narrated by Bob Dylan. The Lost Americana Tour of 2025–2026 became his biggest global headline run with 67 dates: North America from 15 November to 19 December 2025, Europe in February–March 2026, Australia and New Zealand in April 2026, and a second North American leg from 15 May to 1 July 2026, with support from Wiz Khalifa, Julia Wolf and Mod Sun. Late 2025 also saw anniversary shows marking five years of Tickets to My Downfall. Alongside music, he has kept up his acting career, with credits including Beyond the Lights (2014), his film debut; Nerve (2016); Bird Box (2018); Big Time Adolescence (2019); The Dirt (2019), in which he played Tommy Lee; and the recurring role of Wesley on Showtime's Roadies (2016).

Personal Life

Machine Gun Kelly has a daughter, Casie (born 2009), with his ex Emma Cannon, and was in a high-profile relationship with Megan Fox from 2020 to 2024, announcing their engagement on 12 January 2022. He was most recently linked to Dakota Johnson in reports surfacing in October 2026, according to reports.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the "Bloody Valentine" official video via his official VEVO channel, MGKVEVO:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is his real name and how old is he?

Machine Gun Kelly's real name is Colson Baker, and his full name is Richard Colson Baker. Born on 22 April 1990, he is 36 years old.

Why did he switch from rap to pop-punk?

After a decade in hip-hop, he moved fully into pop-punk with Tickets to My Downfall (2020), produced entirely by Travis Barker. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned him a Grammy nomination, cementing the new direction.

What are his biggest songs?

His biggest songs include "Wild Boy" featuring Waka Flocka Flame, "Bad Things" with Camila Cabello, "Rap Devil," "my ex's best friend" featuring blackbear, "forget me too" with Halsey, and "bloody valentine."

Is he touring in 2026?

Yes. His Lost Americana world tour continued through 2026, with Europe dates in February–March, Australia and New Zealand in April, and a second North American leg running from 15 May to 1 July 2026.