Colson Baker (born April 22, 1990), known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor[1]. Born in Houston, Texas, to Christian missionary parents, Baker experienced a nomadic childhood, living in multiple countries including Egypt and Germany due to his parents' missionary work, before settling in Denver, Colorado, and eventually Cleveland, Ohio, after his mother left the family[2]. He adopted the stage name Machine Gun Kelly in reference to his rapid-fire rapping style, which he began developing in sixth grade while attending school in Denver[3].Baker released his debut mixtape, Stamp of Approval, in 2006 at age 16, and gained local prominence in Cleveland's underground hip-hop scene[4]. In 2009, he became the first rapper to win the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night competition in New York City, achieving consecutive victories, leading to a record deal with Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records the following year[2]. His major-label debut album, Lace Up (2012), peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single "Wild Boy," establishing him as a rising star in hip-hop with themes of street life, personal struggle, and resilience[5].Throughout the 2010s, MGK released critically acclaimed projects including General Admission (2015) and Bloom (2017), blending rap with rock influences and earning praise for his energetic live performances and guitar skills[3]. In 2019, his album Hotel Diablo marked a pivot toward alternative sounds, setting the stage for his full transition to pop-punk with Tickets to My Downfall (2020), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and included the hit single "my ex's best friend" (featuring blackbear), which peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100[6]. This reinvention continued with Mainstream Sellout (2022), solidifying his status as a genre-defying artist[7].In addition to music, MGK has pursued acting, portraying Tommy Lee in the Netflix biopic The Dirt (2019) and starring in films like Good Mourning (2022), which he also directed[1]. His personal life has garnered significant attention, including his on-again, off-again relationship with actress Megan Fox since 2020, with whom he welcomed a daughter in March 2025, and his role as a father to daughter Casie, born in 2009[8]. By 2025, MGK remains a prominent figure in entertainment, including his recent halftime show performance at the Canadian Football League's 112th Grey Cup on November 16, 2025, and ongoing explorations in music and film[9].
Early life
Childhood and family background
Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly, was born on April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas, to Christian missionary parents, with the family frequently relocating due to his father's work abroad, including time in Kuwait.[10][3]Due to his father's profession as a missionary and teacher, the family frequently relocated, spending Baker's early years in diverse locations including Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Kuwait, Chicago, and several U.S. cities such as Denver.[11][2][12]His parents divorced when he was approximately nine years old, after which his mother departed the family, leaving Baker in the custody of his father, James Colson Baker; this separation profoundly affected his emotional development.[3][13]His father struggled with depression and unemployment, exacerbating the instability in his upbringing and contributing to a sense of abandonment.[3]During his formative years, Baker gained early exposure to hip-hop through his father's record collection, which included influential artists such as Run-DMC and Ice Cube, sparking his lifelong passion for the genre.[3]
Relocation and early hardships
At age 14 in 2004, Colson Baker relocated from Denver, Colorado, to Cleveland, Ohio, with his father following a period of family instability after his parents' separation when he was nine.[14] The move placed them on Cleveland's East Side, where Baker navigated a challenging environment marked by his father's ongoing struggles with depression and unemployment, leading to frequent verbal and physical conflicts at home.[14][2]Baker enrolled as a sophomore at Shaker Heights High School, a predominantly Black institution where he felt out of place as an awkward, lanky white teenager with a nomadic background.[14] He endured bullying, fights, and even a robbery, which exacerbated his isolation and contributed to his growing interest in rap as an outlet for expression.[14] Despite these adversities, Baker graduated in 2008 after catching up on coursework, including honors physics, though his high school years were defined by social alienation rather than academic focus.[14][15]Following graduation, Baker's home life deteriorated further, culminating in a physical altercation with his father that left him homeless at age 18.[14] He briefly lived on the streets before finding temporary shelter with local producer Brandon “Slim” Allen, supplementing his survival through odd jobs amid Cleveland's economic hardships.[14] These experiences of instability and poverty profoundly shaped his worldview, fueling lyrics that later reflected themes of resilience and street survival.During his junior year of high school, Baker adopted the stage name Machine Gun Kelly, inspired by his rapid-fire rapping style—likened to a machine gun's delivery—and the Prohibition-era gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly.[14][16] He began performing under this moniker at local venues like the Grog Shop and Peabody’s, delivering extended 60-bar sets at small shows to build a grassroots following among Cleveland's underground hip-hop scene.[14] These early open-mic appearances marked his initial foray into music as a means of escape and identity formation amid personal turmoil.[14]
Music career
Mixtapes and breakthrough (2007–2012)
Machine Gun Kelly began his independent music career as a teenager in Cleveland, Ohio, self-recording and releasing his debut mixtape, Stamp of Approval, in 2006 at the age of 16.[17] The project, distributed on promotional CDs, showcased his raw energy and rapid-fire delivery, drawing from personal experiences of hardship that shaped his storytelling approach.[18] He followed this with Homecoming in 2008, a mixtape that further established his presence in the local scene through collaborations with Cleveland artists like Success the King and Hardstone.[19]By 2010, Kelly had built a stronger underground following with 100 Words and Running, released in February, which highlighted his freestyle skills and gritty narratives inspired by Eminem's influential storytelling style.[20] That same year, he dropped Lace Up, a pivotal mixtape presented by DJ E-V and EST 19XX, featuring tracks like "Cleveland" with local collaborator Dub-O that captured the city's struggles and resilience.[21] The project gained significant buzz through viral YouTube videos and Twitter freestyles, amassing thousands of views and nearly 6,000 followers, positioning him as Cleveland's emerging voice amid the city's cultural spotlight after LeBron James' departure.[22]This momentum led to his breakthrough appearance in the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards "Indie Meets Mainstream" cypher alongside Big K.R.I.T., Tech N9ne, Kendrick Lamar, and B.o.B, where his high-speed verses amplified national attention.[23] In August 2011, Diddy discovered Kelly via his online presence and signed him to Bad Boy Records in partnership with Interscope, marking his transition from independent releases to major label support.[24]Post-signing, Kelly launched the Lace Up Tour in early 2012, performing alongside acts like Los and building hype for his major-label debut through high-energy shows across the U.S.[25] That year, his single "Wild Boy," featuring Waka Flocka Flame (with a remix including French Montana), became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at No. 98 and solidifying his breakthrough with its aggressive trap-influenced sound.[26] These efforts, rooted in collaborations with Cleveland talents and a nod to Eminem's narrative depth, propelled Kelly from local mixtape artist to a recognized hip-hop contender.[27]
Major label albums and mainstream success (2012–2019)
Machine Gun Kelly signed with Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records in 2011, marking the beginning of his major-label career after building a fanbase through independent mixtapes. His debut studio album, Lace Up, released on October 9, 2012, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 51,000 equivalent album units.[28] The album featured high-energy hip-hop tracks reflecting his Cleveland roots, with singles including "Invincible," which served as the theme song for the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team during the 2012-2013 NBA season, and "Stereo," showcasing his rapid-fire delivery and personal storytelling. Lace Up established MGK as an emerging force in rap, blending aggressive lyricism with mainstream appeal.In 2015, MGK released his second studio album, General Admission, on October 16 through his indie label EST 19XX in partnership with Bad Boy and Interscope. The project, largely self-produced by MGK, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 56,000 equivalent album units in its first week.[29] Drawing from his experiences with addiction and recovery, the album explored themes of sobriety and personal struggle, as MGK had committed to sobriety during its creation to channel raw emotion into the music.[30] The lead single "Till I Die" highlighted his loyalty to Cleveland, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, while tracks like "Spotlight" featuring Lzzy Hale introduced subtle rock influences amid the hip-hop core.[31]MGK's third album, Bloom, arrived on May 12, 2017, via Bad Boy, Interscope, and EST 19XX, debuting at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with 57,000 equivalent album units. The record marked an experimental phase, incorporating rock elements such as guitar riffs and alternative production to expand beyond traditional rap structures. Notable collaborations included "Trap Paris" with Quavo and Ty Dolla $ign, a track blending trap beats with melodic hooks that premiered as a single in April 2017 and exemplified MGK's growing crossover versatility.[32] Despite mixed reviews on its genre-blending approach, Bloom solidified his chart presence and fan engagement through energetic live performances.Returning to a more focused rap sound, MGK released Hotel Diablo on July 5, 2019, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, moving 39,000 equivalent album units in its debut week.[33] The album emphasized introspective lyricism and raw hip-hop production, serving as a thematic return to his origins after earlier experiments. Standout single "Glass House" featuring Naomi Wild addressed vulnerability and relationships, gaining traction with its haunting video depicting MGK trapped in a fiery carcrash.[34] To promote the project, MGK launched the Hotel Diablo World Tour in May 2019, a 51-city trek spanning North America, Japan, the UK, and Europe, drawing large crowds and reinforcing his live performance prowess.[35]During this period, MGK achieved mainstream crossovers, including a high-profile rap performance on WWE Raw in Cleveland on June 15, 2015, where he debuted "A Little More" from General Admission before an altercation with wrestler Kevin Owens.[36] He also received several award nominations, such as MTV Video Music Awards nods for Best Collaboration on "Wild Boy" in 2012 and for "Bad Things" with Camila Cabello in 2017, highlighting his rising visibility in hip-hop and pop circles.[37]
Genre evolution and recent releases (2020–present)
In 2020, Machine Gun Kelly pivoted from his hip-hop roots toward pop-punk with his fifth studio album, Tickets to My Downfall, produced primarily by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 126,000 equivalent album units in its first week, and marked his first entry into the rock genre with high-energy tracks like the singles "bloody valentine" and "my ex's best friend" featuring blackbear.[38][39] This shift drew backlash from some longtime rap fans who viewed it as an abandonment of his origins, but it revitalized interest in pop-punk and earned praise for its nostalgic energy and commercial success, including a platinum certification by the RIAA.The transition was further documented in the 2022 Hulu film Machine Gun Kelly's Life in Pink, which chronicled the making of Tickets to My Downfall and explored his personal and artistic struggles during the genre change. Collaborations during this period included "emo girl" with Willow on his follow-up rock album and features with artists like Iann Dior on pop-punk tracks, alongside Barker's production tying him to rock influences such as Blink-182. In 2022, Kelly released his sixth album, Mainstream Sellout, continuing the pop-punk sound with singles like the title track and "ay!" featuring Barker; it also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Alternative Albums chart.[40][41][42]By 2023, Kelly experimented with a partial return to rap via the single "Pressure," which addressed themes of external expectations and mental strain, though it maintained rock-infused production. In 2024, he collaborated with Trippie Redd on the EP Genre: Sadboy, blending emo-rap elements as a nod to his Ohio roots. His seventh album, lost americana (2025), further evolved his sound into a rap-rock hybrid with pop and alternative influences, featuring tracks like "outlaw overture" and "vampire diaries"; it debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart with 63,000 equivalent album units.[43][44][45]Critical reception to Kelly's genre evolution has been polarized: while rap audiences criticized the pivot as inauthentic, his rock releases achieved sustained chart dominance, including multiple No. 1s on alternative and rock lists, and contributed to a broader pop-punk revival. Supporting this phase, the Tickets to My Downfall World Tour extended into 2021, with anniversary performances planned for 2025, and the Lost Americana World Tour launched late 2025 across North America.[46][47][48][49][50]
Acting career
Early roles and film debut (2012–2018)
Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, made his initial foray into acting with a guest appearance on the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2012, where he performed his track "Wild Boy" as part of the episode "Freelance." This musical cameo marked his early exposure on screen, blending his rap persona with scripted television.[51]Baker's film debut arrived in 2014 with the romantic drama Beyond the Lights, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, in which he portrayed Kid Culprit, a brash and successful rapper serving as a foil to the lead character played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The role leveraged Baker's real-life experiences in the music industry, allowing him to deliver an authentic performance that critics noted for its natural intensity and alignment with his stage presence.[52][53]From 2016 onward, Baker took on a series of supporting roles in independent and genre films, building his on-screen resume amid festival circuit screenings. In the techno-thriller Nerve, directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, he played Tommy, a hacker participant in a dangerous online truth-or-dare game, sharing the cast with Emma Roberts and Dave Franco. That same year, he appeared as Crash, a rebellious punk rocker, in Punk's Dead: SLC Punk! 2, the sequel to the 1999 cult hit, a character that echoed his evolving rock influences in music. In the horror film Viral, Baker had a brief but memorable role as CJ, the boyfriend of a lead character, whose encounter with a mysterious outbreak ends violently early in the story. Additionally, in the coming-of-age urban drama The Land, directed by Steven Caple Jr. and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, he portrayed Slick, a local figure navigating Cleveland's street culture, themes resonant with his own lyrical content about hardship and ambition. In 2018, he portrayed Felix, a young man navigating survival amid a mysterious entity-driven apocalypse, in the Netflix thriller Bird Box, opposite Sandra Bullock.[54][55][56][57][58]
Major films and television work (2019–present)
In 2019, Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, gained significant attention for his portrayal of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in the Netflix biographical film The Dirt, directed by Jeff Tremaine.[59] To embody the role, Baker underwent a notable physical transformation, including temporary tattoos and long hair extensions to match Lee's iconic look from the 1980s glam metal era, and he performed his own drumming scenes, drawing praise for capturing the character's chaotic energy and vulnerability.[60] Critics highlighted his performance as a standout, with one review noting it as "the best thing about The Dirt" for its authenticity and commitment. That same year, he appeared as the rebellious Jurgis in the sci-fi thriller Captive State, directed by Rupert Wyatt, where he played a street-smart criminal resisting an alien occupation in a dystopian Chicago.[61] His role in the coming-of-age comedy Big Time Adolescence, as the immature friend Nick alongside Pete Davidson, further showcased his versatility in ensemble casts.Baker continued expanding his acting portfolio in 2020 with a supporting role as the resourceful dealer Newt in the Netflix action film Project Power, starring Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which explored a superhuman drug in New Orleans. In 2021, he played Cal, an outlaw seeking to end his family's curse, in the WesternThe Last Son, directed by Tim Sutton,[62] and starred opposite Megan Fox as the determined detective Calvin in the crime thriller Midnight in the Switchgrass, a project that marked one of his first leading roles in a narrative-driven feature. He also directed and narrated the short musical film Downfalls High, a stylized adaptation of Romeo & Juliet featuring his own music, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival and highlighted his growing interest in blending his artistic pursuits.By 2022, Baker made his directorial debut with Good Mourning, a dark comedy in which he also starred as the self-absorbed actor London Clash, navigating a chaotic day involving his girlfriend (played by Megan Fox) and career ambitions; the film received mixed reviews but was noted for its raw, improvisational style reflective of Baker's personal life.[63] He led the action thriller One Way as Freddy, a wounded low-level criminal fleeing a drug cartel on a cross-country bus journey, co-starring Kevin Bacon and earning commendations for his intense physical performance despite the film's modest budget.[64] Additionally, in Sutton's drama Taurus, Baker portrayed Cole, a troubled musician inspired by real-life figures, opposite Naomi Watts, delving into themes of fame and addiction in the indie music scene. These roles signaled a shift toward genre-driven projects like thrillers and horrors, building on his earlier work.From 2023 onward, Baker's television presence grew with a guest role as himself in the comedy series Bupkis, created by Pete Davidson, where he appeared in episodes blending autobiographical humor. In 2024, he made a comedic cameo as himself in the action-comedy Jackpot!, directed by Paul Feig and starring Awkwafina and John Cena, playing a lottery-obsessed version of his persona in a dystopian California setting. Through these projects up to 2025, Baker has increasingly taken on more prominent and multifaceted roles, transitioning from supporting parts to leads and creative control, while maintaining a focus on high-energy, character-driven narratives in action, thriller, and biographical genres.[65]
Personal life
Relationships and engagements
Baker's early romantic life included a long-term relationship with Emma Cannon, beginning around 2008, during his teenage years in Cleveland.[66] The couple welcomed their daughter, Casie Colson Baker, in July 2009, shortly after Baker started releasing his initial mixtapes.[66] They separated sometime after Casie's birth, and while rumors of a brief marriage circulated, no confirmation has ever been provided.[67]As his career gained traction, Baker entered several high-profile relationships. In 2015, he briefly dated model Amber Rose, confirming the romance in interviews after about a month together.[68] Rumors of a connection with singer Halsey surfaced in 2016, fueled by their joint red carpet appearance at the Roadies premiere and a shared vacation to Mexico, though both denied dating and described themselves as friends.[69] In early 2020, just before the pandemic, Baker was linked to influencer Sommer Ray after retweeting photos of them together, but the fling ended quickly.[70]Baker's most prominent partnership began in 2020 with actress Megan Fox, whom he met on the set of the thriller film Midnight in the Switchgrass in March.[71] They started dating in May, shortly after Fox separated from her then-husband Brian Austin Green, and quickly went public with affectionate Instagram posts.[72] The couple's relationship became highly visible, including a steamy performance of their duet "Bloody Valentine" at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.[73] On January 11, 2022, Baker proposed to Fox in Puerto Rico with a custom-designed engagement ring incorporating elements symbolizing their bond, which they announced the next day.[74]Baker shares primary custody of his daughter Casie, who often appears in his social media posts and has joined him at events like the 2025 Fashion Media Awards.[75]Fox has three sons—Noah, Bodhi, and Journey—from her previous marriage to Green, and the pair blended their families early in their relationship, with Baker describing Fox as a supportive stepmother figure to Casie.[75] They frequently appeared together at red carpetevents, showcasing their integrated family dynamic.Their relationship faced challenges, including a brief split in February 2023 amid reports of called-off engagement plans, but they reconciled by April of that year.[73] Another separation occurred over Thanksgiving 2024, yet Fox gave birth to their daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker, on March 27, 2025.[71] By September 2025, Baker praised Fox as the "greatest partner" in co-parenting Saga, and sources reported in October that they were spending significant time together without an official label, amid talks of renewed commitment. As of November 2025, the couple is reportedly working on their relationship to establish a more solid foundation while co-parenting Saga.[76][77] This turbulence has influenced Baker's music, with songs on his 2020 albumTickets to My Downfall drawing from their romance, and ongoing personal experiences shaping recent collaborative tracks.[72]
Health issues and recovery
Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, began experimenting with substances during his teenage years, amid a turbulent childhood marked by frequent relocations and familial instability that contributed to his early drug use, including alcohol and marijuana.[78] By his early 20s, his struggles intensified, with his 2012 debut album Lace Up referencing battles with heroin addiction and cocaine use as a coping mechanism for personal hardships.[79]In 2011, Baker faced legal consequences tied to his substance issues when he was arrested for disorderly conduct in Ohio following a flash mob event, resulting in a $230 fine. He encountered a similar incident with another disorderly conduct charge in Florida in January 2012.[80] His substance abuse persisted, leading to his first public acknowledgment of seeking professional help through therapy in 2020, after years of heavy use of alcohol, marijuana, and prescription pills like Percocet and Vyvanse.[81] Although not entering rehab until later, the themes of addiction and recovery permeated his 2015 albumGeneral Admission, which drew from his raw experiences with substance dependency.[31]Baker has been open about his bipolar disorder diagnosis, first publicly discussing it in interviews around 2018, and has used tattoos to symbolize his mental health battles, including a blackout tattoo across his torso in 2024 representing a fresh start in sobriety and personal transformation.[82] The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 triggered a relapse into heavier drinking and pill use amid isolation, but it also marked a turning point, as he credited the period with helping him quit cocaine and begin sustained sobriety efforts through therapy.[83] In August 2023, he entered rehab for alcohol, marijuana, and pills, and by August 2024, celebrated one year of sobriety, supported by ongoing therapy and the influence of close collaborators like Travis Barker.In 2023, Baker actively advocated for mental health on social media, sharing posts encouraging fans to seek therapy and discussing his own sessions as essential for growth, stating that "the strongest thing you can do is ask for help."[84] By 2025, he continued this openness in interviews tied to his album Lost Americana, excerpting reflections on mental health struggles from the Tickets to My Downfall era, emphasizing forgiveness and positive affirmations as tools for managing bipolar symptoms and recovery.[85] These themes of sobriety and healing also appear briefly in his music, such as tracks on Tickets to My Downfall that explore redemption without substances.[86]
Public image and legacy
Artistic influences and style
Machine Gun Kelly's artistic influences span hip-hop and rock, shaping his rapid-fire delivery and genre-blending approach. He has frequently cited Eminem as a pivotal inspiration, crediting the rapper for motivating him to begin writing and for influencing his storytelling and technical prowess in hip-hop.[87]Punk rock bands such as Blink-182 and Green Day also played a significant role in his youth, informing his high-energy performances and rebellious ethos.[3] Additional hip-hop touchstones include DMX for raw emotional intensity and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony for melodic flows, which contributed to his early trap-rap foundations.[88]His style has evolved markedly across phases of his career, reflecting personal and musical growth. In his initial years, MGK embraced an aggressive trap-rap sound characterized by a tattooed, defiant aesthetic that mirrored his Cleveland roots and street-hardened narratives.[89] By the mid-2010s, this shifted toward melodic introspection, incorporating R&B elements to explore vulnerability amid rising fame. Post-2020, he pivoted to pop-punk, featuring guitar-driven tracks infused with punk urgency and emotional openness, as seen in collaborations with Blink-182's Travis Barker.[89]Lyrical themes in MGK's work often center on personal trauma from a turbulent childhood marked by abuse and instability, the double-edged nature of fame, and the complexities of love and loss.[90] His performance style amplifies these elements through intense crowd engagement, including frequent stage dives and crowdsurfing that transform venues into participatory spaces.[91]Visually, MGK's branding reinforces his rock-rap hybrid identity, with over 98 tattoos covering much of his body, including his daughter Casie's name etched on his chest as a tribute to fatherhood.[92] His fashion fuses streetwear with rock staples, such as leather jackets, heavy chains, and nu-metal-inspired accessories, evolving from urban grit to polished punk edge.[93]Critics have accused MGK of inauthenticity during his genre transitions, particularly his pop-punk pivot, viewing it as opportunistic rather than organic. He has defended these shifts as essential artistic evolution, emphasizing his lifelong rock influences and rejection of rigid categorization.[94]
Cultural impact and controversies
Machine Gun Kelly has played a pivotal role in bridging hip-hop and rock genres, introducing elements of punk energy and rapid-fire rap to younger audiences and fostering a new wave of genre-blending music. His transition to pop-punk with the 2020 album Tickets to My Downfall helped revitalize the style for a generation raised on streaming platforms, earning praise for making rock more accessible to teens previously dominated by hip-hop and pop. Collaborations with artists like Yungblud, including the 2019 track "I Think I'm OKAY," exemplified this fusion, inspiring a cohort of genre-fluid performers to challenge traditional boundaries in music. By November 2025, MGK's Instagram account boasted over 9 million followers, amplifying his influence through raw, personal content that resonates with fans on social issues and self-expression.[95][96][97][98]In philanthropy, MGK has focused on uplifting Cleveland's youth, his hometown, through initiatives like the annual MGK Day event, which in 2025 included drives for school supplies to support K-12 students amid ongoing community needs.[99] Following the 2020 social unrest, he contributed to local causes, including repurposing diamonds from his jewelry for a 2022 donation to the Shaker Heights Schools Foundation, benefiting educational programs in his former district.[100][101]MGK's career has not been without controversies, most notably his long-running feud with Eminem, which ignited in 2012 over a tweet about Eminem's daughter and escalated in 2018 with diss tracks "Rap Devil" from MGK and "Killshot" from Eminem. The beef highlighted tensions in hip-hop authenticity and gatekeeping, drawing widespread media attention and boosting both artists' profiles, though no full reconciliation occurred by late 2025—despite Eminem's apologetic nod in his 2024 track "Guilty Conscience 2" and external hopes from figures like Jelly Roll for a truce. In November 2025, the feud escalated further with the leak of an unreleased version of MGK's track "El Pistolero" containing new disses toward Eminem.[102][103][104][105][106] Another point of contention was the 2022 release of Mainstream Sellout, which faced backlash for its overt commercialization and perceived pandering to pop-punk trends, with critics labeling it a "self-parody" amid mixed reviews questioning MGK's genre shift.[107][108]Media portrayal of MGK often centers on his high-profile, tumultuous relationship with Megan Fox, fueling tabloid frenzy with reports of breakups, reconciliations, and dramatic gestures like blood-infused tattoos since 2020. In 2025, he addressed industry gatekeeping head-on, criticizing conformist hate and unnecessary backlash against his artistic choices in fashion and music, positioning himself as an advocate for authentic expression amid ongoing scrutiny. His legacy endures in the pop-punk revival he spearheaded post-2020, with Tickets to My Downfall alone surpassing 3 billion Spotify streams and his overall catalog exceeding 12 billion by mid-2025, cementing his role in expanding rock's relevance for digital-native listeners.[109][73][110][111][112]