When Machine Gun Kelly first stepped into the scene, his rapid-fire flow and punk-rock demeanor was what captivated his audience.
Now, he’s earned his stripes as a rapper – most notably after exchanging diss tracks with Eminem – and blossomed into a rock star.
For years we’ve watched MGK become more and more immersed in the rock world. It’s no secret the multi-faceted artist is heavily inspired by blink-182, Linkin Park, and Nirvana, as he’s covered songs by the latter at concerts, was set to tour with Linkin Park before lead singer Chester Bennington took his own life one week before, and has a close relationship with blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
Although Barker and MGK may seem like an odd combination, they surprisingly have more in common than both being tall, skinny, tatted-up white dudes.
Last year the duo linked up for the first time on wax to deliver Kelly’s hit single – “I Think I’m OKAY.”
This year, we can expect an entire pop-punk album from the pair.
It may seem like MGK’s transition from rapper to punk rock star happened over night, but really, it’s been in effect since early on.
In 2012, the first track on MGK’s debut album included features from two members of the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Many fans were surprised to hear the ear-piercing screaming of the band’s foreman, M. Shadows, on the album, let alone the project’s introduction – but this is a testament to how long MGK has admired punk-rock.
The following year, Kelly was featured on a song alongside the rock band Sleeping With Sirens. He formed a relationship with lead singer of the band, Kellin Quinn, and together they released a remix to “Swing Life Away” by Rise Against and even recorded an acoustic version of the song while they were touring.
In 2015, MGK linked up with Kid Rock for their song “Bad Motherf****r” and two years later, Kelly’s album “bloom” featured his first solo rock song – “Let You Go.”
“Rock God, I was born in a mosh pit,” MGK aggressively spits on a record from his “BINGE” EP – released promptly after his 2018 feud with Eminem. The project features nine tracks and has punk-rock undertones throughout.
Last year, MGK released two rock records – “I Think I’m OKAY” with Travis Barker and YUNGBLUD and “why are you here.” The latter of the two is set to appear on his pop-punk collab album with Travis Barker, “Tickets To My Downfall.”
The album was first announced in December 2019 and is slated to be released this summer.
MGK even tattooed the album’s name on his neck – seemingly sealing the deal.
Just last week, Kelly and Travis Barker dropped a cover to Paramore’s 2007 hit “Misery Business” accompanied by a video on YouTube. The visual shows MGK and Barker separated by quarantine in their respective homes, while Barker drums and Kelly strums an electric guitar – something that shouldn’t be shocking to fans who know him.
MGK has been playing guitar for years, releasing acoustic versions to some of his most popular songs and even contributing to the production on his albums. He often plays guitar at his live shows which have been credited for their high energy.
In addition to touring with Limp Bizkit in 2014, MGK also played multiple dates at The Vans Warped Tour, making his first appearance during the 2011 tour and performing at the on-the-road music festival up until last year when it came to an end.
But perhaps what really sealed the deal and turned MGK into a punk-rock aficionado was his role as Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in the Netflix biopic “The Dirt.” Either that – or Marilyn Manson gifting the rapper-actor-rock-star a dildo (with his face on it) for his 29th birthday.
Because who wouldn’t want a dildo with Marilyn Manson’s face on it?
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