Machine Gun Kelly, known for his rapid-fire lyrical delivery, has made a name for himself both in music and on screen. Born Richard Colson Baker in Houston, Texas, back in 1990, Machine Gun Kelly spent much of his early life traveling the globe with his missionary parents. Eventually settling in Denver with his father and aunt, he found inspiration in the raw energy of hip-hop artists like Eminem, Ludacris, and DMX. It wasn’t long before Machine Gun Kelly began turning heads with his own intense flow—so much so that in 2009, he became the first MC ever to win Amateur Night at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater.
From there, Machine Gun Kelly steadily built momentum. After releasing a string of mixtapes, he caught the attention of Sean Combs during a standout performance at SXSW in 2011. That led to a deal with Bad Boy Records, and by 2012, Machine Gun Kelly dropped his debut EP, Half Naked & Almost Famous. The project helped launch his first hit on the US Hot 100—”Wild Boy”—and his full-length debut, Lace Up, soared to No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Clearly, Machine Gun Kelly was making waves.
By 2013, after putting out the mixtape Black Flag, Machine Gun Kelly started exploring new creative avenues. He made his acting debut playing a cocky rapper in the musical drama Beyond the Lights (2014), delivered a memorable stint on WWE Raw, and followed up with his second album, General Admission, which once again hit No. 4 on the charts in 2015. But it was in 2016 that Machine Gun Kelly truly broke through as a pop crossover artist with “Bad Things,” a sultry collaboration with former Fifth Harmony star Camila Cabello—his first US Top 10 single. That same year, though, he also poured energy into acting.
Machine Gun Kelly took on multiple roles: the rebellious punk Crash in Punk’s Dead (2016), the competitive Ty opposite Emma Roberts in the thriller Nerve (2016), and the ill-fated boyfriend CJ in the sci-fi horror flick Viral (2016). He also snagged a recurring role as Wes, a former Pearl Jam roadie, in Cameron Crowe’s Showtime series Roadies and co-produced and appeared in the coming-of-age drama The Land (2016).
Returning to music, Machine Gun Kelly scored another major success with his 2017 album Bloom, landing yet another US Top 10 entry. However, things got heated when he sparked a public feud with Eminem, responding to criticism with the fiery diss track “Rap Devil.” Not one to slow down, Machine Gun Kelly released the EP Binge in 2018. Around this time, he further expanded his film resume—delivering a gritty, scene-stealing performance as the foul-mouthed, pill-popping Felix in Netflix’s smash hit Bird Box (2018).
From there, Machine Gun Kelly continued building his acting portfolio with roles in the alien invasion thriller Captive State (2019), the relatable teen dramedy Big Time Adolescence (2019), and most notably, portraying wild-haired Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee in the biopic The Dirt (2019)—a role that showcased his range and cemented his status as a multi-hyphenate talent. Through it all, Machine Gun Kelly has proven time and again that he’s more than just a rapper—he’s a force across entertainment, constantly evolving while staying true to his roots.
When it comes to Machine Gun Kelly’s film career, there’s a pretty noticeable gap between his highest and lowest rated movies. On the top end, Machine Gun Kelly starred in Jackass Forever (2022), which ended up being his most critically acclaimed film to date. The movie was a major hit with audiences and critics alike, giving Machine Gun Kelly some solid momentum in the acting world. On the flip side, Machine Gun Kelly also appeared in Good Mourning (2022), which unfortunately didn’t resonate as well. That one turned out to be his lowest rated film so far. So overall, while Machine Gun Kelly has shown promise on screen, his results have been a bit of a mixed bag—especially within the same year. Still, fans continue to support Machine Gun Kelly as he explores more roles beyond music.