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Richard Colson Baker (born April 22, 1990), better known by his stage names MGK and Machine Gun Kelly, is an American rapper, songwriter and actor from Cleveland, Ohio. In 2011, he signed a record deal with Bad Boy, under the aegis of Interscope.

Biography

MGK has a child named Casie, who was born in 2008. Stated on his website: "Not long after, an 18 year-old MGK welcomed his own child, a daughter named Casie." Although MGK and the child's mother are no longer together, they are on good terms, with MGK going as far as using the advance money from his record deal to buy a new house for her and Casie.

MGK has openly spoken about his previous 2 year heroin addiction, making a song referencing the addiction titled "Lead You On", and with the song having a profound impact on him, it has allowed for him to self-refer "Lead You On" as his most meaningful song. MGK was forced through a period of homelessness to feed the addiction in 2010, and therefore attended a rehabilitation center in which he was aided by a guidance counsellor to combat the addiction. MGK even contemplated suicide by drug overdose, contemplating whether to "stick that shit up in my skin and overdose [on heroin] so I can’t have it again", but managed to combat the addiction and was able to remain sober since 2010, suffering no recorded relapse since.

Despite previously having a heroin addiction, MGK is open about his use of cannabis and he has claimed in many interviews that he smokes daily, describing it as a "source of happiness and a way people can feel a little more love [in their own right]." He has frequently mentioned cannabis references within sources of his music and rap persona, making it a forefront of both his rap and personal character.

MGK cites DMX and Eminem as music influences, as well as listening to rock bands Guns N' Roses and Blink-182 during his youth, citing the latter rap artist and rock band as major musical influences.

In May 2015, reports surfaced that MGK was dating hip hop model Amber Rose. On May 26, MGK confirmed the relationship during an AOL Build interview. He later elaborated about their relationship on New York Hot 97, saying:


"Everything was completely natural; it wasn't anything that I had expected or had planned... You know, when the universe throws something your way... I'm one of those people who goes with it, and I don't fight it."
Rose also confirmed the relationship during an interview on Real 92.3 on June 2, 2015, saying: "We're dating. We're just getting to know each other. He's a really nice guy. He treats me really, really nice, and I have a blast with him.