CLEVELAND – Machine Gun Kelly has already put it down for Cleveland. Now an even wider audience will be exposed to the local native.
The Cleveland rapper’s 13-track debut studio album ‘Lace Up’ comes out Tuesday and has plenty of buzz surrounding it.
Machine Gun Kelly, ‘MGK’ for short, was signed by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy and Interscope Records label last summer after catching the mogul’s attention at SXSW in Texas.
Born Richard Colson Baker, Machine Gun Kelly’s name is an ode to Prohibition-era gangster George Kelly and an ode to his fast lyrical flow.
‘Wild Boy,’ the title of the first single off ‘Lace Up,’ has also become a befitting persona for the 22-year-old, who has made waves off stage for raucous behavior.
Back in 2011, he found himself in handcuffs and then jail after organizing a flash mob that got unruly at the Strongsville Mall.
He was at it again In January, arrested in Florida in the wee hours of the morning for disorderly conduct following a concert in St. Petersburg.
Even more recently in September, the Shaker Heights High grad had to be escorted out by police from a performance at a Microsoft Store after reportedly jumping on tables, then cursing out and flipping off employees.
MGK doesn’t shy away from the limelight. He gives off every intention he wants to be noticed – and is doing a good job of it.
MTV named him the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 and XXL magazine recognized him as a breakout talent in its 2012 Freshman Class feature.
It’s hard to miss MGK, his body full of tattoos of an array of shapes and hues. The look and bravado are just a part of the act though. Four mixtapes later, it’s hip-hop supplemented by self-confident swag that stirs his enthusiasts.
Many of those will be at his sold out show Tuesday night at House of Blues in Cleveland.
That’s another reason you’ll probably want to remember Machine Gun. He hasn’t forgotten his roots.
If you question that just take a listen to ‘Cleveland.’ A lot of pride – and a few expletives – later you’ll hear his motto loud and clear.
MUSIC: Cleveland Rapper Machine Gun Kelly Releases Debut Album was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
