Machine Gun Kelly’s sharp, staccato rap attack caught the attention of Sean Combs at 2011’s SXSW, and the rest is history. He’s become infamous thanks to the power-partying persona he projected on breakthrough single “Wild Boy” and the near-anarchic atmosphere of his shows.
A beef with his idol Eminem blew up into a public relations bonanza for both artists in August, with Eminem responding to dis lyrics from MGK (on Tech N9ne’s “No Reason”) via blistering track “Not Alike” from Kamikaze. MGK shot back with “Rap Devil,” verbally killing his idol with dizzying rounds of high-speed ammo. Eminem fired back at even higher velocity with “Killshot.” In the end, both artists benefitted from the attention, but it’s really MGK’s time in the sun.
He flexed his acting chops supporting Sandra Bullock in Netflix’s Bird Box, and plays Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in upcoming Netflix biopic The Dirt. His wild boy ways may have helped get the role, but nowadays he saves his explosive kinetics for the stage.
The Pearl at Palms, 8 p.m. Feb. 2, starting at $49 plus tax and fee. 702.944.3200
