MGK
A genre-bending rockstar who ignited a public feud with Eminem and successfully pivoted from rap to pop-punk, capturing a generation's angst.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American musician·Birthday: April 22·Millennials
Biography
Colson Baker, the artist known as MGK, emerged from Cleveland's rap underground with a frenetic, confessional style that earned him a dedicated following. His career trajectory took a dramatic turn following a high-profile diss track exchange with Eminem, which many saw as a defining moment. Rather than fading, he audaciously reinvented himself, channeling early-2000s pop-punk energy on his 2020 album 'Tickets to My Downfall,' a commercial smash produced by Travis Barker. This pivot not only revived his career but also signaled a broader rock resurgence for a new audience. Beyond music, he has cultivated a distinct, tattooed aesthetic and pursued acting, embodying a rebellious, heart-on-sleeve persona that defies easy categorization.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
MGK was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When MGK Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
MGK's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2020 pop-punk album 'Tickets to My Downfall' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
- He starred as Tommy Lee in the 2022 Netflix biographical film 'Machine Gun Kelly's Life in Pink'.
- His single 'Bloody Valentine' became a platinum-certified hit, leading the rock revival charge.
Did You Know?
He legally changed his name to Colson Baker but performs under MGK.
He is a trained pilot and has flown planes.
His daughter Casie is from a previous relationship with Emma Cannon.
“I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not.”
