The project Machine Gun Kelly called “the best album of all fucking time”
Machine Gun Kelly has been making music since 2006 and has steadily risen. The Cleveland rapper’s career dramatically rose in 2011 after signing a deal with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, releasing six albums on the label. His most recent projects may explore genres such as pop-punk, heartland rock, and alternative rock, but rappers have always been one of his primary sources of inspiration.
Born in 1990, MGK’s early teenage years were littered with hip-hop classics. When he was 12, he came across what he considers the best album across all genres. 50 Cent’s debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, profoundly impacted his life. He credits 50’s life story and the impressive ability to rap over Dr Dre’s beats as a key factor in its appeal.
“The best album of all fucking time,” he told Complex. “That shit was fucking crazy. His story was the best story. He got shot nine fucking times, he was a real crack dealer, he was a gangster, he really beat people up. His credibility was all the way there and his sound was something we’ve never heard. He laced a West Coast producer’s beats with all East Coast shit. I couldn’t even understand how crazy that was. That shit changed the rap game.”
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was released on Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and Eminem’s Shady Records. It was the best-selling album of 2003 in the US and was nominated for ‘Best Rap Album’ at the Grammy Awards in 2004. It was home to hit singles like ‘In Da Club’, ’21 Questions’, and ‘P.I.M.P.’, which put 50 on the map.
MGK may be a massive 50 fan, but he was signed to one of his enemies, Diddy, for 13 years. Miami rapper Gunplay was involved in a fight during the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards taping, with members of 50’s crew reportedly part of the scuffle. Kelly was there and claimed that 50 was taunting Diddy outside his trailer before the fight occurred.
“I was about to go say ‘what’s up’ and introduce myself to Gunplay right when that was about to happen,” he explained. “Right before that happened, 50 came up to Puff – I think it was the other way around… I don’t like to stay in one place. I like to roam and just look at people so I was just roaming through the trailers.
“I just remember 50 coming up outside of Puff’s trailer and being like, but Puff was on the inside of his trailer so he said to somebody and was like, ‘What kind of money Puff say he was getting again? I can count that shit on one hand man.’ I thought it was all funny and sarcastic, and then two seconds later the whole Gunplay thing popped off.”
50 hasn’t said much about MGK over the years, but he did comment on his beef with Eminem in 2022. Following Em’s ‘Killshot’ diss track, 50 gave a word of warning to Kelly. “Don’t act like you didn’t know this would happen,” he said. “Oh my, what have you got yourself into. Get the strap.”