Richard Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly, is an American rapper from Cleveland, Ohio. He began rapping in 2006 and has since released several mixtapes and albums. He maintains an active online presence through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube where he consistently engages with over 2 million followers by sharing updates about his music, tours, and personal life. While still developing his fan base, Machine Gun Kelly works hard to connect with supporters through online interactions.

2. Background
Name: Richard Colson Baker aka Machine Gun Kelly (MGK)
Born: April 22, 1990
Houston, Texas, United States
Age: 23
Location: Raised in Cleveland, Ohio
Genre: Hip-Hop (Rap)
Career: 2006 – present
Labels: EST 19XX, Bad Boy Records, Interscope

3. History
• While constantly moving, MGK attended high school in
Cleveland and settled there permanently
• In 2009 he went to Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where he had
consecutive victories, making him the first ever white rapper
to win at the Apollo Theater
• He began getting exposure when he was featured on MTV2’s
Sucker Free Freestyle
• His national debut occurred on May 2010
• His most famous mixtape was released in November 2010
titled Lace Up
• Signed with Bad Boy Records in 2011.

4. A little about him
• He records his music in his home studio, which he calls the
“Rage Cage”
• His album ‘Lace Up’ features the hometown anthem
“Cleveland” which is played at Cleveland Cavaliers home
games
• It took three months to record ‘Lace Up’
• He was featured in 2011’s XXL and presented as part of 2012’s
XXL Top Freshmen list (upcoming rappers)

5. Online/ social media presence
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/machinegunkellymusic
• Currently has over 2.3 million likes
• Very consistent with updates
• Consistently updates his followers on where he is and what he
is up to
• Always tells where his next concert is

6. Cont’d
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/machinegunkelly
• Constantly tweets out what he is up to
• Shows constant updates with pictures
• Humorous updates to entertain his fans, which include his life
• Updates constantly to show his love for his fans

7. Cont’d
Instagram:
http://instagram.com/cockpunch
• Always updates his location to his followers
• Consistent with uploads
• What he is currently doing for music
• Very open to his fans, such as showing pictures of his family

8. Cont’d
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/machinegunkellyAK
http://www.youtube.com/user/MGKVEVO
• Only uploads music related videos
• Provides content on his tour(s)

9. Cont’d
Website
http://www.machinegunkelly.com
• Connected to his profiles on different social media applications
• Shows uploads of his past concerts
• Shows pictures of his loyal fans, ones with tattos

10. Type of online communities
• The presence of this online community is seen on social
media sites
• They are all a supportive based community that encourage
and support the artist
• It is very difficult to find forums relating to the artist
• He has a reputation of himself, his concerts, and fans

11. How are they maintained?
• All social media profiles are maintained by MGK and his
friends
• His friends maintain his website

12. The 5 Social Media Tips
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find your audience
Post meaningful, sharable content
Engage your current fans
Continue the social push IRL. Hand out swag.
Put up flyers
5. Post Consistently

13. Has the Band found the audience?
•
•
•
•
Yes and no
Still up and coming artist
Only tours around the United States and Canada
He has yet to travel elsewhere, such as Europe South America,
or even Asia
• They have an audience of what they are looking for
• They have just not expanded their fan base

14. Meaningful, Shareable content?
• He only presents shareable content
• All content is meant for entertainment purposes
• His content are heavily mature content

15. Engage with fans?
• He constantly engages with fans
• From waiting in line for concerts to the social media he
engages with all
• He excels with dedicated fans (i.e. fans with tattoos of his
name) uploading pictures with them on his personal profiles
on various social media applications

16. Continue social push?
• He attempts to continue the social push
• Only creates profiles on growing social media networks to
push his music out
• Never forgets about his other social media profiles

17. Hand out Swags? Flyers?
• He does not hand out things like swag due to the size of his
fan base
• With a small to medium fan base and the money he receives
is not enough to maintain minor things

18. Post Consistently
• He is constantly updating his social media profiles
• Always wants to update to his fans
• Takes fans seriously, thus wants to give back to them in any
way possible