© Rich Fury/MTV VMAs 2020
During a recent podcast appearance, Cleveland native Colson Baker, known by his stage name Machine Gun Kelly, discussed the stigma that white rappers often face. When podcaster Logan Paul’s co-host Mike Majlak brought up the criticism leveled at white hip-hop artists, MGK acknowledged an underlying bias. However, he claimed most backlash has come from other white fans rather than Black audiences.
MGK stated street culture fully embraces him. It is typically white listeners who are more critical. He praised Eminem as the “sole” white rapper to gain full acceptance in hip-hop. Eminem is viewed as crossing an invisible line into inclusion, a goal MGK believes he too has achieved. Despite this, Eminem himself has talked about facing cynicism as a white artist breaking into a predominantly Black genre.
In the interview, Machine Gun Kelly saw hip hop as largely open and accepting beyond issues of race. To him, talent and skill are what truly matter most. While acknowledging an implicit prejudice remains, he credited street peers for embracing his music over characteristics like skin color.
