Rapper and musician Machine Gun Kelly has thrust his striking blackout chest tattoo back into the public eye, making a rare appearance where the extensive body art was fully visible. The 34-year-old artist, born Colson Baker, was spotted in high spirits on Miami Beach with friends over the weekend, showcasing the sprawling black ink that blankets much of his upper torso.
The Tattoo's Turbulent Origins
Kelly first unveiled the dramatic all-black chest piece in February 2024, sharing a stark Instagram photo captioned, 'For spiritual purposes only.' The tattoo artist, Roxx, revealed the process was a 'spiritual consultation' and that MGK felt his old tattoos were 'chaotic' and no longer reflected his mindset. The intricate work required 44 needles and involved thirteen six-hour sessions over four days a week starting in mid-December.
At the time, the star linked the extreme body modification to a difficult period in his life, referencing it in his emotionally charged track Don't Let Me Go. He rapped, 'I had a breakdown and tatted my entire body except one line.' His artist described him as the 'toughest client she's ever had,' and MGK later thanked her for 'the joy and the pain.'
Personal Life and Speculation
The Miami Beach outing comes amidst ongoing speculation about Kelly's relationship with on-off fiancée Megan Fox. The couple, who reportedly split in November 2024, welcomed a daughter, Saga, in March of this year. Fox was not present during the recent beach trip.
However, sources suggest Fox has been impressed by 'how he's stepped up for both her and the baby,' leading to whispers that the former couple may be reconciling. This context adds a new layer to the public display of a tattoo once symbolising personal turmoil, now perhaps indicative of a changed chapter.
A Canvas of Constant Change
Machine Gun Kelly's body art remains a work in progress. Roxx confirmed the project is 'one of the biggest she's done in such a short time' and that some work remains. Kelly continued to add to his collection in June with another arm design.
His partner in art and music, Travis Barker, also shares a connection through ink; the pair got matching tattoos in August 2021 to coincide with Kelly's album Born with Horns. Meanwhile, Megan Fox expanded her own tattoo collection in 2024 with a full sleeve featuring a phoenix and flowers.
The Miami sighting shows a confident Machine Gun Kelly openly displaying a deeply personal and physically demanding piece of body art, far removed from the 'breakdown' he once associated with it. The display continues to fuel public fascination with his transformative journey, both personally and artistically.
