MGK recently revealed a serious health scare he endured while undergoing the painful process of getting his now-iconic blackout tattoo. The transformation left him unable to sleep and caused his skin to turn yellow, highlighting the extreme physical toll of the procedure.
In a candid interview with Billboard Canada, the rapper, whose real name is Colson Baker, reflected on the drastic measures he took to complete the extensive body art. The blackout tattoo, created by artist ROXX, covers much of his upper body and was first unveiled in 2024.
Notably, MGK disregarded professional advice suggesting the tattoo should be completed over two years, opting instead to finish it within just two months. This accelerated timeline led to complications, particularly after tattooing around his shoulders and armpits, which affected his lymph nodes.
“After the first week, we hit my lymph nodes around my armpits and shoulders, and I got really sick,” MGK explained. “My skin was turning yellow. I wasn’t able to sleep. I stopped being able to move certain parts of my upper body.” Despite these severe symptoms, he eventually recovered and found inspiration in the experience.
In a significant development, MGK shared that his motivation for the dramatic physical change extended beyond music. While working on his recent collaboration project, Blog Era Boyz, with Wiz Khalifa, he sought a transformation that was more than just auditory. “I was looking for a change that wasn’t just a sound wave,” he said. “It had to be something physical.”
He also expressed that over time, the various tattoos on his body had come to symbolize different phases of his life, ranging from uplifting moments to darker periods. This realization prompted him to pursue a complete physical reset through the blackout tattoo.
Fans were first introduced to MGK’s blackout tattoo journey in 2024 through social media posts showing parts of the process. These included graphic images of blood, recovery treatments, and sessions in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. At the time, MGK described the experience as “the most painful” of his life.
He further explained that the project aimed to challenge traditional perceptions of body art and the appearance of human skin. Remarkably, MGK completed the entire procedure without the use of anesthesia or numbing agents, underscoring his commitment to the transformation.
