At twenty-four years old, MIKE’s age can be deceiving. He is an integral figure in birthing a new sound and style of hip hop that has gained wide influence since it first broke in underground circles in 2017, and MIKE’s music itself carries the insight, pain, and fatigue that often comes with age and long life lived.
Born in New Jersey, MIKE moved to London with his mother before settling in The Bronx for the remainder of his later teenage years. In New York, MIKE connected with several artists who had a similar ear and style, and formed a collective called [sLUms]. Consisting of Adé Hakim, Darryl Johnson, King Carter, Jazz Jodi, and DJ Mason, the group established a unique sound that created waves throughout underground hip hop circles across the country. MIKE has opened tours for Blood Orange, Earl Sweatshirt, and Freddie Gibbs, and performed at festivals such as Governor’s Ball, Primavera, Coachella, MoMA PS1 Warm Up, Pitchfork Festival, and more.
At the end of 2022 MIKE has released his new album Beware of the Monkey. As he has grown older, and amassed a larger fanbase, the more pitfalls and tricks he has had to navigate: both within his personal life and the music industry. “Beware of the Monkey” is a warning that speaks to those experiences. The album features the intense introspection that is characteristic of a MIKE project, but also his most commanding and engaging production work to date. Beware of the Monkey finds the most confident and determined MIKE to date, as he crosses the line from child prodigy to full fledged artist and stakes out his place as a force to be reckoned with in the current rap landscape.