NAME: MGM Mike Mike
BORN: Fussa City, Japan/From Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INTO MUSIC AND WHAT WAS YOUR ATTRACTION: I wanted to do music in 2006 when I first listened to Port of Miami by Rick Ross. I used to freestyle to every song he had to my friend on the phone. Then that’s just what I was doing for a lot of years. Never going in the booth. I officially started doing music 21 January 2017; the first time I ever went into a studio and did a song. It was the song “The Takeover”. My attraction was that I felt I could artistically paint pictures with music and inspire others by telling my story…and get rich in the process.
WHAT OTHER TALENTS DO YOU HAVE? ACTING! I think that will be my lane once people catch on to my wave. I love being around people and making people laugh and feel good about themselves. So that’s what I’m looking for. I know there’s a big bag waiting on me in Hollywood. Tell Ice Cube to get at me…
RECENT EVENTS/PROJECTS:
My current mixtape “Off The Chain” is out now on My Mixtapez, Spinrilla, and other music outlets. I’m still doing videos for that project. The next video will be for “No Hook 2”. Definitely going to have fun with that one, working with BIDDUHH Films again. My second project is almost complete. I’m working on the features now. I’m possibly opening up for Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em at Georgia Tech University. Right now it’s just about increasing my fan base. And I’m doing that organically. Handing out shirts and cds hand to hand. Interacting with fans. Stuff like that. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT MUSIC AND CREATING IT:The creation part. Words are just words. A beat is just a beat. But the creativity it requires to take the two and put them together in a way that other people enjoy and will continue to listen to and make a part of theire daily routine is what I’m after. I love punchlines the best. I like the type of punchline that makes people laugh when they hear it. Lil Wayne is the best ever at that in my opinion. But I don’t believe people catch all of mine. You really have to listen hard to my words. But that’s the challenge of music; reaching people in a creative way and trying to get them to continue to listen.
WHAT IS YOUR SHORT TERM MUSIC GOAL?
INCREASE MY FAN BASE! That’s the number one priority right now. I have a million dollar cd, but I just don’t have the followers to get me out there to the masses. Once I do, I know it’ll take off. People (labels, other artists) look at your social media following first! It’s just reality. So it’s imperative you have that to even be taken seriously. Doesn’t mean you don’t have good music. Just means you have work to do.
WHAT IS YOUR LONG TERM GOAL?
To inspire people to do what they love no matter the cost. Make somebody have to kill you to stop you from reaching it. Be ready to die to accomplish your goals. That’s how serious you have to be about making it. At least that’s how serious I am about making it.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS/PRODUCERS PAST OR PRESENT?
Well I grew up Cash Money. So my artist and producer where what I listened to every day: Wayne and Manny Fresh. But when I left home I started listening to other types of music and really branching out and liking a lot of other types of music. Kanye West is out of this world. I think he always has so much going on that people forget to really appreciate how talented he is creatively. 40 in Drake’s camp is phenomenal. Metro Boomin. There’s a duo named Budadafuture and GrandzMusic out of NY who are way before their time. They make amazing music also. But honestly, it’s a lot of producers out there who people just DON’T know about who have AWESOME music. So please give your local and unknown producers a chance.
As far as artists, I’m Ross, Drake, and Meek Mill. Those three stand out as my favorite. I’m trying to build an empire like Ross, share my life like Drake, and display and exhibit the passion and street-ness of Meek. But I love many artists music. Wayne, 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti, Jeezy, Young Thug, YFN Lucci, Kanye, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, The Dream. Just a bunch of artists that I’m influenced by. That MGM Mike Mike dude is DOPE AF also! You should check him out also. Lol.
WHAT TYPE OF ADVERSITY HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME IN YOUR ENDEAVORS?
The biggest adversity is just realizing the things that you have to leave behind if you really want to move forward. It might be people who’ve been in your life for as long as you’ve been living. It might be childhood friends or even family members. But that’s one of the biggest things. Especially where you’re from. Some people will only see you for how they remember you in their head. If you were a boss where they place you, then you’ll get respected as such for a long time. If you were a nobody to them, then you’ll forever be a nobody. But when reality and their placement don’t match, people get uncomfortable. And from my experience, that turns to hate. I don’t know why, it just how it’s happened for me. But I just make sure that the people who say they’re with the program are actually WITH the program. Because when the bag comes, you will get back exactly what you put in. May be more, but it definitely won’t be less. FACTS!
THUS FAR, WHAT IS A STANDOUT MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
Making it to the number one spot on the radio at my local radio station JZ 94.5 in Gulfport, MS. Being on the radio at all was not even in my purview when I started doing music. Just goes to tell you where my mind was. But as it was happening, and the city really got behind me, it was an awesome thing. Glad I was able to be a part of it.