Introducing… Mike Milan

Often times we’ll showcase a new artist on the site and the reader response will be overwhelming. Such is the case with New York emcee, Mike Milan. We haven’t even done a formal post on Mike, as he has just been featured a few times in our weekly Inbox series. Well, you asked for him, so we took a minute to catch up with Mr. Milan to find out who he is. Hit the jump for a short intro, interview, and a handful of his tracks — including two brand new joints!

Coming from Manhattan, New York, Mike Milan was surrounded by the grittiness of Harlem and the Upper East Side’s high class area. “This made me who I am today. Seeing both sides of the plate really helped me analyze my life and always made me think of where I wanted to be, and it also taught me to stand up for myself and what I believed in” says Milan. Since birth, Milan’s father was a huge music fan, from Motown to classical to opera, country to early pop. Mike Milan’s father had it all, he would listen to all of it and from each genre he had a favorite song. “I always loved different kinds of music because my parents have been around the world therefore not limiting themselves to only one or two kinds of music, which is the stereotype for most African Americans…I would find myself dancing and singing a whole Michael Jackson or James Brown album in my apartment every chance I got since age 5. I listened to every vinyl my dad had, and if u saw how many that was you’d be overwhelmed”.

“I started rapping in the eighth grade at age 13. I was very impressed with hip hop and the rap scene and I wanted to be a part of it”. Milan began to write and write and each rhyme he wrote became longer, with more emotion and spirit being pushed into each and every one. From age 14 to 17, Milan was a battle rapper, loving the challenge and the attention, feeding off of it to take down his opponents. By the age of 18, Milan began to stray away from battle rapping and had this to say about it: ” it was fake… everything you say in a battle rhyme for the most part is sheer entertainment to please the crowd and make the other person feel foolish. I thought to myself as I sat in front of a computer, ‘is this all I’m here for? Is this all I am good for?’ After all the great music I was brought up on, I throw it all away just to battle rap?” This is when Mike Milan began to make music, music for the soul that can be able to reach people’s heart and provide motivation for life along with music that covered almost every aspect and situation from life to women.

Since then, Milan has created a unique sound that is bringing a certain sophistication to young music artists which is very difficult to find. His music revolves around the motivation of living life the best you can, the nature of a woman, and random thoughts that surface his mind. He creates visions through his lyrics and scenarios that challenge the mind and make you think about various situations in a different light. This up and coming artist is a breath of fresh air in the music world, doing what he wants and what he feels and not letting commercialism depict his next move.

Where You Reppin: Manhattan, New York

Introduce Yourself: Mike Milan bringing you music from my heart and soul, never fabricated. I will only bring you me and my fluid thoughts and experiences.

Current projects we should be looking out for: I’m actually working on three projects right now. The first of the 3 will be called “The Dimensions of Mike Milan (Barely Even Here).” I won’t let the other 2 out of the bag just yet but look out for that one!!

Previous work that we should know about: “Neon Lights”,” Bubble Boy”, “Drifting Away”, “Foreign Exchange”. All great songs people should know about but probably don’t haha.

Main musical inspirations: Q-Tip, Andre 3000, Jay-Z, Coldplay, U2, Little Brother, Michael Jackson, John Legend.

If you had to pick one song that defines your career to date, what song would that be?

“Bubble Boy” by Mike Milan.

Why should the readers and fans give you a shot and listen to your music from here on out?

Honestly I can’t tell anyone what they should be listening to, but I can tell you that I love music and I love the things that happen to me in my life whether good or bad because those are the things I base my music off. So if you love all sorts of music and you’re not afraid to go outside the box and you love honest people, then I’m the artist you need to love.

What’s next for you? Getting signed… That’s it…I have too much music already so major promotional moves need to be made and a contract needs to be in my face ASA-Peeeeezzzyyy!

If you could only take one record on a deserted island with you, what album would that be?

Probably College Dropout by Kanye West, it has great music and hilarious skits.

Any shout outs or last words?

Yea! Somebody sign me! Before I get mad!! Haha. Shout out to S.o.S (itsthewood.blogspot.com), and my brother from another Pvegas.

• Mike Milan on MySpace

Listen to Mike Milan:

• “Can’t Stop”
• “Watch Me Live”
• “Foreign Exchange”
• “Neon Lights”
• “Say Yes”
• “Beautifully Unfair”