Lil' Mike has become a staple in the 512 music scene, and you'll most likely find his name or see his face plastered on a flier or poster for the next big concert in the Capital City. His emerging fame isn't just restricted to Austin either. Whether it's hosting a car show in San Marcos, or getting the crowd hyped at an E.S.G. concert in San Antonio, Mike always seems to keep himself busy.
Born in Houston, TX and raised on the South Side of the ATX, Lil' Mike had an interest in music at an early age. Rather than chasing the dream of becoming a platinum recording artist or famous DJ, Mike opted instead to take a different route in the rap game. That doesn't mean he didn't familiarize himself with a diverse range of music.
"Of course, like every Texas hip-hop fan, I grew up listening to the Screwed Up Click, Tupac and Biggie," Mike recalls. "But I also had an appreciation for old-school R&B and local rap artists."
The drive to make it as a hype man and host was there from the start, but success didn't come quickly. Lil' Mike had to work his way up and grind for a while before getting to where he is today. His first gig was hosting a small teen club in San Marcos, TX under Big R Productions. He worked alongside DJ Skillz from the Beat 104.3, which was “the” station at the time. When the club was shut down Mike was left looking for another opportunity to showcase his talent. It wasn't long before he got another call from Skillz.
"Skillz asked me if I would come out and MC for him at a local bar in San Marcos called Nephews on Monday nights," Mike says. "I had never dealt with an adult crowd before, but he said it's the same as teens, except with alcohol."
After several years, the 29-year-old host's name began to spread outside of San Marcos. Mike was called to MC an even bigger venue, Spiros Night Club in Austin. He was back to hosting a teenage crowd, but this time over 1,200 kids each weekend. His career really rocketed after the club's manager asked him to stay and MC for the 18 and up crowd.
"I started getting in good with promoters that would come through the club and they started asking me to host their concerts or events," Mike explains. "I was like, hell yea, cause I grew up looking up to guys like DJ Southpaw, DJ Skillz, Boy Loco, Brother K, Rapid Ric, Will Hustle and DJ 2DQ."
The job at Spiros really propelled Mike into local fame and he began hosting major concerts like Big Moe, Lil Keke, Chalie Boy, E.S.G, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Kyle Lee and the list goes on and on. He’s even started hosting birthday parties for local artists and DJ’s such as the C.O.D. and DJ GQ. Even with his success, the grilled out MC keeps a humble attitude and the same determination he had when he first started his career.
"My goals are to make hosting an event a new trend and to get recognized for it," Mike says. "I want people to want to come see the host just as much as the main act. If I have a chance to help make your event better, then I'm going to take that shot."
Mike's energy and enthusiasm doesn't seem to stop on stage and that's what makes him a crowd favorite. You know you will be entertained if you see Lil' Mike's name on that flier. So the next time you see him on stage, take notice. Your girlfriend’s favorite MC just might put on as much of a show as the rapper you came to see.
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