Soulful and Strong: KB Mike Heals and Energizes The Culture
Hailing from Southside Chicago, KB Mike knows who he is and isn’t afraid to show the world too. KB Mike switches up the narrative in the Black and Chicagoan community— that showing emotion is strength itself. With raw and soulful vocals paired with intense and “close to home” lyrics, he is introducing a new wave of philosophy in music and rappers’ lifestyles. From one viral Facebook post, his journey has only gone upwards since being signed with Republic Records and accumulating over 18 million streams on Spotify. KB Mike keeps his faith to continue on upwards no matter what life throws at him. He takes challenges in strides, turning that pain into art. Every element of his dedication is expressed from lyrics, flows, tempos, and more.
KB Mike has a lot of pride in where he grew up. Despite the challenges and dangers of Southside Chicago that “move different” and not knowing what would happen at all times, when people had both good and bad intentions, he is proud of his community. While influenced by the lifestyle of Chicago, KB Mike’s sound does not fall into Drill. He’s created a unique brand of melodic hiphop and feels a responsibility to rise up from Chicago for those who come after him. He’s continuous and steadfast in fighting for his community, whether it’s challenging narratives or advocating for an environment that supports the mental health and self-expression of young black men.
“I’m a Cancer so I get emotional,” he says, and that “it feels good to have a lot of people relate to my music.” In the early stages of making music, KB Mike admits he’s a shy person but since being shown appreciation for his music he’s given that appreciation back to fans by pursuing it as a career. He hasn’t turned back since.
When it comes to songwriting, KB Mike draws much inspiration from his own challenges and interpersonal relationships. He likes to stand out from the crowd, and he hadn’t seen many members of his community be open to more hard-hitting subjects in their discography. His favorite songwriters and musical influences at the moment are Polo G, NoCap, and Lil Wayne. His most popular hit is the song “Used To” which has garnered over 10 million streams on Spotify and over 1.5 million views on YouTube. His most personal song is “Thru Worse N Thru Better” which reflects on the time his brother had been shot in their community. He remembers being racked with fear at the time and feeling proud of how far his brother had come and their journey of growth with each other. KB Mike cherishes all of his relationships with people which influences his music. He has no formula to writing. But he loves pianos and guitars, and is a night owl who writes at odd hours when the whole world is asleep and he is alone with his thoughts.
Coming up during the pandemic, KB Mike is excited to begin doing tours and engaging with his fans outside of social media. He’s built a dedicated following since viral Facebook posts and wants to continue showing his appreciation IRL.