MIKE’s Showbiz! is a hazy, free-flowing meditation on movement and memory, built from warm loops and scattered thoughts that linger like smoke. His delivery is unhurried, his voice thick with experience, letting each bar settle into the grainy, off-kilter production. Recorded between tours, the album captures the push and pull between transience and stability, with MIKE finding comfort in his own rhythm.
The production leans heavily on warped samples, nostalgic and slightly distorted, giving the music a dreamlike quality. MIKE handles much of it himself under his dj blackpower moniker, though collaborators like Laron and Harrison add texture. Lounge music records, pitched-up soul, and reverberant saxophones drift through the mix, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and surreal. Tracks like “What U Bouta Do? (A Star Was Born)” shake things up with jagged rhythms, keeping the album from feeling too static. These beats rarely settle into full-fledged grooves—songs come and go in quick bursts, ideas flashing by before dissolving into the next.
Lyrically, MIKE balances introspection with sharp confidence. He’s never been one for traditional storytelling, preferring to sketch moments, emotions, and reflections in a stream-of-consciousness style. “Then we could be free..” finds him meditating on patience and loss, while “Lucky” makes his ambitions plain. His writing is direct but layered, moving between grief, ambition, and gratitude without over-explaining. Themes of resilience and self-determination run throughout, but MIKE never forces a resolution. He’s more interested in the process of understanding than in offering conclusions.
One of MIKE’s greatest strengths as an artist is his ability to make deeply personal music feel universal. His words aren’t overly polished or theatrical, but they carry a weight that makes them resonate beyond his own experiences. There’s a conversational tone to his raps, as if he’s letting listeners in on his thoughts as they arise. This approach creates a unique intimacy—MIKE doesn’t demand attention so much as invite listeners to sink into his world.
That sense of intimacy is heightened by the album’s sonic palette. Showbiz! is steeped in nostalgia, not in a forced way, but in the way that old photos or home movies feel nostalgic—grainy, imperfect, but deeply evocative. The beats feel like they’re pulled from distant memories, warped and blurred around the edges, creating a sound that feels both deeply personal and slightly out of reach. MIKE has honed this style over the years, and here it’s as refined as ever.
At times, Showbiz! feels like a reflection on movement itself—both physical and mental. MIKE has spent much of his career carving his own lane, moving at his own pace, and resisting external expectations. His music has always been introspective, but there’s a sense of confidence here that makes this album stand out. He’s not trying to prove anything; he’s just documenting where he is. The result is a project that feels effortless but deeply considered.
The fragmented nature of Showbiz! can make it feel elusive on first listen, but it rewards patience. The brevity of many tracks enhances the album’s restless energy, though certain ideas sometimes feel cut short. This isn’t an album structured around hooks or traditional song structures—verses drift in and out, loops fade before fully settling in. Some might find this approach frustrating, but for those willing to sit with it, there’s a unique rhythm to be found in the way these pieces fit together.
MIKE’s evolution as an artist has been fascinating to watch. He emerged in the mid-2010s as part of the sLUms collective, crafting lo-fi, deeply personal music that stood in contrast to more polished mainstream rap. Over the years, his style has become more refined, but he’s never lost that raw, intimate quality that makes his work so compelling. Albums like War in My Pen and Tears of Joy showcased his ability to turn introspection into something immersive, while Disco! and Burning Desire saw him experimenting with new sounds and structures. Showbiz! feels like a culmination of these different phases—a project that pulls from all these influences while still feeling fresh.
Even within MIKE’s signature style, there are moments where he pushes himself in new directions. Tracks like “What U Bouta Do? (A Star Was Born)” and “Green Light” have an urgency that contrasts with his usual laid-back delivery, while “Then we could be free..” finds him at his most vulnerable. These moments of contrast help keep the album dynamic, preventing it from ever feeling too one-note.
A major part of MIKE’s appeal is his ability to make music that feels like it exists outside of time. His influences are clear—MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, and the broader underground rap scene—but he’s never felt like he’s chasing trends. Instead, he’s created his own lane, one that prioritizes feeling over flash, depth over instant gratification. Showbiz! continues in that tradition, offering an experience that’s less about individual songs and more about the overall mood and atmosphere it creates.
Ultimately, Showbiz! is an album about process—about movement, about reflection, about capturing thoughts before they slip away. It doesn’t offer easy answers or neatly wrapped-up themes, but that’s part of its power. MIKE isn’t interested in grand statements; he’s interested in documenting the moment. The result is a project that feels alive, constantly shifting and evolving, just like the artist himself.
For those already familiar with MIKE’s work, Showbiz! is another strong entry in an already impressive catalog. For newcomers, it may take a few listens to fully sink in, but once it does, it’s hard to shake. This is music that lingers, that settles in slowly, revealing new layers with each listen. In an era where so much music is designed for instant consumption, MIKE continues to craft albums that demand patience and reward those willing to sit with them. Showbiz! is no exception—it’s another reminder of why MIKE remains one of the most compelling voices in underground Hip Hop.
8/10
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