Mikkey is currently putting the finishing touches on his next release “Chicago: The Photo Album,” which is executive produced by NO ID and features production from NO ID, DJ Don Cannon, SC and others. His mixtape the “Uncrowned King” has gotten over 120,000 download since 2008…Thats A LOT!!! He will be on tour soon for his next project…but first visit him in Atlanta on Thursday, Sept 3rd @ the 5 Spot.

Download “Mikkey Halsted – Uncrowned KING”

UNCROWNED KING – About

In a congested rap landscape a militant MC with respect for the art of wordplay, musical integrity and a respect for the sacred power of music has emerged from Chicago, hip hop’s latest hot bed for talent. Up steps Mikkey Halsted a product of the Southside of Chicago’s notorious Wild 100′s section. If the master’s degree in education does not hint at the extraordinary aptitude of this master of ceremony then certainly the first entrée into the music of Mikkey will leave a listener refreshed with the idea that the revolution just might be closer than previously contemplated.

Not new to the industry, Mikkey got his start with super-producer Kanye West, who produced his first demo that landed him a deal with Cash Money Records. The CMR chapter turned out to be short stint, but a fruitful period musically and professionally as Mikkey went on to feature on 7 Cash Money releases that were certified platinum or gold and performed on several major tours throughout the country. During his tenure with the New Orleans based powerhouse, Mikkey had the opportunity to expose millions of fans to his brand of music he coins as “militant-street-wisdom” and rub shoulders with the industry’s elite including Lil Wayne, R. Kelly, Jay-Z and producer Mannie Fresh, whom Mikkey maintains a strong relationship with to this day.

Throughout Mikkey’s exploits in the industry ranging from his Cash Money days to his 2 year deal with Jermaine Dupri during JD’s brief stint at Virgin Records, Mikkey has earned the respect of some of the biggest names in the industry and a sizeable fan base. Fans and colleagues cite Halsted’s razor sharp lyrics and delivery along with his insightful observations as an indication of his distinctiveness in an industry crowded with impersonators. Acclaimed producer NO ID (Jay-Z, Common, Toni Braxton, G-Unit, Jamie Foxx) had this to say when asked where Mikkey Halsted fits in the evolving story of Chicago and hip-hop, “the perspective of Mikkey Halsted is as crucial a piece to the Chicago hip-hop puzzle as some of the successful artists I help to break including Kanye West and Common” says NO ID. “The Chicago story will never be told in its entirety unless Mikkey gets a chance to speak his peace.”

Being a product of a collective that has produced an elite group that reads like a Chi-town who’s who, (Kanye West, Common, No I.D., Shawnna, Rhymefest and others) Mikkey Halsted is a recognizable brand with the pedigree of a super star in the making. After his stint of successive short lived record deals, Mikkey Halsted has emerged a more skillful artist with a more militant perspective poised to provoke change in a time of uncertainty that extends beyond the face of hip-hop. There is no question regarding the music industry’s acceptance to Mikkey Halsted only a matter of who will be left standing when the revolution is broadcasted.

DOWNLOAD: Perfect Attendance Vol. 9309

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Check out Big Chad Famous @ Perfect Attendance on Sept 3rd @ The 5 Spot in Atlanta
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Big Chad Famous – BIO
Driven is the best word to describe Chad Welch aka Big Chad Famous. Chad has known the importance of working hard for what you want since he was a kid growing up in Fayetteville, Georgia. In middle school he started writing songs. During high school he started freestyling on campus, but he still didn’t have the means to record his music. After graduating from high school, Chad saved up for a CD duplicator. The process was tedious, but Chad was determined to get his music to potential fans. The crowd Chad was hanging out with started to stray down the wrong path, so he decided to part ways and focus more on writing lyrics. A good friend gave him Acid 4.0 and immediately Chad started recording his songs with the small amount of equipment he had access to. He put out a mix tape called “That Fayetteville Shit” which created a buzz around his home town. In 2008, Chad joined up with the Early Morning Studio (EMS) family. Chad immediately started working on his first album, “Big Chad Famous,” with Andy Slagle of FishHawk, co-owner of EMS. On September 5, 2008, Chad performed as Big Chad Famous for the first time at Lenny’s in Atlanta. His first performance created an immediate hype. In less than a year, Chad has done more than most artists hope to do in a lifetime. MakeTheCharts.com named him their top artist and shot his first video for their commercial which has aired on the NBC and MTV networks. Chad’s music is unique because he does not confine himself to one genre. His tracks bring something different to hip hop, each song has its own unique sound that cannot be classified as one genre. No one will get bored listening to Chad’s album. > > Chad has quickly become a favorite artist to book by Atlanta’s top promoters and venues because he always attracts a large, devoted crowd. The amount of local support he has obtained in less than one year is mind blowing. He has already performed at some of the biggest parties in Georgia Chad’s determination, work ethic, and drive are a force to be reckoned with. If you want to keep up with the path of GOOD MUSIC, keep your eyes on Big Chad Famous, this is just the beginning.

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Mike Walbert is a Partner and the active Artist Director of A3C Hip-Hop Festival, which is one of the largest annual hip-hop events in the US.

Mike spent his first year out of college, in Atlanta, working as the marketing director for a local snack foods company. After a year, or so, of experience under his belt, he left the company to launch his own business ventures. In addition to his work with SMKA, Mike has co-founded several small start-up companies (including, Hotlanta Hot Sauce) and continues to consult for start-up ventures and brands.

Education: University of Southern California: Business/Entrepreneurship

Interview (2009) from Artist Music House

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BIO
Robert Earl McDaniel ll was born and raised in Augusta Georgia. Robert was a fairly introverted kid who was very inspired by his surroundings. He fell in love with video games at a young age and spent most of his time either playing sports, video games or drawing. However, it wasn’t until the 6th grade that music began to take a firm grasp of his life. He began to develop his own interpretation of music, and his ears became dull to the lyrics of a song focusing solely on the instrumentation and composition of the music.

Robert grew up listening to a collective of Michael Jackson, Will Smith, Timberland, Aaliyah, Genuine, Skee-Lo, Fred Hammond, and BeBe & CeCe Winans. He found inspiration from all forms of music. “I really just want to help people have hope for something better.” It wasn’t until the 11th grade, at A. R. Johnson High School, that he began experimenting with the creation of music. He would create music to capture the elements needed to make his self feel various emotions. His biggest influences at the time were Outkast, Kanye West, and a lot of alternative, rock and pop music.

In the summer of 2005 Robert enrolled in SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, aspiring to nourish and develop his creative mind. He began SCAD with a Major in Visual Effects, but after his first year he decided to focus more into his minor, Sound Design, which would quickly become his major. While learning about Sound Desgin he learned how to record and mix anything and everything. He was exposed to many different studies that help cultivate his artistic personality. “I can’t imagine myself anywhere else… I literally would’ve been unmotivated at any other school,” says Robert. “The Sound Design Departments main focus was sound for Film & Television, but that helped me to understand how to build visuals with sound.”

During his years at SCAD he continued looking for ways to create feelings in his music. Because of his training and exposure to the many different aspects of audio design, he was introduced to the more expressive and conceptual music. Robert said, “I listen to a lot of The Go! Team, Andre 3000, The Beatles, Mad lib, and Jay Dilla. I honestly have to say if it wasn’t for The Go! Team I wouldn’t feel so free with my music.”

After graduating from SCAD, Robert linked up with SMKA Productions, by chance, through a job post from SCAD. He has been working with SMKA since June of 2009 as a studio engineer and producer. Robert was instrumental in the recording, mixing and mastering SMKA’s two latest projects, TRIMM meets SMKA and The 808 Experiment: Vol 2. His education, and unique production style, was a big asset to SMKA, who quickly decided to bring Robert in full-time as a member of the production team.

Robert’s production style is difficult to categorize. He has a solid understanding of film scoring and video game soundtracks, which allows him to easily evoke memories and emotions. His music occasionally hits with southern bass & drums though he often conjures the timeless presence of instrumentation in live recordings. He is slowly getting closer to his goal of being able to build music that not only produces raw emotions, but also helps create ideas that will help people through life.

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