"Square is my M.O. sweats is the demo, rather be in slacks and a limo..."Imagine getting the most recognition ever received by an artist in your area on Saturday. Then try to picture yourself getting the best production deal ever heard of on Sunday. Now imagine yourself sitting on that and going to work on Monday. Right about now you are feeling the feeling that artist Michelangelo says he felt in the summer of 2003.That summer, Michelangelo or, Mic-G for short, began the groundwork for his album, The Ghetto Renaissance, with a plan to make some massive waves in what he describes as a pool of big fish. Now, looking forward to the release of The Ghetto Renaissance, Mic plans to get a little more than just wet behind the ears with his new wave of music.Born and raised in North Oakland as the youngest brother of three, Mic-G (born Adam Michael Gabran Wright) has always been the “character†of his family, drawing inspiration from everything from The Thundercats to Richard Pryor. His parents, who split while he was still young, made sure to expose him to everything possible to nurture his overactive interests and personality.There really is no limit to the skills of Mic-G, which is how he got the name Michelangelo in the first place. ‘Yeah, my Geometry teacher in high school gave me the name ‘cause he said I was good at everything. I never thought I was that good, I just put my all into what I like doing, but the name was cool so I ran with it. Its kinda funny how I go to this though. My moms used to dance and act, my oldest brother sucked up all of that talent (laughing) but I got a li’l bit. My pops directs plays so he kinda put that performance bug in me. I can get up on stage and talk to a crowd in a minute, its nothin’ really. I mean, my first passion is drawing, but I’m a ham, so I stuck with music ‘cause I get to be in front of people.'Being able to truly connect to music is definitely a skill, one that has help Mic-G build a repertoire of influences to draw from at any given moment. He accredits growing up in North Oakland for helping him to recognize diversity, which is how he claims to keep his edge. Listening to other Oakland artists such as Keak Da Sneak, Green Day, Souls of Mischief and the Luniz to name a few, he says, brought the most inspiration because he can identify with each one’s perspective in music and incorporate the feeling regardless of the genre.
The rapping talent of Mic-G started as early as grade school, however, his career started around 16 years-old when his mentor Trinity use to take him to battles and practice with him. Around 1999, Mic-G was hooked up with indie label Distorted Echo, however, since he was underage the most he could do for the moment was guest MC at shows. Later that year, after back and forths with DE and life issues getting in the way, Mic-G took some time off to go to school and be blue-collar.Upon returning from school in 2003, Mic-G solidified himself as an artist by strategically performing at exclusive venues as to not leak his exposure. By the summer of 2003 he had many performances under his belt, but it was the fateful day that he hooked up with underground legendary producers The Ear Hustlers that put Mic-G on his path. The Ear Hustlers had the frame that fit his canvas and offered him a production deal that was unrivaled. Needless to say Mic-G began, immediately, recording The Ghetto Renaissance.‘This album is like an emotional biography.’ Says Mic-G. ‘Every track is like a feeling more than a song which is why, originally, I wanted a double album. I tried to give people insight of a regular dude who does regular ish.’ Regular or not, this album is sure to have a lasting effect on anybody who listens. Between cool, finger-snapping tracks like “Top That†and “No Cattin’ Off†to the harder more serious subjects as heard on “Welcome,†The Ghetto Renaissance is sure to appeal to all who listen.‘If people could just hear it, I’d be cool with that.’
