Mikkey Halsted - Fake Shore Drive®

Midwest

SKNY Signs to Machine Entertainment, Drops Video for “Intro/Welcome Home”

Machine Entertainment Group, the indie Chicago label headed up by Mikkey Halsted and JB, best known for breaking and helping mold G Herbo, has expanded their roster. Already known for their magnificent work with Herbo, the label headed up north — Minnesota to be exact — to ink industry newcomer, SKNY.

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing a slew of SKNY’s new Machine-backed project, and I can attest that this kid has some amazing things in the pipeline. Today, he takes his campaign national with his debut video with the label, “Intro/Welcome Home.” And yes, Machine and their artists continue to bring us top notch, thought-provoking visuals, that trump many of those of their major label contemporaries. It’s a great coming out party, and you can watch it below.

To celebrate SKNY’s signing, we sat down with label boss Mikkey Halsted to get the skinny on SKNY, and the plans for Machine Entertainment Group for 2016 and beyond.

So can you tell us about your latest signing to Machine?
I’m really excited to announce the signing of SKNY a dope young artist out of Minneapolis. We saw he was a star from jump and he’s a dope song writer so it was a no brainer.
G Herbo is such a marquee act for the label, obviously SKNY must stack up, otherwise he wouldn’t be on the roster…
True, we really hit a home run with Herb being the first artist we ever signed. I don’t compare the two because they’re in totally different lanes but we definitely feel they can both dominate their realms.

March 16, 2016 Andrew Barber Andrew Barber 0

Chicago

Mikkey Halsted Opens ‘Mikkey’s Retro Grill’ in Hyde Park

Congrats are in order to Mikkey Halsted, DJ Toure and Eric Nance on the opening of Mikkey’s Retro Grill, a new dining establishment in Hyde Park. Mikkey’s Retro Grill comes on the heels of the success Mikkey, Eric Nance and family have had with Litehouse, one of the premiere hot spots in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Mikkey’s Retro Grill is now open to the public and is serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night 7 days a week. The menu boasts a slew of organic options, and includes top notch burgers, fries, shakes, wings and much, much more. Doors open at 6:30am every morning and serve through 4am everyday besides Friday night/Saturday morning. There is also a throwback arcade within the friendly confines.

Mikkey’s menus are now available online, but we suggest you stop through to see for yourself. We’ve included a few pictures of the dope decor below, and be sure to click here to learn more about Mikkey’s. I’m extremely excited to try it for myself.

Mikkey’s is open 12p-8pm every day this week (with the exception of Saturday, which is 6p-midnight.)

February 22, 2016 Andrew Barber Andrew Barber 0

Chicago

DJ MoonDawg f/ Mikkey Halsted & Kid Marquis – A Friendly Face

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Produced by Nascent

MoonDawg cracks open his vaults today to bring us a joint that’s about a year and a half old. It was recorded for a MoonDawg project that never materialized, and it has been sitting away quietly locked in MD’s vault somewhere.

The beat was eventually sold to 50 Cent for his Animal Ambition project, on the track “Flip On You,” which featured ScHoolboy Q. Today MoonDawg has unleashed this Chicago version featuring Halsted and Kid Marquis. Call that friendly fire.

Familiarize yourself with “A Friendly Face” below. And also be sure to check out Moon’s Midwest Kush Episode 2 under the cut as well.

January 31, 2015 Andrew Barber Andrew Barber 0

Chicago

Mikkey Halsted – Web We Weave

Produced by Da Internz. Scratches by DJ ALO.

Before 2014 comes to a close, Mikkey Halsted returns with the second official release from his forthcoming Bulletproof Dreams project. Mikk speaks from the perspective of the world wide web here and provides some much needed food for thought. Says Mikk:

THE PAST YEAR, I’ve been focusing on Lil Herb and the other new artists on my new label, Machine Entertainment Group. HOWEVER, BUT THE TIMES IN AMERICA HAVE DICTATED THAT I PUT THIS NEW PROJECT OUT. THE 1st track I dropped was Salmon Croquettes produced by NO ID. This one is produced by Da INTERNZ w/ scratches by DJ ALO.

Listen to “Web We Weave” below.

December 24, 2014 Ty Howard Ty Howard 0

Chicago

Dat Boy Hot f/ Mikkey Halsted – Real

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Produced Jonny Yayo

With Yayo on the beat, and Halsted on the feature, Dat Boy returns with yet another release from his #10For10 series. What’s real? What’s fake? Well, the real is here right now on Fake Shore Drive. Listen up below.

August 12, 2014 Andrew Barber Andrew Barber 0