It’s getting serious. Check out Mikkey Halsted’s feature on MTV’s Mixtape Daily. Congrats on the look, Mikk.
You would think that if Kanye West produced your demo with beats he hand-selected for you, you would be good to go. Now if that demo somehow found its way into the hands of Cash Money Records CEO Birdman, you’d definitely be topping the charts in no time. As a teenager, Mikkey Halsted was lucky enough to experience both of those scenarios, although things ended up not working out as planned.
Hailing from Chicago, Halsted was introduced to Kanye by his sister, Miss Criss, another artist West had been working with in 2001. Criss raved to the producer about her brother’s lyrical skills but it wasn’t until ‘Ye overheard Halsted freestyling that he began to really pay attention.
“Just going over to Kanye’s mama’s house, I used to be just kicking it, freestyling,” Halsted explained. “I really wasn’t taking hip-hop seriously at that point. I was into trying to make it to the NBA — I was a ballplayer. We got over there freestyling one time and he was like, ‘Damn, man, you’re really raw for real. Your sister wasn’t lying.’ He was like, ‘Man, take these beats, man, and see what you can do.’ “
Halsted came back the next day with three records finished, and the duo worked on a 15-song demo that made it to the executive offices of Cash Money Records.
“This is before Kanye went to the Roc and all that … got to Cash Money, they heard it. They went crazy. They actually tried to get Kanye and me to sign.”
Mikkey and his sister both signed and actually went on tour with the label, and although things did not ultimately work out with Cash Money, he built great relationships — Lil Wayne is still one of his good friends. Weezy shouted out Halsted in the October 2008 issue of XXL saying, “If anybody had me really get on my sh–, [it was] Mikkey.” Halsted also learned from the Cash Money work ethic.
“I learned the independent game from them and I saw how they grinded. I took the Cash Money grind and applied it to my own situation and with my work ethic. I saw Wayne [work], and me and Wayne kind of came up together in a way,” he said. “All of those things and all of those different people kind of made me who I am today.”
After a short stint signed to Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def imprint, Halsted found himself independent again — and relishing it. He hooked back up with Kanye’s onetime mentor and Grammy-winning producer, No ID, and the two have steadily been putting out mixtapes and releasing songs to the hip-hop blogosphere. They are currently working on an independent album called The Darkroom.
“It’s really going to be my first album and it’s really going to be done the way I want — the way No ID and I wanted to do it if we didn’t have any label interference,” Halsted said. “But it’s just a good thing. I’ve been through so many different things in a short period of time, so thank God I started as a teenager so, you know, you feel like you matured now, you ready for everything that’s coming.”
its happening…we always knew it was, but now we KNOW it is…Good look for Mik and Fake Shore… Luv
Yes sir, It's getting serious. Dope shit
well deserved, keep up the good work homie
AW SHIT WHERE ARE THE HATERS THAT SAY HE ONLY ON FAKESHOREDRIVE AND NO ONE KNOWS HIM OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AND HE'LL NEVER GET ON AND ALL DAT OTHER SHIT……….WELL ITS HAPPENING GOOD LOOK MIK
playa hating bitches!
a yall heared that new gaggie mixtape. man he went in on all da shit boiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
to little to late…
i dont judge niggas & they music by if they get on MTV or BET.. ya'll some silly ass niggas.. I go by the music.. with that said.. Mikkey is good… he makes really good music.. I could care less if he gets on MTV or not.. just keep making good music
*cough*shouldabeenonXXLcover*cough*
even though its a small world chicago is still a big city bcuz me being from the southside the 1st time i even got wind of mikkey was on turk's album "which was a dope overall and overlooked album" on that song "growing up" and we was like damn who is this nigga and he sounded just like a nigga straight from the chi and him and cris was saying some real shit on there and his verse was/is one of the most heartfelt 16's i ever heard from him joe and his time to get his is long overdue
HALSTED!!
CONGRATS TO MIKKEY FROM INFINITE HUSTLE ENT.
thats a good look Mik congrats fammo
Big Things Poppin And Lil Things Stoppin!!! Congratulations Mik!!!
*cough*shouldnotbeonthexxlcovercuzitsforfreshmennothasbeens*cough*
and you're gay^^^^^
Fuck XXL that cover is all politics…aint none of them cats that were on it last year doin shit right now
Just support..is it that hard people ?
damn this dude been around since 2001, had kanye beats and still didnt make it, nigga is wack, just my opinion please dick ridaz calm down
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Congratulations to Mr. Halsted, the 100's, FSD, Chicago and all of us that have been supporting. I'm going to follow his blue print and be closer to my dream next year. btw I'm not trying to be in music. I'm starting a technology company. I'm going to work hard, do what's right and stay true to myself. Alot of Chicago artist have music that is motivating to me, Mr. Halsted included. Keep up the good work.
I would pay $100 for a picture of the cat or cats that watch a nigga video and post a comment and don't like the homie 🙂 (if they not fat, they have a baby penis)
Fuck XXL that cover is all politics…aint none of them cats that were on it last year doin shit right now
^^
is that why cudis tourin nationwide, had his album go gold and land a spot in a hbo show?
Dope ! About time, Mikkey been THAT SHIT !
Im with S.I.-yall are crazy. And to the imbecile talking about 2001-u have no clue about this game fam!
Im with S.I.-yall are crazy. And to the imbecile talking about 2001-u have no clue about this game fam! Your turn Mik
Mikkey Halsted is a faggot little bitch & I'll say that to his little bitch ass faggoty face
^is that why your posting anonymous?
Kid Cudi did NOT go gold, but the other stuff is true.
Great look for the crib.
G.o.o.d music/uncrowned city ent anuff said
i agree with whoever wrote that dude been around since 2001 and still hasnt done shit. there has to be a reason this dude hasnt done anything,,,ummm yea he is not good a artist. thats the reason. dude can spit but he is not a artist.