MIKE

100% Vaccinated Event — Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination Required To Enter

At twenty-two years old, MIKE’s age can be deceiving. He is an integral figure in birthing a new sound and style of hip hop that has gained wide influence since it first broke in underground circles in 2017, and MIKE’s music itself carries the insight, pain, and fatigue that often comes with age and long life lived.

Born in New Jersey, MIKE moved to London with his mother before settling in The Bronx for the remainder of his later teenage years. Both regions have had an audible influence on the young rapper’s music - in England he was immersed in grime and the music of King Krule, and in the United States he was turned on to Earl Sweatshirt and MF DOOM. In New York, MIKE connected with several artists who had a similar ear and style, and formed a collective called [sLUms]. Consisting of Adé Hakim, Darryl Johnson, King Carter, Jazz Jodi, and DJ Mason, the group established a unique sound that created waves throughout underground hip hop circles across the country.

In 2017 MIKE released his mixtape May God Bless Your Hustle. The project perfectly captured a singular moment in a city where the only constant is change. With features from Standing on the Corner, Wiki, Mal Devisa, and more, as well as production from Ade Hakim, Tony Seltzer, and Austin Williamson of Onyx Collective, May God Bless Your Hustle was a snapshot of the sound of underground New York rap in 2017. It received a Best New Music review from Pitchfork as MIKE started to gain international attention outside of New York City.

At the end of 2018 MIKE released his album War In My Pen independently, and followed it up in mid 2019 with Tears of Joy, his second album to be selected for Pitchfork’s Best New Music. He released his most recent album, Weight of the World, in 2020. Nearly entirely self-produced, and only containing features from Jadasea and Earl Sweatshirt, it’s one of MIKE’s most introspective and sonically diverse releases to date. MIKE has opened tours for Blood Orange and Earl Sweatshirt, and performed at festivals such as MoMA PS1 Warm Up, Pitchfork Festival, and Capitol Hill Block Party.

Over the past year MIKE immersed himself in electronic and house music, listening to artists such as Steve Spacek and Park Hye Jin. He released two largely instrumental projects partially inspired by these new influences: BLP2020 “King of the Night” and BLP2021 “for ur own good.”

Disco! is the first MIKE release since Weight of the World, and sees MIKE combine his new style of production with his top tier songwriting and delivery. The project is at times more upbeat and catchy than his previous work, but still carries the emotional weight that is characteristic of MIKE’s music. The result is MIKE’s most engaging and interesting body of work to date, as he continues to evolve the style of rap that he pioneered.

Liv.e, pronounced "Liv," is a 23 year old producer and singer/songwriter who mixes facets of R&B, jazz, soul, and hip hop to create a sound that is wholly her own. Coupling her hypnotic voice and unique writing over hazy loops and sun soaked production, Liv.e makes songs that are both eclectic and timeless without sounding dated. While it's difficult to label Liv.e's music under one genre or scene, it is born out of production based on samples pulled from vinyl in Dallas record shops, southern rap, and her upbringing in Dallas with local DIY label Dolfin Records.

Liv.e started to garner attention with her 2017 project FRANK and 2018 project Hoopdreams, which lead to her supporting Earl Sweatshirt on the 2019 Fire It Up Tour alongside BbyMutha, MIKE, and Na-Kel Smith.

Sideshow is a 22 year old LA based rapper. Originally born in Ethiopia, he moved to Virginia at age 8. He spent several years bouncing around the DMV before ultimately settling in Los Angeles. After getting a job at streetwear brand The Hundreds' flagship storefront on Fairfax Ave, he became a mainstay in LA's rap and skate scenes. He counts names such as Earl Sweatshirt, Na-Kel Smith, Sage Elsesser, MIKE, Maxo, Liv.e, Pink Siifu, and many more as friends and creative collaborators. Storied LA produced The Alchemist has taken him under his wing and serves as a mentor.

Sideshow's rap career is relatively brief, but impactful. In early 2020 he released a pair of EPs, Farley and Ginger Shot, followed by Asked Amlak to Wash My Hands in April. He then took a year to hone his craft and in May of 2021 released his first full length project: Wicked Man's Reprise. It features MAVI, Na-Kel Smith, and Navy Blue. Sideshow also featured on Alchemist's new EP This Thing of Ours, on the track "TV Dinners" alongside Boldy James.

Sideshow's style is distinctly West Coast, featuring the swinging flow typical of LA gangsta rap. He traverses complex subject matter, from the day to day struggles of life in the hood to the Tigray War in Ethiopia, a conflict that has claimed the lives of several of his family members. He is poised as one of the most promising young voices not just coming out of the LA rap scene, but the entire country.

For all shows in the months of October, November, and December, R5 Productions will require all guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination may be given in the form of a paper copy or digital image of a guest’s vaccines card or other documentation showing you are at least two weeks past your final dose.

Unfortunately, negative test results alone will not be accepted at this time. Over the past two weeks we have had to turn away dozens of fans, because their test results have been delayed or other various issues with Philadelphia's testing infrastructure. This policy may eventually change if testing improves in the city. 

On the evening of the show, when not eating or drinking, we kindly ask all guests to wear a face mask for their own protection, as well as that of our staff, and the artists performing. Almost all of the artists playing have made this request themselves and it is one we fully support.  

Any questions or concerns? [email protected]

Host or Publisher R5 Productions