10k for Corteiz
First, a few hyperlinks for that ass. Let me point you to the three interviews we've posted on Finals so far in 2025:
Also, if you can stomach a white guy with a beard on a podcast in 2025, do check out my first pod, with Helio-Tropes, where we talk about Jay Critch and Laron's aoty "Plus Ultra" and I share more music that I'm into.
And please be aware of two upcoming things in Finals' world: we are throwing a show at CWW Radio Shop on Sunday, June 1 with Laron, Tomu DJ, and myself DJing. The name of the night is Generator, which Laron came up with, and I heartily endorse because it sounds cool, and also because according to Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, "generativity" is what I should be aiming for in my middle age.
And now, a few words on the young venerable institution that is MIKE.
When I moved to NY in late 2016, solo MIKE shows were free or cheap. Eight years later, it costs damn near a $100 with fees to see him rock.
In that span, he evolved considerably, elaborating his expansive vision of post-Earl, post-SoundCloud rap, never falling off flow wise or lyrically, A&Ring the underground for the absolute best production (JWords, Anycia Kym, Surf Gang, #stepTeam, Tony Seltzer, Laron, I could go on). I’ve seen him mature, master his craft, never rap on his vocals at the show, and give back to his community. 10k is the shit. Innovating rap. They’ll probably all perform at the NY show. It is time to reflect on the era of MIKE.
And so yeah, $76 concert tickets at Irving Plaza? It’s worth it for the effort, talent, quality and years of pushing the artform.
Of course, being that he is trying to eat and also is a man of the people, you can still see MIKE for free this summer in Brooklyn, at Young World, the annual fest he curates in HVK. I wouldn't be surprised if at least some fans fly out for it, spending Coachella prices on airfare and their trip. It is my pick for Brooklyn summer’s coolest rap party and most elite day of fits. A feat of culture contribution to New York, deserving of its own DVD -- something that seems like it will also probably happen, given the dovetailing of MIKE's career with newstalgia.
Anyway, yeah, for the Irving Plaza show you are gonna have to pay. And things are somewhat different now, for us MIKE fans. But music, broadly speaking, has been here so many times before: the thing that used to be for the few is now for the many. Tale as old as time. So why shouldn’t MIKE tax? And is $76 really taxing when you’re witnessing a generational run? Some lames will creep in with the wave of it all (like the kids playing chess for views in the crowd in Italy, which he rightly clowned), but what do you want these artists to do, starve, just because authenticity happens to be "in"?? Nah.
MIKE is playing his leadership position to the fullest, the music is speaking for itself, and he’s still giving 100% on these stages. As long as that’s the case don’t be surprised if next year it’s three figures to see that rapper with the ill beats and hypnotic slow-flow do his thing. He's a primary color for the New York underground and, now, the rap world at large.
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