Bronx's Upcoming Artist M.I.C.

July 28th, 2019

Bronx native M.I.C., known as Money I’m Countin’, is working to build his hip hop career in more ways than one. Officially starting his career back in 2017, M.I.C. has done nothing besides aim and reach for the best. Just recently, I had the chance to sit down with the Bronx bred rapper and get to know more about him as a person and his music.

What motivated you to start rapping?

I started seeing people I know, one’s in my circle, doing it and taking it. I started back in college, but I stopped. I got motivated to get back in the studio once people I knew like Aboogie, and one of my good friends from college who helped produce the single, ‘Walking Trophy’, started blowing up.

What pursued your name?

My real name is Mike and microphone for short is “mic”. When I was younger, my mom used to give me a little bit of money and I used to save it. I’d always be at school counting my money which led people to start calling me ‘Money Mike’,but there’s a lot of ‘Money Mike’s’ so I came up with ‘Money I’m Countin’ 

What do you want people to feel/ or think when they hear your music?

My mixtape, C.O.D, there’s definitely a balance. That’s what most people’s lives are. Different situations, different things, different motives, different feelings. I’m a Gemini, we have different sides, very unique and talented. I want to portray to people and be like “okay, he can talk about different things.” I’m not knocking artists that talk about one specific thing, but me personally I like to go about things differently.

You give back to your community a lot, any other plans with that?

Yes. Last year I gave out books, pens,and bags to a couple middle schools in the South Bronx, communities that actually needed it. Now I have a M.I.C program, which stands for “Mentors Influence Children”.

You’ve partnered with both adidas and puma, how did that come about and make you feel?

I was talking to somebody from Adidas and they hit me like, “yo, if you send some shots (wearing adidas) I’ll put it up and see what happens” and with Puma, they sent an email saying they want to use my images. A couple weeks later I was on the site. 

You opened for Aboogie on his 2017, The Bigger Artist Tour, what did that feel like especially since both of you guys are from the same borough?

It felt like the Bronx is back. New York artists coming together coming from the same neighborhood, is a beautiful thing. I was with Aboogie hanging out at Summer Jam but never told him I did music. That was his day and his time. I kept putting in work and later on he heard about my music on the streets then he hit me asking why I didn’t tell him I did music. I told him I wanted him to hear from word of mouth. He told me come out on tour to do a few shows. The first show we did was great, it was out in England and I have family out there. 

Off your latest mixtape, C.O.D, what’s your favorite song? Why?

Sleepwalking. It’s more personal. It’s different than the other songs. The beat talked to me and allowed me to show who M.I.C really is. 

You played college basketball and now you rap, can you see yourself branching out more like starting a record label? 

I have one. Fortune 5Hunnid Records. I’m the only artist as of now but I help certain people write songs. They’re not under my umbrella just yet because I’m still growing as an artist.

What’s your greatest accomplishment?

I don’t have one yet. I’m still working. 

What’s next for you? More mixtapes? More partnerships? Tours?

I’m working on all the above. I’m in the studio everyday. Sometimes I take a break, have my mind relax. Wandering off allows time to get creative. I’m aiming to release at least one project a year. Right now I’m working on getting content, marketing, and more videos. 

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

I see myself as a successful artist, as well as have artists under my label, and I aim to be an A&R one day. I know I have that ear for music I just need an opportunity. 

Sitting down with M.I.C. allowed me to see his humble yet hard work ethic. He’s definitely determined and we hope to hear as well as see more from him. As of now you can stream his latest mixtape, C.O.D, which you can find on both Apple Music and soundcloud. One quote M.I.C said he wanted to make sure he left with us and that we remember was this: “Strangers support you more than your friends and family. Facts.”