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As posted a few weeks back, Austin hip-hop group Mike and Ike were selected as as finalists for the Midwest region in Disc Maker’s Independent Music World Series. The group will be performing with Dj Diamond Tip and Global on October 16th at Elbo Room in Chicago. I told Mike to send me as many updates as possible and it turns out they had an early flight this morning and it also turns out that Ike has never ever been on a plane before….ha! I’ll try and keep up with all the ridiculousness that Mike reports to me. I’m also going to put up some of the pictures that Mike sends me on my Flickr, check them out! 

Late Edit from The Honest Ape…     I’ll post the video once I have it though…but…  

Still #1….

12:12am, Chicago’s Elbo Room
Elbo Room, 12:12: “You gave it 110% and today just wasn’t your day.” – Global

We didn’t come out with the victory today, but we’re not ashamed. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to travel for free and get to see the windy city. We’re thankful for the opportunity to share our music with the people of Chicago…

Alright, I’ll stop being nice. It feels WACK to lose. The thought of losing never crossed my mind. But today has been a roller coaster ride. From the limo ride, to the VIP treatment, to the show and it was a blast. I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of the weekend in the Chi. If you’re here holla @ me.

Thank ya’ll for sticking with us all day. We appreciate ya’ll. Thanks for all the encouragement and love you’ve showered us with all day.

We represented Texas well. We gave it our all. It ain’t over…

Mic Flo out….

Mike and Ike

11.26pm, Chicago’s Elbo Room
Elbo Room, 11:26: Damn… The show was crazy! We left it all on stage, for real… Don’t worry, we got it all on film & it’ll be on youtube soon as we touchdown in the ATX… We practiced hard & it definitely showed… Hopefully, the judges will agree. We’ll see very soon.

Right now, I’m winding down outside the club enjoying the weather… We are EXHAUSTED… We had a few mishaps but none that were glaringly noticeable. Anyway, the judges are about to announce the winners right now so stay tuned.

Thanks for staying with us…
8:48 pm, Chicago
The first act just went on right now. We’re fifth.

8:03 pm, Chicago
The VIP, 800 pm: We’re chilling @ the IMWS VIP pre-party. I just met Mr. Whitefolks of Pimps Up, Hoes Down fame. He’s a legendary pimp from the Windy City. He was schooling me on the game until he met our manager Sassy & then he was SO FOCUSED. HaHaha. Crazy.

So right now, I’m taking a break from networking & enjoying the free drinks (seems to be the  theme of the day) to holla @ the peeps in the ATX. We’re the only TX representatives here so we’re gonna represent ya’ll well. Know that. Just like our alma mater, UT, we’re not happy unless we’re #1. Alright, it’s time to get focused.

Stay tuned…

Chicago’s best.

5:22pm, Chicago
Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Pizza 5:22 pm: The pizza lived up to the hype, fo sho… I can’t say the same for the service… Trying to avoid the itis…

Dj Diamond Tip has words of wisdom.

3:20pm, Downtown Chicago
Downtown Chicago 3:20 pm: We got to soundcheck on time & set up. Everything was going smoothly, vocals were sounding great, but then we ran into our first setback. The tone arm weight on one of the turntables was off balance. In simple terms, one of the turntables AIN’T WORKIN! It’s always somethin. So we’re @ a DJ shop renting a table right now. More dough out of our pockets. Good thing we just got a check for a $1000 from IMWS. Tip is not looking to happy right now but he’s still positive saying, “There’s always gonna be obstacles. It’s how you overcome them that makes you great… I just need a pack of menthols & I’ll be alright.” He then follows with, “Why you bringing up old shit?” HahA

If that weren’t enough, the sound man was HATING heavily. It’s typical. Just cause we don’t “play” an instrument, we’re not real musicians & Hip-Hop ain’t real music. It’s all good though, we’re used to that. The first rule of performing is: DON’T UPSET YOUR SOUNDMAN! So we had to be “nice” so he wouldn’t sabotage our show.

It just goes to show you, no matter how much you prepare, there is ALWAYS gonna be something unexpected that throws you off. You gotta adapt & move on. You can’t let it (or them) get to you. That goes for music & life in general. So we forked over the cash and rented a turntable. Now we’re bout to get some Chicago Deep Dish Pizza & relax before the VIP party @ 7.

The saga continues… Stay tuned

Global (left) and Ike (right) headed to soundcheck. Sent from Mike’s camera phone.
1:08pm, Chicago
@ The Hotel @ 1:08 pm: We’re waiting for Tip’s ass to get ready so I figured I’d send out another update. We’re MAD starving & Tip is taking his sweet time. I just saw him blow drying his hair?!?! We gotta get to sound check & he’s blow drying his hair… Wow…

In the ‘Burban @ 1:24: Sassy rented a fly Suburban with WOOD GRAIN (In the Chi we’re still representin’ that Southern swag) & we’re rolling to the venue. The freeways remind me of HTown. The tolls are only $0.80 here though… I’m starting to get hype/anxious. 15 minute sound check for 6 bands? That doesn’t seem adequate @ all. We’ll see. The IMWS is sponsored by Billboard & Discmakers so everything should be real professional. I just need a slice of deep dish pizza & a high life & I’ll be alright…

Ike would like to take this time to give a Public Service Announcement: HenRock, Scotch, & working out DON’T MIX! Global & Ike decided to get a quick workout in after our throwed morning. That scotch got ‘em hype. Now he’s got a headache. It’s all good though. We been moving non-stop since we got here. Once we get a chance to post up, we’ll recharge…

Stay tuned homies…

Global (right) and Ike (left) arriving in Chicago. Sent from Mike’s camera phone.

9:36am, Chicago
Chi-Town 9:36 am: Picture me rollin’. Right now, we’re in Chicago in a limo sippin’ Grey Goose & Scotch & bumpin’ Southern Soul (Cop the mixtape!) I feel like Ron Burgundy: Scotch, scotch, scotch. I love Scotch. I could get used this. Shout out to our manager Sassy for hooking that up.

Everybody got some much needed rest on the plane. Ike says, “That shit was CRAZY tight minus my eyeball popping out. But it was so tight I would risk my eyeball popping out to do it again. I felt like a lil’ kid.” While I was passed out, Ike was taking pictures and filming.

We just saw a truck driver on the freeway doing a line of cocaine while driving. CRAZY…

Tip is hype. He’s telling me, “Just think, three hours ago we were in the city we know & love. Now we’re in the Chi sippin’ somethin’ good. Life is good.” I agree…

Anyway, we’re about to hit up the hotel & get our gameplan together for the show. The scotch is gettin’ me goin’ a lil’ bit. This could get dangerous. Stay tuned…

Global (right) and Ike (left) at Austin Bergstrom airport. Sent from Mike’s camera phone.

5:50 am, Austin Bergstrom Airport
We’re @ the airport right now… It’s Ike’s first time to fly, so we’re schooling him on the entire process. However, we didn’t inform him of the extensive check in process (taking out laptops, taking off shoes &  jackets, removing all metal from your person) & he had THREE cell phones, a laptop, camcorder, a jacket, & two backpacks. Ridiculous…

We’re chilling @ the gate right now waiting for our 6:30 flight…  Tip & I are going on no sleep. I’m crunk right now & I’m not sure if it’s the coffee or the excitement. Had to enjoy a couple of Miller High Life to settle my nerves. That’s the champagne of beers ya know…

This’ll be our first time in Chicago. Shit, this is the first time we’ve performed outside of Texas & we’re bout to KILL it. We gotta win this…
Links
Mike and Ike on MySpace
Independent Music World Series

Videos
Mike and Ike ft. Poise “Classic Sound”