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Originally Published on May 30, 2008, Re-published on April 14, 2009

Hero & Rad ft. Mike & Ike – Smoothness, Coolness

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Smoothness, Coolness.mp3

Southwest Houston’s Hero and Rad released their debut album “Resilience” on March 6 locally and it’s steadily growing a buzz from Houston’s underground. Featured on FWMJ’s Rappers I Know SXSW Showcase in Austin a few weeks back, appearances from The Legendary KO (K-Otix), Mic Skills and Digi M’s unique production is going to make Hero and Rad something you’re going to be hearing more of very soon, trust me.

Check out this interview with Rad from FWMJ’s Rappers I Know a few weeks back.

Smoothness, Coolness is the first singe off the album before they launch it nationally, with a video featuring Austin in the works. Download it now, don’t say I never did anything for you.

Links
Mike & Ike on MySpace
Hero on MySpace
Rad on MySpace

Original Post:
Nice smoothed out track for your weekend. Originally posted on the HoustonHipHop.com forums, had a slow day today so decided to make a little something for this track. Mike tells me that Hero & Rad have a coming out soon, maybe they have a bit more information for us, either way the track is good. I don’t have much more information on these Hero and Rad guys, outside of the fact that they’ve recorded some songs with Mike and Ike and that they’re from Houston. Either way, good to see Houston and Austin artist working on something new, going to have to wait to see what else comes of these collaborations.

Poise ft. Dj Diamond Tip – Heavyweight Champion (Produced by Decap)

Download Poise ft. Dj Diamond Tip – Heavyweight Champion (Produced by Decap)

BigBadMedium has an exclusive download from Austin based artist, Poise, produced by Decap. Poise is currently gearing up to release Bullets, a mixtape also featuring 20/20 and Dj Diamond Tip. Heavyweight Champ is a promotional track leading up up to his full LP, entitled “Lifeguard”, which features both production and vocals from 20/20. Poise recently launched his new MySpace page, visit him and keep up to date on the latest.

More About Poise
Originally from the midwest, Poise brought his lyricism and high energy act to Texas a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back. First featured on Mike and Ike’s “Classic Sound”, Poise has remained on the radar as someone to expect great things from. His ability to balance mainstream appeal with raw underground lyricism and delivery has many anxiously awaiting studio material. Poise has shared the stage with Diamond Tip on several different occasions both as an opening act (Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself,Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.) and as the main act across Texas, gaining recognition and respect for their talent and high energy live performances. Having collaborated with Texas based producer and emcee, 20/20 for a few years now the two have developed a unique chemistry, building a sound that is distinctively “20/20 and Poise.”

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…

(more…)

Austin’s own Mike and Ike have been selected as finalists for the Midwest region in Disc Maker’s Independent Music World Series. The group will be performing with Dj Diamond Tip on October 16th at Elbo Room in Chicago. There are quite a few great prizes at stake for the competitors, including a complete cd manufacturing package from the sponsors and enough studio gear to make anyone jealous. If you’re in the area make sure and check out the group and cheer them on, you won’t be disappointed.

Links
Mike and Ike on MySpace
Independent Music World Series

Videos
Mike and Ike ft. Poise “Classic Sound”

Mike and Ike at The Parish, August 1, Opening for Devin The Dude

Mike and Ike at The Parish, August 1, Opening for Devin The Dude

Austin 360′s “A-list” has published some pictures from last Friday’s Devin the dude show. The set includes some pictures from Mike and Ike’s set as well as from some of the other artists. Go over to the A-List website and check them out. If anyone else has any other pictures, feel free to link them up in the comments section. Peace

Texas hip-hop icon, Devin The Dude, will be bringing his eccentric brand of hip-hop to the 512 on August 1. Outside of his longtime Rap-a-lot partnerships Devin has also worked with everyone from De La Soul to Dr. Dre and is definitely one in a million in terms of showmanship and dedication to his craft. Opening will be Austin natives Gerald G, Southbound and BigBadMedium.com comrades, Mike and Ike. Also opening will be Fat Tony, Giovanni, COD and Kriminals. Quite a varied display of Texas hip-hop, which should go over well with Devin’s varied fan base.

Links
Devin The Dude
Gerald G
Southbound
Mike and Ike
TheScrewShop.com
AustinSurreal.com

Mike and Ike – Sunglasses

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Mike and Ike – Sunglasses (Chop Steak Remix)

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It’s been just a little bit less than two years since Austin based group, Mike & Ike dropped their first album, Introducing. Released independently, the album got them more attention than I think even they expected. The video for their single “Classic Sound” shortly followed and suddenly people outside of the Lone Star State started hearing the real diversity in Texas hip-hop’s sound. Mike & Ike are dropping their new mixtape “Milk and Donuts” this Friday in Houston at The Mink Backroom ( ), but for now check out this Medium exclusive, which includes the original “Sunglasses” off the mixtape and also the Chop Steak Remix. And if you can’t make it up to H-town for Mission Control, check out Mike & Ike in San Marcos with The Word Association ( )

“Sunglasses” by Mike and Ike

Download
Sunglasses- Mixtape Version & Chop Steak Remix

Links
Mike & Ike
Chop Steak
Mike & Ike on iTunes
Video for Classic Sound

Cover design for “Sunglasses” by The Honest Ape for Medium