MIKE Solidifies Himself As One Of The Brightest Young Rappers On 'Burning Desire'

Since releasing his 2017 breakthrough May God Bless Your Hustle, MIKE has been on a prolific run. His catalogue has continued to expand and improve annually, with high-quality projects released consistently. Running concurrently with that artistic growth, he seems to be settling into his role as a model in New York Hip Hop’s underground. After being a mainstay in the community for years, the now 25-year-old has solidified himself as a figurehead in the scene – and with his latest LP, Burning Desire, it seems he is acutely aware of just where he stands.

The project is a no-holds-barred effort: a lyrically dense, texturally diverse and unapologetically singular experience. Moments like muffled, bass-laden “African Sex Freak Fantasy” or the pairing of MIKE’s uncharacteristically up-tempo flow over the sparse, airy beat on “Do you Believe?” see his approach altered in new and exciting ways. 

The warped horns, soul chops and lo-fi samples feel as comforting as being wrapped in a thick fleece blanket during the dead of winter’s coldest months, while MIKE’s laid back and conversational cadence continues to have his words feel like sage wisdom from a close friend. This is one of his strongest qualities, as his music can be incredibly intimate without feeling unapproachable or uncomfortable. His tendency to fit palpable emotion in a few words keeps even the most personal anecdotes relatable enough that most can attach themselves to the feeling, giving his verses real tangibility.

A choice example of this is on the Earl Sweatshirt-assisted “plz don’t cut my wings” which sees MIKE opening his verse by detailing his search for closure (“I’m sorry I didn’t call, I promised you you should fall back / Problems never resolved, it follow you on the walk back”). In pairing his performance here with one of the most diaphanous, elegant instrumentals on this album and an impeccable guest verse from Earl, not only is this one of the album’s biggest highlights, but it also kicks off an incredible run within the tracklist that never really tapers off.

From that track through to the album’s somber closer “Let’s Have a Ball” MIKE never takes his foot off the gas, delivering on every single track. Moments like “Baby Jesus” and “What U Say You Are” showcase his mastery of his signature style, while the Larry June-assisted “Golden Hour” and “Mussel Beach” with El Cousteau and Niontay has him adapting his style to match up with his guests. The latter of which has MIKE adopting an incredibly smooth, airtight flow, that sees him bouncing around a new pocket with such ease that you’d swear he’s rapped like that forever.

The cream of the crop is “U think Maybe?” The track sees him reflecting on past trauma and moving forward from it as he effortlessly flows over the most lush soundscape present on the record. The culmination of the ethereal vocal harmonies, divine horns and a twinkling glockenspiel lift you into an incredible instrumental break and vocal outro from Liv.e. It’s is a sincerely beautiful moment, and on an album rife with phenomenal highs, this is where it peaks.

Burning Desire is a remarkable effort. There are very few releases this year that can rival the consistent quality present through the over 50-minute runtime of this album. There is something indescribably special about how MIKE can maximize the impact of his work with such a minimalistic approach to the music. Rarely do the songs have a second verse, and when they do, it’s often due to the feature present on a given track. In 16-bars MIKE consistently crafts deeply affecting lyrics, whether it be general reflections on life and the world around him or detailing honest, intimate contemplations on the weight of loss or self-doubt. Not only is this maybe his most definitive characteristic as an artist, but it’s also the most endearing aspect of his work. 

With his continued, consistent growth and no apparent sign of slowing down or remaining stagnant, MIKE remains one of the most interesting and promising voices in the landscape of modern hip-hop. As his voice and writing grow more assured, he’s found ways to turn his introspection into outward observation and thoughts that can be simultaneously deeply moving whilst binding the listener to his experiences.