Mike Fulahope

“Being an up and coming activist in the Chicago area I try to use my music platform for a fun/positive message and touch on many issues that affect urban communities.”
Check out the interview with Mike Fulahope exclusively on Skilly Magazine Online.

Skilly: Tell us where this all began. What is your history in the music scene?
Mike Fulahope: I started writing hip hop music in the 6th grade and began to take it more seriously my sophomore year in college as a way to relieve stress and measure my growth after the failure of my sports career aspirations. Being an up and coming activist in the Chicago area I try to use my music platform for a fun/positive message and touch on many issues that affect urban communities.

What are the best ways to promote yourself as an artist? Any tips you can give us?
I do a lot of emailing and instant messaging on social media to different pages and music websites. I also believe that networking by handing out numerous business cards is also very effective because you never know who you could meet at any moment.

What do you ultimately want to become in your career?
I ultimately want to be a prominent hip hop artist who uses his musical platform to touch people’s lives in a positive way. I want to get a record deal and build the “Mike Fulahope Enterprise” to use the allocation of compensation to attack a number of social issues that plague our world.

What is the hardest thing about being in the music business?
Not getting the exposure that you want. I feel as if I have a great and phenomenal product that the world would love, but as of right now I’m nobody. I’m trying my best as we speak to get my music into the right hands so it will eventually be on the necessary platform for the masses of the world to hear and see.

What is it like in your city? What is the music scene like, and how is it like living there overall?
Growing up in the D.M.V. I believe we have such a diverse culture of music. Moving to Chicago though has also been inspiring. I don’t think there has ever been a better time to be a Chicago artist. The drill scene has been prospering since 2012 and the underground scene is really talented because the rappers all have their own unique sound.

What are some of advice you can give and share to other artists who are still trying to come up?
Take it more seriously than the man right next to you and make sure you understand the marketing and business side of music just as much as you understand the music itself. There are a lot of talented artists, but the things that sets many apart is the basis on how they manage their music.

What is the best thing that’s ever happened in your career?
I had the opportunity to meet Chuck D from hip hop group Public Enemy and talk with him about linking up together for collaboration, civil rights, and the music industry in general. Being in his presence was definitely memorizing and I feel as if I’m soon to be the modern day version of him due to my content and the direction I’m trying to go with my music.

What is your inspiration?
Life and God is my inspiration. I use music to talk about the world as it is and the lives of others as well as my own. Any event, emotion, or experience at any moment can inspire me to write a new song. My last project, The Lost Child of God, was based off the struggle I was having with my faith in God on my way to turning 21 and becoming an adult.

Do you feel anyone can be successful now in today’s world of music?
Yes. I think we have a lot garbage rappers and singers that have seen the success of the music industry. Some have been chosen and others have met the grace of getting a video of theirs to go viral instantaneously. I believe since we have the internet, if you work hard enough, you can get to that level of success you reached for. - Skilly Magazine