Mike Styles

Michael Brewer (aka Mike Styles), an up and coming Dayton rapper and mass communication student, has just completed the first part of his month long tour “Stylin Out” after performing with distinguished rappers Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug.
Brewer, who has been pursuing a professional rap career for the past three and a half years, embarked on a five-day journey throughout the state of Georgia with a group of 12 colleagues Tuesday, March 29 where he performed at Albany State University and Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.
This trip is part of Brewer’s larger Stylin Out tour, which we’ll see him performing shows every weekend in the month of April, and has presented an opportunity for him to connect and attract fans outside of his home base in Dayton, Ohio.
“It was really cool to be able to do that and get a response from my fans,” Brewer said with a smile on his face.
This event has marked a mile stone in Brewer’s blossoming rap career, which has not always been in the forefront of his life.
Growing up in Shelbyville Indiana, Brewer first started rapping at the age of 16 and it was at first simply a hobby something that reflected the musical presence that was prominent in his early years.
“My dad played a lot of music that included James brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers, NWA, Snoop Dog, anything, the full spectrum,” Brewer said. “Because of that musical influence I became very familiar with a wide range of genres and that has made me a pretty musically inclined person.”
This love and knowledge of music quickly blossomed and soon manifested itself through the art of free style rap in which Brewer often practiced in his high school years.
“I always wanted to be a dancer or entertainer and then from there I some how started free styling, that’s were the name styles comes from.” Brewer said.
Brewer decided to pursue a rap career professionally at the age of 21 after recording a song as a way to cope with a break up.
“It is crazy to see then and now and that I actually did pursue this,” Brewer said “The combination of a heart break, finding my outlet and venting, and having a response at an early stage in my career.”
Brewer currently works with 2 Deep Entertainment, which is based out of Youngstown Ohio and is where he met close friend and agent Terril Vidale who made the Stylin out tour possible.
Vidale has made it possible for Brewer to perform and connect with established industry veterans such as Yung Thug and Rich Homie Quan.
“My agent gets talent and books them and he allows me to be the supporting act for the most part,” Brewer said. “He pitches me just like he would any other national recording artist and if they like what they hear they put me on the bill.”
This tour serves as a personal triumph for Brewer and he states that he no longer pays to play, he know gets paid to perform and that this is a result of his hard work.
“How these dates usually work, schools get their budgets and book three to six months in advance,” Brewer said. “You have to look three to six months in advance all of the time.”
Future acts that Brewer will be performing along side on the tour include local rapper and Wright State Alum Eazy El Loco, Jacquees, and industry veteran Omarion.
“Being able to open with Omarion, and perform with a guy that I have looked up to since I was ten is going to be the highlight of this tour,” Brewer said. “I’m ready to pick his brain and get as much information out of him. I am really excited for the opportunity.” - The Guardian: Wright State University Newspaper

The Federal Building in downtown Youngstown was alive with the sounds of beats, rhymes and positive lyrics on Feb. 4, showcasing two local hip-hop artists.

YSU student organization Penguin Productions booked Mike Styles, a hip-hop artist and Youngstown State University graduate, to perform at The Federal, supported by Jamal Fareed, current YSU student and hip-hop artist.

Styles sat comfortably, sipping a whiskey with an orange peel before the show, accompanied by his entourage. He spoke of creating memories for his fans, the kind he felt his father had passed on to him as a young man.

“My father was my personal inspiration, he listened to so many artists with no particular favoritism, and this inspired me [to] broaden my horizons for musical inspiration,” Styles said. IMG_0301CMYK

Styles went on to talk about having a 60-minute professional set instead of a 20-minute set, and how this helped him bring to fruition his creativity for the evening’s performance. His main credit was given to Penguin Productions in their abundance of support and advertisement from the previous weeks.

“You know, Penguin Productions has really treated me well, they even gave me water bottles and clean white towels for the performance,” Styles said.

Styles hinted that the idea behind his performance for this evening wasn’t just about him. It was the deep connection he felt to his fans and his desire to inspire them.

“When you’re chasing your dreams, don’t ever give up. Whenever you get knocked down, you get back up and keep working harder towards your dreams.” Styles said.

Fareed and his band expressed their excitement to open for Mike Styles.

“Hip Hop has been in disarray, and we are bringing back the substance of Hip Hop,” Fareed said.

Fareed’s growing local popularity with the community has grown since the release of his newest album, “SJ: The Revolution.” Fareed talked about his growing experience and his connection to his fans.

“It’s important to be honest and uplift everyone who hears our music,” Fareed said. “I am really grateful of Penguin Productions, and this opportunity to open for Mike Styles. It’s a very humbling experience.”

Speaking on his musical inspiration, Fareed cited the ‘70s and ‘60s funk groups Parliament Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire. But on the subject of his personal motivators, he said that would be his grandfather.

“My grandfather was a business owner, and he taught me a lot about integrity,” Fareed said.

As the shows started, the Federal and Penguin Productions staffs were very accommodating and beneficial socially to the artists. Amidst the changing lights at the foot of the stage was Penguin Productions’ Mollie Crowe, a photographer and coordinator for last year’s Federal Frenzy.

“I love what I do,” Crowe said. “Mike is a really humble and laid back guy.” - The Jambar