A show of emotion equates to a show of strength. KB Mike doesn’t hold back his emotions. In the process, he asserts himself as a strong, soulful, and spirited voice for not only his native Chicago, but the culture at large. After piling up over 15 million views and 10 million streams independently and earning acclaim from REVOLT,HotNewHipHop, and more, the singer, songwriter, and artist immediately connects by presenting a different vision of what may typically be expected from his hometown.

“I’m a male from Chicago who’s expressing his feelings,” he exclaims. “Chicago means everything to me, but it has some bad things that come with it. It’s important to my music, because it makes me talk about what I’ve gone through. It also shows me I want to be better than where I come from. Most artists from my town are talking about gangs, drill, and all of that. I’m talking about heartbreaks, and I’m not scared to admit a female actually hurt me.”

He’s endured his fair share of pain and gained wisdom and perspective as a result…

Growing up on the city’s notorious Southside, he watched friends and family fall prey to violence and drugs. At the same time, he gained popularity throughout his high school and community. Stuck at home on house arrest, he honed his voice through a series of freestyles online. During 2020, he established himself as a mold-breaking outlier with a combination of smooth swagger and raw emotion. He brought his Spotify stream tally into the millions on the back of “Addicted” and initial breakthrough “Deep In Love.” He maintained this momentum in 2021 with “Used To.” Perfecting his simmering style with otherworldly melodies and an instantly unshakable hook, it racked up 3.2 million Spotify streams independently as he inked a deal with Republic Records. 

The song itself holds a special significance as it illuminates his penchant for unbridled honesty.

“I was messing with somebody special, and I felt we were becoming distant,” he admits. “I didn’t want that to happen, so I wrote the song to let her know I DIDN’T want us to end up like that. That song means a lot to me, because it made everything in my music career really start up.”

He’s only gaining momentum with his forthcoming debut project and much more to come as he gives Chicago and the game a new kind of leader.

“I’m just a singer and songwriter from Chicago who’s on the path to greatness,” he leaves off. “I’m somebody who came from a bad situation and used it to make something of himself. I appreciate everybody who has showed me genuine love. Music is where I belong.”

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