Spotlight Artist: Mikey D

Gather round fellow Hip-hop fans and enthusiasts, this week's Spotlight Title manifests in the form of the Queens rap urban legend otherwise known as Mikey D.

The story begins in 1982 when the MC spent his younger years making a name for himself through local rap battles. As the tale goes, Mikey D would often be seen engaged in lyrical skirmishes against formidable rappers, including fellow Queens MC, and former school mate, LL Cool J. “We just bugged out at how much we sounded alike,” reminisces Mikey D, “Instead of battling, we just rocked together.”

Although the ideal schematic for a rap duo with Cool J never came to pass, Mikey D would later stand among the very few able to work extensively with Hip-hop production mastermind, Paul C, and the result? Only a myriad of twelve-inch magnum opus singles all throughout the late 80's and early 90's, building up until the Queens MC landed a record fronting with his hard-hitting hooks for iconic rap group, Main Source, most evident through their memorable album, F—k What You Think.

Presently, Mikey D works in tandem with DJ Mercury under the group Elements of Hip-hop and their latest release, Calm Before The Storm—an apt prelude to his forthcoming project, Day of D'Struction. The album marks the veteran MC's first solo record, and builds upon more than two decades of experience in the scene, as well as numerous singles and collaborative projects, and of course, his Ph.D in rap battling.

Rallying with several iconic artists, such as R.A. The Rugged Man, Cannibus, Craig G, Grandmaster Caz, Mellow Man Ace and more, Mikey D returns to the fray on a mission to bring the past, present, and future of Hip-hop into one timeless album, but with an urban legend defiantly reckoning its way through the ages, the question then unfolds, can we handle this “Day Of D'Struction”.

By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com