MIKE

Michael Jordan Bonema (born October 13, 1998), known professionally as MIKE (stylized in all caps), is an American rapper, songwriter and record producer based in New York City. Bonema's atypical upbringing, having experienced life in New Jersey, London, Philadelphia and New York City, has had an audible influence on his diverse and experimental music style. He spent his early years in New Jersey, before moving to England at age 5, where his mother thought he would receive better educational opportunities. Bonema spent five years growing up in Hackney, London, where he claimed he was "stripped away from American culture and pushed into British culture".

In 2010, upon Bonema's return to Philadelphia, he began to gain a more comprehensive interest in the culture behind hip-hop. He began to familiarise himself with the emerging American hip-hop scene, stating he studied the works of artists like Chance the Rapper, Drake and Lil Wayne. He then released two more short-run EPs to end the year, including The Ones Who Were Made By Time in September and Tonight, With You in December. He says it was important as it allowed him to take full creative control of his music and be able to "100 percent" reflect and express what he was feeling. He started to roll out the project in April, as he released the lead single "Time Ain't Enough", shared a music video produced by 10k Productions and provided a full list of the project's collaborators, including Standing on the Corner, Darryl Johnson, Adé Sayed, and his mother, Anu Akinbobye. Shortly after, Bonema announced a further project, titled War in My Pen, to be released in December. He stated it would be a 13-track effort produced by DJ Blackpower, featuring New York City-based artists and Slums affiliates Medhane, Sage Elesser and King Carter, as well as London-based artists Jadasea and Redlee. Sweatshirt launched the tour in March, performing across several locations within the United States and England throughout the three-month tour. and Weight of the World on June 21, 2020. In July 2019, Bonema launched the Young World festival, an annual festival held at Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn, New York.

On October 31, 2020, Bonema released his debut EP BLP2020: "King of the Night" under the alias DJ Blackpower. A second EP under the same alias, titled BLP2021: "For Ur Own Good", was released in early 2021.

Bonema released Disco! on June 21, 2021, peaking at number 98 on the Billboard Top Current Album Sales chart.

2022–2024: One More, Beware of the Monkey, Faith Is A Rock, Burning Desire and Pinball On October 13, 2022, Bonema announced Beware of the Monkey, released on December 21, 2022. The first album single, "nuthin i can do is wrng", was released on October 13, 2022. The second single, "What Do I Do?", was released on November 3, 2022. The third and last single, "Stop Worry" featuring Sister Nancy, was released on November 29, 2022. The project was originally supposed to be released in the summertime, but Bonema "was trying to stop worrying about the gluttonous stuff that comes with releasing a project and [instead] worrying about whether the music sounds cohesive.” It turned out to be the longest he had worked on an album to date.

Bonema collaborated with Wiki and The Alchemist to release an EP titled One More on November 25, 2022. They then released a full-length collaborative album titled Faith Is a Rock on September 22, 2023. He then released his 12th solo album titled Burning Desire on October 13, 2023. Later that month, Mike released Dr. Grabba, the third album under his producer alias, DJ Blackpower, on October 31, 2023.

Bonema collaborated with Tony Seltzer to release an album titled Pinball on March 6, 2024. Bonema would later spend three months touring Europe and the United States between late February and late May 2024.

2025–present: Showbiz!, Pinball II and Pompeii // Utility. On January 31, 2025, Bonema released his album Showbiz!, described as "his most refined, spiritual-sounding album to date" by Pitchfork. Later in the year, on May 7, 2025, he collaborated with Tony Seltzer a second time to release an album titled Pinball II. He spent three months between late February to late May 2025 on his Artist of the Century tour across Europe and the United States. Bonema, featuring Mark William Lewis and Liv.e among other musicians, performed an NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, released on August 7, 2025.

On April 6, 2026, Bonema released a collaborative album with Earl Sweatshirt titled Pompeii // Utility. The album was produced by Surf Gang and features tracks recorded between 2023 and 2025. Bonema and Max B are scheduled to headline the Young World festival in Brooklyn, New York in July 2026.

Artistry Bonema has been described as hip-hop's newest "wunderkind" and was branded as one of the most important figures in contemporary hip-hop by the likes of Pitchfork, The Fader and The New Yorker. He is characterised primarily by his voice, which has been classified as "monotone and muffled", as well as his "intoxicatingly slow" vocal delivery, and his "signature blend" of lo-fi drum beats and contorted jazz loops. He also been praised as a "natural-born storyteller" that can effectively share observations, thoughts and confessions about trying to exist as an adolescent.

Personal life Bonema recalls that his childhood was difficult, having to "adjust over and over again" each time he moved between Livingston, London, Essex, Philadelphia and New York City.

Bonema remains close with his family, as he consistently visits his New York-based sisters, contacts his Philadelphia-based father and kept in touch with his late mother, who died in 2019, despite her living in Nigeria, although he wasn't able to visit because of "paperwork issues".

Bonema says music is the most important part of his life, as the stage is the only place he feels comfortable. He further states that he struggles to communicate his feelings face-to-face, but is able to "translate it through different forms".

Discography

Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions US Current Album Sales Longest Day, Shortest Night Released: June 20, 2016 Label: self-released Formats: Digital download —May God Bless Your Hustle Released: June 21, 2017 Label: self-released Formats: LP, Digital download, streaming —Black Soap Released: May 25, 2018 Label: Lex Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming —Weight of the World Released: June 21, 2020 Label: 10k Formats: CD, digital download, streaming —Disco! Released: June 21, 2021 Label: 10k Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 98Faith Is a Rock Released: September 22, 2023 Label: ALC Records Formats: Digital download, streaming —Burning Desire Released: October 13, 2023 Label: 10k Formats: Digital download, streaming —Pinball Released: March 6, 2024 Label: 10k Formats: Digital download, streaming —Showbiz! Released: January 31, 2025 Label: 10k Formats: Digital download, streaming —Pinball II Released: May 7, 2025 Label: 10k Formats: Digital download, streaming —Pompeii // Utility Released: April 3, 2026 Label: 10k, Tan Cressida, Surf Gang Records Formats: Digital download, streaming —

Mixtapes +TitleAlbum informationWinter New York Released: December 22, 2015 Label: self-released Formats: Digital downloadRenaissance Man Released: June 21, 2018 Label: Lex Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming War in My Pen Released: December 21, 2018 Label: 10k Formats: CD, digital download, USB flash drive, streaming Tears of Joy Released: June 21, 2019 Label: 10k Formats: Digital download, streamingBeware of the Monkey Released: December 21, 2022 Label: 10k Formats: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming

Extended plays TitleEP informationBelgium Butter Released: January 19, 2015 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadCrimson Released: May 31, 2015 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadRAFA (Running Away from Ajogun) Released: August 11, 2015 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadJungle Boy Released: February 25, 2016 Label: self-released Formats: digital download The Ones Who Were Made by Time Released: September 8, 2016 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadTonight, with You Released: December 21, 2016 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadBy the Water Released: September 6, 2017 Label: Marathon Artists Formats: digital downloadResistance Man Released: February 15, 2018 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadBLP2020 "King of the Night" (as DJ Blackpower) Released: October 31, 2020 Label: 10k Formats: CD, digital downloadBLP2021 "For Ur Own Good" (as DJ Blackpower) Released: February 14, 2021 Label: self-released Formats: digital downloadOne More (with Wiki and The Alchemist) Released: November 25, 2022 Label: ALC Records Formats: digital downloadDr. Grabba (as DJ Blackpower) Released: October 31, 2023 Label: 10k Formats: digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist + List of singles, with year released and album name Title Year Album "Promised"(Wiki featuring MIKE) 2021 Half God "Wheredeyat???"(Niontay featuring MIKE) 2023 Dontay's Inferno "Sentry"(Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist featuring MIKE) Voir Dire "Real hiphop"(Niontay featuring El Cousteau, MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt)Demon Muppy

Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Artist(s) Album "Community service" 2015 Sixpress Skinny P "Iced brew" "Gritty 98" Blaklip "Connect" "Game boy" 2017 On the Road, Sunny Path "Stuck in the scene" "Enchantment" 2018 Navy Blue From the Heart... "Outlet" Pink Siifu ensley "Shine on me!" 2019 Navy Blue Gangway for Navy "Carlos" "Run It Up" King Carter Prayer Ain't Enough "After Thoughts" "If I Ain't Have Grace" Camden Malik More Than Ca$h "Vibe Wit Me" 2020 Camden Malik, Darryl 10k, Diani, King Carter Spaceship Symphonies "Vrrydrrty_2" Sideshow, ZelooperZ Farley "Round 4" Goya Gumbani GG & Bori Steps Across the Pond "Tight Leash" Black Noi$e Oblivion "George" Jodi.10k, Aida, Osman, Cleo Reed Yungbull "Mike's Track" 2021 gum.mp3 Gum's Mixtape "Lossless" The Alchemist This Thing of Ours 2 "Promised" Wiki Half God "Mike's Track" Dirty Bird Dirty Bird "ATL Freestyle" 2022 Popstar Benny, Niontay Album* (Deluxe) "Dip" Camden Malik Faithfully "Real Love" Anysia Kym Soliloquy "HP Sport" Sideshow Wegahta Tapes Vol. 1 "Peace Out"2023 Jadasea The Corner: Vol. 1 "Bless"The Alchemist, SideshowFlying High "Like Mike" Mkyfm 23 "Celibate"Danny BrownQuaranta "Sentry" Earl Sweatshirt, The AlchemistVoir Dire "Real hiphop" Niontay, El Cousteau, Earl SweatshirtDemon Muppy "Short Stories" 2024 Jawnino 40 "Brown Paper Bag" El Cousteau Merci, No Merci "In Doubt" Anysia Kim Truest "Best Odds!" redLee, Jadasea Stop On Red Signal "Blow Hendry" 2025 Westside Gunn Heels Have Eyes 2 "Triple Nickle" Mavi The Pilot "Blind" 12k Gotti 800° "Day x2" Venna Malik