"Born on the south side of Chicago, and raised both there and in Minneapolis, Mic is a world class MC and poet now emerging on the national - and international stage.
As a youth, Crenshaw was embroiled in the violent streets of Minneapolis, leading groups to physically confront white supremacist gangs that were emerging with the growing hardcore music scene of the mid to late '80's.
Eventually, Crenshaw had to escape the violence, leaving the music and activism he started in Minneapolis and moving to Portland, OR. In Portland, he quickly became one of the most respected artists in the Northwest.
In 2001, Crenshaw won The Portland Poetry Slam Championship and went on to finish as a national finalist. The Portland Mercury called Crenshaw (with the Lifesavas) “two of the very best hip-hop acts in PDX”.
In 2009, Mic released his debut solo CD, "Thinking Out Loud", which spent 10 weeks in the top 10 on College Music Journal's (CMJ) National Radio Hip Hop Charts, peaking at number 4.
CMJ writes, "Mic Crenshaw blends his smooth flow with a street-hardened attitude, effortlessly spitting rhymes over a menagerie of horns, drums and keys."
Crenshaw has just released his second album "Under The Sun" (fall 2010), which is now available everywhere online. In their preview of the album, Billboard Discoveries writes:
"Follow-up 'Under the Sun,' serves up potent post-millennial rapping. Crenshaw’s flow ranges from a sensual ooze to machine-gun rapid-fire spitfire; and his musical backdrops are always masterfully creative."
In Portland, Mic's community efforts have expanded locally - and internationally. After attending a Human Rights conference in Rwanda, he co-founded Global Fam, a non-profit which has helped setup a computer center for disadvantaged youth in Burundi, Central Africa.
Billboard concludes, "In total, Mic Crenshaw’s music is not only a collective of juicy jams and skillful rhymes. This guy has made his mark on culture. Now it’s time that he garners critical mass to spread his positivity to the world at large."
Aside from music, Crenshaw currently teaches, and regularly speaks and performs in high schools and universities, continuing the fight for justice and equality in these crucial times.
