Mic Crenshaw: Rhymes That Rise Against

Mic Crenshaw

Few artists embody the intersection of music and activism as powerfully as Mic Crenshaw. From his early days in the punk rock scene to becoming one of Portland’s most respected MCs, building a career that refuses to separate art from action. Crenshaw’s story isn’t just about beats and rhymes — it’s about resistance, resilience, and the belief that culture can be a weapon against oppression.

Let’s hop into this single, “Retribution” — Tell me about this particular track; how did it even come to fruition? 

I work with a composer, beat producer, musician, named Jonny Cool and I had asked him to make me something that combines elements of Punk Rock, Hip Hop, Metal and Dancehall. He gave me the beat a few years ago, and it took me a while to figure out what lyrics I wanted to commit to using on it.

Parallel to my music career, I’m working on a book and a screenplay simultaneously, both based on a period in my life where I became politicized through fighting Neo-Nazis and the KKK, as a member of an anti-racist street crew in Minneapolis. Once I figured out that the beat would compliment the storytelling, I wrote my verses and recorded them. 

Toni Hill is a longtime collaborator and she wrote, sang, recorded the hook with power and grace. When she came into the studio to lay down her vocals, she brought her son, Tikylo Hendrix, who is a phenomenal percussionist. Tikylo laid down some sick bongos that livened the track up!

Melissa Barrsion just happened to be passing through Portland on the day we were recording Toni and Tikylo, and we were lucky to get her violin magic on the track, which took it to a whole other level!

On this song, we have a first hand history lesson about anti-racist organizing and a spectrum of Black musical traditions ranging from Hip Hop, Rock ‘n’ Roll, the Blues, Country and Dancehall!

Mic Crenshaw | Retribution

How then does “Retribution“ either differ and / or compare to previous Mic Crenshaw entries?

I find it to be a conglomerate of my best skills as a writer, storyteller, activist, and an emcee. The song is hard, catchy, has a message and is unique in the way it seamlessly blends so many musical elements. It's one of the poppier arrangements in terms of how accessible the groove is, and yet it sounds like nothing I’ve cooked up before.

As a lyricist when you sit down to pen your rhymes, where do you draw inspiration from? 

I draw much inspiration from history, and the current socio-political realities we face as human beings encountering fascism. Politically charged social commentary is my sweetspot. It just pours out of my mind and onto the page. Paying attention to what's going on in this society and the world, gives me plenty to reflect on and write about.

That said, what all else are your future plans and / or goals for the (remainder of the) 2025 season and beyond?   

I’m trying to get a trip to a warmer climate on the calendar. The last year has been a stressful one with so many projects to move forward, a lot of hustling in terms of income and the broader climate of genocide and fascism. I’ve been worried about the future for the younger generation and all of us really. I write a lot of lyrics about these things, but I’ve been struggling with a general sense of powerlessness and feeling like I’m not doing enough. Increased surveillance and political repression have made for a tense environment where most people I know are struggling mentally, emotionally, if not economically. I’m trying to make room for an exit strategy and get my affairs in order so that I can relocate if need be. Other than that, it's really about getting this album tied up for release in February 2026, and getting the next two videos out prior.

What are some of your fondest, most stand-out moments / memories during your lengthy tenure in this thing called Hip Hop?  

In terms of Hip Hop, it has fed my spirit and took me all over the world. I was able to help establish and sustain food security projects in two African countries, and tour in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa, Russia, Cuba and Germany over the last two decades because of Hip Hop. I love the international communities that Hip Hop has introduced me to through the Afrikan Hip Hop Caravan, and those relationships have led to some of the most meaningful work I’ve done and am still engaged in. We have planted trees and put in wells in Burundi, and established a farm in Tanzania.

Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?        

I want people to find reflections of themselves in the thought processes that I express lyrically, and be inspired by the soundscapes that are a platform for my rhymes. I want people to enjoy the imagery in my videos and think about the similarities between themselves and the emcee they’re listening to, when they play my songs. There’s a lot more going on than me selling dope, fucking your bitch and shooting you in the face, when you listen to Mic Crenshaw. Although I see the entertainment value of sex, money and murder, I want to elevate the spiritual and intellectual values of other aspects of our collective existence, like the determination to get free, see the world, and contribute to the struggle for liberation.

If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?         

I’d love to collaborate with The Neighborhood Kids out of San Diego, because our messages are aligned and they’re dope. 

I’d love to collaborate with Kelis because she has invested heavily in land projects in Africa as have I. She has a lot more resources at her disposal and a much bigger platform, but I’d love for her to know about the farm in Tanzania and our vision for development there in a way that could be mutually beneficial.

If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?     

I’d love to play some of the larger music festivals in Africa. I’ve played the Shoko in Zimbabwe and Hip-Hop Asili in Tanzania, but I’d love to play others. Cape Town is dope, and I’d love to play Burkina Faso or Senegal as well. I want to eventually visit every region on the continent and have friends everywhere.

On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?   

Hip Hop is of the struggle and will always be a site of contradiction and conflict, until Black People are free on Earth, and that is a generational struggle. Regardless of what commercial Rap music is curated to look like by capitalists who extract wealth and push limited narratives, there will always be something greater, stronger, more diverse, urgent and dynamic, reflecting the vast authenticity of global struggles for recognition, originality, beauty, culture and integrity.

What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?       

I still enjoy writing lyrics, producing music, videos, performing, traveling, sharing myself with the world and folks who have similar interests and passions. It’s the joy that I get from practicing my craft and being inspired by the realities of life, to write rhymes, that keeps me engaged. I feel like I haven't done my best work yet, and so I’ll keep pushing.

Do you have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from entertainment?  

I want to build a home in Tanzania, I want to build a retreat center and travel lodge there as well. I am working on completing a screenplay and an autobiography, as well as producing a documentary. 

You also have GlobalFam — What are you current goals / plans for / with the company? 

I want to re-engage with the Afrikan Hip Hop Caravan as it’s been on hold for a number of years. Global Fam will be a vehicle for that international touring project, taking artists across the continent.

What’s an average day like for you?  

Get up between 5am and 7am, pray, work out, start working on the administrative duties, email, communication, correspondence, scheduling, hopefully get some time to write and pursue the creative process of getting the ideas on paper or saved digitally. Parenting, partnering, eat well, rest.

Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans...  

I’m here for them, I love to hear what they have to say. I’ve been doing this for so long, sometimes I don’t remember some of the songs that they reference from my catalogue! I prefer to have a little space as soon as I get off of stage though. I need time to collect myself, get back in my body, wipe the sweat off…

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?   

I love writing, recording, and performing. The process of writing lyrics, when I’m inspired and flowing, feels like I’m living in a divine state of flow. Memorizing and recording the bars that I’ve perfected and sharing them with the public is something akin to alchemy. Watching and feeling a room full of people be transported by the intent and energy of my delivery is something special, and Allah is to thank for that.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?  

Get up early, stay up late, think globally and listen to others’ critique and allow it to make your work better. At the same time, stand on business and protect what’s unique about your voice because that is what will separate your story and sound from everyone else. Follow through on communication and never leave people hanging, not knowing whether you’re going to reply or return their call or email, unless you can tell that they’re full of shit. Do what you love, and let that guide your work.

Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?      

I will be living abroad, in Africa and Latin America. My film projects will be generating income and I’ll be finishing up school, getting a Masters in social work on my way to practicing clinical psychology, eventually.

What’s next for  you, Mic?

The album, the book, the movie.

Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?  

Subscribe to me on YouTube, follow me on IG, peep the videos and share them on your socials…tell Neighborhood Kids and Kelis to fuck wit Mic Crenshaw!        

Lastly, any “parting” words for our readers?

The physical is a vehicle for the soul, and the individual is indivisible from the whole. 

One Love!

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