Mick Jenkins is a young Chicago-based rapper writing important music that sheds a light on the systemic prejudice and injustice he’s witnessed over his 25 years. After a series of regular mix tapes since 2014, Mick’s first full album, The Healing Component, was released towards the end of 2016. The album is a masterpiece demonstrating that beyond his powerful lyrics and rapping style there’s a very soulful heart.
Heading to Australia to play at the Laneway Festival this month, we caught up with Mick to discuss the music that’s helped shape him and his music and presumably the music he’s likely to listen to during the 21 hour flight over.
What’s the first song you remember hearing?
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
What was the first record you bought?
It was College Dropout. I remember I had to convince my mum to let me get the explicit version because I was fourteen. Kanye was a huge, huge influence on me. As a kid he was my favourite rapper. It was just timing, I was at an age where I was questioning a lot of stuff and trying to act older than I really was and he came out and it was just dope music.
Prior to that moment, what music did you grow up on?
My mum listened to a lot of neo soul, artists like Sade, Gil Scott-Heron and India Arie. My father listened to more contemporary gospel music like Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin. Then as I got older I got into hip hop like Common, Little Brother and Lupe Fiasco.
Was there a particular song, album or moment you that inspired you to start making your own music?
I actually got into music because I won a rap competition. I was into creative writing and then started writing a lot of poetry, which led to me entering this rap comp with my friends. I loved it immediately, I realised I could rap, I loved trying to be witty with the the crowd. When I look back, it just kind of worked seamlessly from the beginning, I didn’t have to think too much about it.
What are your favourite albums of all time?
I’d have to say, Jill Scott’s, Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, Renaissance Man by Q-Tip Kanye’s College Dropout and Connected by The Foreign Exchange, which is the band of Phonte formally of Little Brother, that’s a super dope album.
What was the last record you bought?
I don’t buy too much music because I already have the music that I like. I listen to it over and over. I’ll never get tired of listening to my favourite albums and to find your way onto that list is pretty difficult. I’m not often searching for new music but Anderson .Paak was the last brand new artist that I adopted into my life. I’m a wholehearted fan. Also D.R.A.M. I’ve been listening to his album because I’m interested in what he’s doing. These are the two newest artists I’ve incorporated into the fold.
What was the last record you heard that changed the game?
The last album that did that for me was probably Kendrick Lamar’s, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City.
In your music, the themes of love and water appear throughout. Can you explain that? Also what is the favourite music video for one of your songs?
My favourite music video is probably for Jazz, a song from The Water[s]. Water is synonymous with truth so whenever I’m saying, ‘drink more water’, I’m really saying ‘seek more truth’. It’s a simple metaphor and something I’ll probably never get away from.
Credits
Text Briony Wright