Mike Will Made It facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mike Will Made It
Mike Will Made It in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Michael Len Williams II
Also known as	Mike Will Made-It
Born	(1989-03-23) March 23, 1989 (age 36) Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop R&B pop trap
Occupation(s)	Record producer rapper songwriter
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Atlantic EarDrummers Interscope

Michael Len Williams II (born March 23, 1989), who is known by his stage name Mike Will Made It, is a famous American record producer. A record producer helps artists create and record their music. He is famous for making trap music beats for some of the biggest names in hip hop and pop music.

You have probably heard his work on hit songs like "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd, "Formation" by Beyoncé, and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar. He has also worked with stars like Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Kanye West.

In 2013, he started his own career as an artist with the song "23". He also started his own record label, EarDrummer Records, to help new artists like the hip hop group Rae Sremmurd.

Early Life and First Beats

Mike Will was born in Marietta, Georgia. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a family that loved music. His dad used to be a DJ, and his mom sang in a gospel group. His uncle played the guitar, and one of his sisters was a drum major.

As a kid, Mike Will loved sports like basketball and baseball and dreamed of being a pro athlete. But he also had a deep love for hip-hop music. He learned about music by listening to popular songs on the radio and trying to play the background music, called an instrumental, on his keyboard.

When he was 14, his dad bought him a Korg ES1 beat machine for Christmas. A beat machine is an electronic instrument used to create drum patterns. This is when he started making his own original beats. By the time he was 16, he was visiting recording studios in Atlanta, hoping to sell his beats to famous artists. At first, it was difficult, but he didn't give up. Eventually, the famous rapper Gucci Mane heard his beats and invited him to a studio.

After high school, Mike Will went to Georgia State University but decided to leave to focus all his energy on his music career.

Career Highlights

Getting Started in the Music Industry

Gucci Mane was the first major artist to rap over one of Mike Will's beats. This was a huge step for him. After working with Gucci Mane, other big rappers from Atlanta like Future and 2 Chainz started working with him too.

In 2011, Mike Will produced his first official single, "Tupac Back", for rappers Meek Mill and Rick Ross. The song became very popular. He also worked closely with Future, producing several of his hit songs, including "Turn On the Lights".

To share his music with more people, Mike Will released mixtapes. A mixtape is a collection of songs, like an album, that is often released for free. His first mixtape was called Est. in 1989 (Last of a Dying Breed). It featured many famous artists like Lil Wayne and Kanye West.

Becoming a Star Producer

Mike Will Made It in January 2017

By 2012, Mike Will was one of the most in-demand producers in music. He produced the hit song "No Lie" for 2 Chainz, which featured the rapper Drake. The song was a massive success and was certified Gold, meaning it sold over 500,000 copies.

He also co-produced the song "Mercy" with Kanye West. This song featured several artists from West's G.O.O.D. Music label and became a number-one hit. He continued to create popular songs for other artists, like "Pour It Up" for Rihanna.

Working with Pop Stars and Starting a Label

In 2013, Mike Will worked with pop star Miley Cyrus on her album Bangerz. He produced her famous single "We Can't Stop" and many other songs on the album. This showed that he could make hits for both hip hop and pop artists.

That same year, he signed a deal with Interscope Records to release his own music. His first single as a lead artist was "23", which featured Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, and Juicy J.

In 2017, he released his own album, Ransom 2, which included songs with Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and many other stars. He also produced the soundtrack for the movie Creed II in 2018. More recently, he partnered with ESPN to create music for the 2023-24 NBA season.

Musical Style and Influences

Mike Will has said that he was inspired by many great producers. He admired the powerful drums in Dr. Dre's music and the creative pop sounds of Timbaland. As a producer from the South, he also looked up to Shawty Redd, who was known for creating the dark, energetic sound of trap music.

To make his beats, Mike Will uses a mix of classic and modern equipment. He uses keyboards like the Korg Triton and Yamaha Motif, as well as computer software like Logic Pro and FL Studio.

Ear Drummers Records

In 2013, Mike Will started his own record label called Ear Drummer Records. A record label is a company that helps artists record and sell their music. He wanted to help new artists get their start in the music industry.

One of the first groups he signed was Rae Sremmurd, a hip hop duo from Mississippi. Their name is "Ear Drummers" spelled backward. Rae Sremmurd became very successful with hit songs like "Black Beatles", which was produced by Mike Will. The label has signed other artists and has a team of in-house producers who help create the label's unique sound.

Awards and Recognition

Mike Will's work has won many awards. He has been named Producer of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards. His work on songs like "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar and albums like Lemonade by Beyoncé has earned him several Grammy Award nominations and wins. These awards show how much he is respected in the music world.

See also

In Spanish: Mike Will Made It para niños