My name is Mike C. I grew up in E. St. Louis, IL, a small town about 10 minutes from St. Louis, Mo. I love all kinds of music, especially Hip Hop & Rap. It has energy and raw power that makes you feel alive. I've been writing rap songs for a while now, and decided to put myself out there. I love the creative process of making music. I hear tunes, chords, melodies, and sometimes whole symphonies in my head. I usually get ideas for new music from things happening around me, or from some social or personal issue I may be struggling to understand that eventually comes out in my music. That’s how my latest music project evolved. There are certain things that may not directly affect you, but you can’t turn a deaf ear to it or shield your eyes from it. Like most people I feel saddened, almost guilty, when I hear daily reports of the desperation of people that have fallen victims to this stressed-out economy. This is real and scarier than any horror flick I have seen. It seems like everything just kind of hit us all at one time. Banks & investment firms playing high stakes poker with our life savings; companies shutting down, one after another, on epidemic proportions; people losing their jobs & homes, some killing themselves out of fear; children being kidnapped & slain on a regular basis; and too many brave men & women are dying on foreign soil in the Iraqi war. I kept thinking what happen to the good ole days and how many will be lost before we see some semblance of peace and stability. My latest single is called "These are the Days". I think each and every one of us can identify with this song in one way or another. Please take a listen and feedback is welcome – rather good or bad. Peace!