Mike x Clay

Mike x Clay
The music that rap group Mike x Clay makes defies classification. You might listen to one of their songs and get a rugged and grimy East Coast sound, and then you’ll hear another cut, and it will be a poignant, piano-laden composition that might even drive you to tears. This chameleon-like trait speaks to the heightened musicality and overall work ethic of the group’s members. Their goal is to make stellar Hip-Hop music that transcends the norm and usurps the recycled garbage rap fans are forced to continuously consume. And perhaps the most impressive thing about their music is that every song they put out, regardless of the sonic direction, sounds absolutely honest and straight from the heart.

So who exactly are Mike x Clay? Well, brothers – Clarence and Michael Lewis. Both originally from Southern California, the Lewis brothers relocated to Chicago. Perhaps their varying experiences of living in far-flung zip codes may be the reason why their music has such a multi-faceted appeal. They jokingly describe their aura as a mixture of “Nas & 2 Live Crew” – now how’s that for some diverse range?
With regards to the distribution of roles in the group, it goes like this: Mic paints the musical backdrop for the two emcees to drop their intricate wordplay of hard-hitting and heart-piercing lyrics. As Mic eloquently states, “Musically, I play the role of the point guard, I bring the ball up the court for my brother to deliver the goods.”

When the masses start to catch on to the MXC sound, they‘ll immediately recognize that they’re listening to something distinct, untarnished and real. When you soak songs on their upcoming EP like “Dear Diary” or ”Dr. Dre,” it becomes immediately apparent that these guys are cut from a different cloth. Both on the beats and with the lyrics, these dudes are out to absolutely murk any contenders.

Going forward, the future is an open road for the brothers Lewis. In addition to perfecting their music, they are plotting a barrage of leftfield, guerrilla tactics to get their music out to the people. “It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride – that’s for sure,” Mic says, “but we’re ready for it.” Clay chimes in too: “We’ve been doing this for too long and we’ve polished our craft too much – we are never quitting until we reach our full potential.”

Recognize: It’s Clay, Mike. It’s iLLa.
- Geo Hagan

Born and raised in Southern California, the boys of iLLa Noise now divide their time between the Sunshine state and Chicago. Performing together for just two years, Noise has already opened up for artists including Too $hort, Ying Yang Twins, Twista, and E-40. The boys rhyme with charm and ease as they navigate the eerie soundscape of “Trippin,” complete with whispers and tongue-in-cheek lyrics à la the Ying Yang Twins—a club banger for sure - Aylin Zafar [URB]