Mykel Hawk on Come Correct
Nothing is off-limits in my music. I dive into themes that reflect my passion for Hip-Hop and the importance of preserving its authenticity as it evolves, while also exploring personal growth and self-discovery.
Over the past three years, I feel I've grown as a lyricist, beat maker, and as a recording, mixing, and mastering engineer. I believe my overall songwriting keeps getting better too. My goal has always been to be a self-produced artist—a rapper who creates and performs over his own beats—and I've been achieving that for many years now.
Hip-Hop, Rap, Boom-Bap, Old School B-Boy type shit!
I've always been a performer and passionate about music. As a child, before discovering Hip-Hop, I was deeply involved in school music programs, playing several instruments and singing. I used to lock myself in my bedroom, crank up my stereo, and spend hours singing in front of the mirror. Looking back, it might seem a bit self-absorbed, but all performers need a touch of that ego—just enough to watch someone onstage in front of thousands and think, "I could do that."
The first music I can remember hearing was from the legendary Michael Jackson. I distinctly recall asking my mom to "play the music by that lady I like," and her trying to convince me that Michael Jackson was actually a man. Based on what I’d heard, though, I had a really hard time believing her!
"Come Correct" is an old-school saying that means, "If you're going to get on this mic, you'd better bring your best or don't bother at all." The era of Hip-Hop I come from held high standards for anyone calling themselves an MC. Rappers were driven to outdo one another, constantly improving because everyone else was. When it was your time to shine, if you didn’t "Come Correct," it might be the last time anyone wanted to listen to you. I respected this about Hip-Hop—it taught me the importance of pushing yourself to improve, a lesson I’ve applied to every part of my life. Always strive to be better than you were yesterday. I’m old school and proud of it.
My name is Mykel Hawk. I’m a B-Boy, lyricist, producer, beat creator, DJ, and performer originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hip-Hop has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. It raised me, taught me how to be a man, entertained me, and gave me purpose from a very young age. It will forever be a part of who I am.
If I had to choose an artist to tour with, it would be someone whose style matches mine and gives me the chance to perform for a massive audience. For me, that artist would definitely be Eminem.
Describing my music is tough because I don’t try to fit into any specific mold, except that it’s Rap and Hip-Hop. What I see as Hip-Hop might not match someone else’s idea of what it should sound like. But if you’re into sharp lyricism, boom-bap beats with a strong focus on musicality, and tracks that have more depth than fluff or filler, you should definitely check me out.
Man, I think I'd have to go with Bob Marley. That would be incredible. They cut him down in his prime. I've been to a lot of concerts, and you always want to catch those shows where the artist is at their peak, right at the top of their game.
I don't have a favorite. They're all my babies.
