Mic Little

With a smooth falsetto that recalls a young <a href="spotify:artist:3fMbdgg4jU18AjLCKBhRSm">Michael Jackson</a>, it didn't take long for the preteen singer known as Mic Little to go from singing in church and at talent shows to auditioning for <a href="spotify:artist:3qEzkkBwK5vKVggMiZYOWa">L.A. Reid</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3nFkdlSjzX9mRTtwJOzDYB">Jay-Z</a>. He was born and raised in the heart of South Central Los Angeles, and Mic Little's parents made every effort they could to keep their son out of trouble. With <a href="spotify:artist:6CxZzQFUTM6AzgluGwtq5w">Charlie Wilson</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:4TwHRCIu3Xg9fjS3l7owkp">the Gap Band</a> and gospel great Daryl Cooley in his family tree, music seemed the way to go. Singing and performing came naturally to the youngster, and soon his cousin <a href="spotify:artist:3tQzzidoPfVifoURnDfgmD">T-Low</a> of the R&B trio <a href="spotify:artist:2MGT7CYlixSPxAnnkhLpaA">Next</a> took notice. <a href="spotify:artist:3tQzzidoPfVifoURnDfgmD">T-Low</a> brought his cousin to the attention of Walter "Lil Walt" Millsap, a songwriter/producer who had worked with <a href="spotify:artist:3DiDSECUqqY1AuBP8qtaIa">Alicia Keys</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:05oH07COxkXKIMt6mIPRee">Brandy</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1XkoF8ryArs86LZvFOkbyr">Mary J. Blige</a>, and many others. Millsap thought his voice was shockingly similar to <a href="spotify:artist:3fMbdgg4jU18AjLCKBhRSm">Michael Jackson</a> during his <a href="spotify:artist:2iE18Oxc8YSumAU232n4rW">Jackson 5</a> days, and influenced the young singer to switch from his birth name, Michael Johnson, to Lil Mike, which was eventually changed to Mic Little. A ten-song demo was cut with Millsap writing and producing, and it was presented to Def Jam. Def Jam bosses <a href="spotify:artist:3qEzkkBwK5vKVggMiZYOWa">L.A. Reid</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3nFkdlSjzX9mRTtwJOzDYB">Jay-Z</a> asked for a showcase, jumped on a plane, saw the singer perform in person, and offered him a contract on the spot. Fellow Def Jam artist <a href="spotify:artist:21E3waRsmPlU7jZsS13rcj">Ne-Yo</a> appeared on Mic Little's debut single, the sweet "Put It in a Letter," which landed at the end of summer 2006. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi