Mike Bars

Born and raised in a quiet neighborhood in Portland, Oregon - <a href="spotify:artist:6KdCg1LubhVj6PWRFcty69" data-name="Mike Bars">Mike Bars</a> has never fit the mold you might expect from a hard core rapper. With songs sometimes playing out like a murder fantasy, the PNW native’s sleepy upbringing might come as a surprise to some.


In his early teens, Mike began to spiral down a bad path, being forced to switch schools and enter counseling after being diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety disorder and PTSD - but it wasn’t until he ditched the pills that he discovered his own remedy: music.


Falling in love with the lyrical aspect of Hip Hop, combined with his love for melodies, Mike got his hands on a mic, an MPC, and a video camera, quickly transforming into an entertainment machine.


Word spread fast. Becoming notorious for his outlandish and unorthodox image, he began gaining some attention from his homemade music videos and booking shows with artists like <a href="spotify:artist:3aQeKQSyrW4qWr35idm0cy" data-name="T-Pain">T-Pain</a> , <a href="spotify:artist:5spEJXLwD1sKUdC2bnOHPg" data-name="Bone Thugs-N-Harmony">Bone Thugs-N-Harmony</a> , <a href="spotify:artist:26s8LSolLfCIY88ysQbIuT" data-name="Three 6 Mafia">Three 6 Mafia</a> , <a href="spotify:artist:7EWU4FhUJM1sZQgQKdENeT" data-name="Hopsin">Hopsin</a> , <a href="spotify:artist:1LrWZc2qPhRCHyr6XtpBxq" data-name="Dizzy Wright">Dizzy Wright</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6vbY3hOaCAhC7VjucswgdS" data-name="Twista">Twista</a> .


But it wasn&#39;t until 2013 (after forming Treehouse Gang with <a href="spotify:artist:5izAuEvecTLkEJXZmFsOop" data-name="Karess Tha MC">Karess Tha MC</a>) that Mike began receiving worldwide recognition for his mixtape, 16 Bars. His self-directed/edited music video for the tape&#39;s single There Will Be Blood (feat. <a href="spotify:artist:3nSjdp5h4cbbTOn59qKKHR" data-name="SwizZz">SwizZz</a> ), has now racked up over 3 million views on YouTube.


5 years later, Mike preps to release his brand new 8 song EP, Desperate Measures, with his leading single <a href="spotify:album:4zOnyIKMPhn3lYuO1S24yO" data-name="Up to No Good">Up to No Good</a> feat. <a href="spotify:artist:5YI7PJwny5JsO7djczHwhP" data-name="Jarren Benton">Jarren Benton</a> (which has already racked up one million views on YouTube).