Stanisland Magazine

We review the rapper’s latest hip-hop album, exploring themes of grief and frustrations with the industry, though it can feel limited at times.

MIKE (Real name Michael Jordan Bonema) is back with a new album titled, Showbiz! Winning over fans with an expansive discography, his latest is an introspective commentary on life, resilience, and of course, the entertainment industry.

Packed with 24 tracks, fans of the rapper, described as a lo-fi style hip-hop connoisseur, should be happy.

Production Credits

There are a number of music credits, though, the lyricist took the lead under his alias, dj blackpower. Overseeing its curation, he has generated a consistent sound profile. Other names involved include, Thelonious Martin, redLee, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Jacob Rochester, Anysia Kym, Harrison (SURF GANG), and ShunGuLaron. The album also features appearances from duendita on “Miss U” and 454 on “What U Bouta Do?/A Star was Born.”

The cover art was created by Tzadi.

What Showbiz! Sounds Like

It undoubtedly skirts between a relaxed and brooding sound, paved with boom-bap elements. It is stylistically unique, built around a volley of rhyme schemes that are reminiscent of ROC Marciano, and if his body-of-work interests you, then you’ll no doubt enjoy MIKE’s library, especially so if you The Alchemist appealing.

It can be multi-layered, though its delivery can sound lethargic at times, likely enhancing the rapper’s statements and disclosures. Often feeling conflicted, he laments the loss of his mother through a pensive flow he enacts as a form of mourning. It can be heavy at times, with a sense of incoherency.

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On songs like “Pieces of a Dream,” he surveys life’s expectations and their intersections with his profession, often to his frustration. On “Bear Trap“, he verbalises these annoyances, “I was tryna make it out the trap, but I was stuck inside the bear trap”…”They want me to be a star, but I ain’t tryna go there.”

Verdict

While I appreciate the ideas the artist navigates, there is a thematic cycle that can feel contrived, blended with the native expressive sounds he explores. At times, it sonically evokes a 1970s film score, melding with vocal textures redolent of the era.

It’s an interesting project, interweaved with the rapper’s personal and professional trials, but it can feel monotonous, making the listener anxious for it to be over. Will I return to Showbiz! for a second time? I doubt it, considering its 48 minute runtime of 24 tracks, it overstretches itself for a project that is thematically focused. I’d expect a longer duration with a broader exploration of the album’s themes.

Where to Stream the Album

You can listen to Showbiz! on Spotify, and Apple Music with an option to purchase it directly via Bandcamp as a digital copy and compact disc (CD).

Complete Tracklist

• 1. Bear Trap
• 2. Clown of the Class (Work Harder)
• 3. Then we could be free..
• 4. Watered down
• 5. man in the mirror
• 6. Artist of the Century
• 7. What U Bouta Do?/A Star was Born (feat. 454)
• 8. Belly 1
• 9. Da Roc
• 10. The Weight (2k20)
• 11. Lost Scribe
• 12. You’re the Only One Watching
• 13. Lucky
• 14. #82
• 15. Too Hot (interlude)
• 16. Pieces of a Dream
• 17. Strange Feeling
• 18. Zombie pt. 2
• 19. Burning House
• 20. Showbiz! (Intro)
• 21. Spun Out
• 22. Miss U (feat. duendita)
• 23. When it Rains
• 24. Diamond Dancing (Broke)

Tour Dates

MIKE is set to embark on an exhaustive schedule of touring, including dates in Europe that include Belgium, Germany, the UK, Czech Republic and Spain. Later, he will return to the United States where he faces an equally challenging list of performances (See below)

Europe and the UK

• Upcoming Tour Dates:
• EU/UK:
• 2/27/2025 – Dublin, IR @ The Button Factory
• 2/28/2025 – Glasgow, UK @ Room 2
• 3/1/2025 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
• 3/3/2025 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
• 3/4/2025 – Birmingham, UK @ The Hare & Hounds
• 3/5/2025 – Bristol, UK @ Trinity
• 3/6/2025 – London, UK @ EartH Hall
• 3/7/2025 – Brighton, UK @ Patterns
• 3/8/2025 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
• 3/10/2025 – Cologne – DE @ Veedel Club
• 3/11/2025 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
• 3/12/2025 – Hamburg, DE @ HÄKKEN
• 3/13/2025 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen
• 3/14/2025 – Stockholm, SE @ Bar Brooklyn
• 3/15/2025 – Oslo, NO @ John Dee
• 3/17/2025 – Berlin, DE @ Gretchen
• 3/18/2025 – Jena, DE @ Trafo
• 3/19/2025 – Prague, CZ @ Cross Club
• 3/20/2025 – Vienna, AT @ Das Werk
• 3/21/2025 – Munich, DE @ Milla
• 3/22/2025 – Milan, IT @ Circolo Magnolia
• 3/23/2025 – Lyon, FR @ Sonic
• 3/25/2025 – Toulouse, FR @ Le Rex
• 3/26/2025 – Barcelona, ES @ La Nau
• 3/27/2025 – Madrid, ES @ Sala Villanos
• 3/28/2025 – Lisboa, PT @ LAV – Lisboa Ao Vivo
• 3/29/2025 – Porto, PT @ Hard Club
• 3/30/2025 – Vigo, ES @ Radar Estudios –
• 4/1/2025 – San Sebastian, ES @ Dabadaba
• 4/2/2025 – La Roche-sur-Yon, FR @ Quai M
• 4/3/2025 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie

North America

• 4/16/2025 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
• 4/17/2025 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
• 4/18/2025 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
• 4/19/2025 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
• 4/20/2025 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
• 4/22/2025 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
• 4/23/2025 – Miami, FL @ Gramps
• 4/24/2025 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
• 4/25/2025 – Jacksonville, FL @ Underbelly
• 4/26/2025 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
• 4/27/2025 – Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theatre
• 4/29/2025 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Resonant Head
• 4/30/2025 – Dallas, TX @ Tulips
• 5/1/2025 – Houston, TX @ WOMH Upstairs
• 5/2/2025 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk Outside
• 5/3/2025 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
• 5/5/2025 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
• 5/6/2025 – Phoenix, AZ @ Walter Studios
• 5/7/2025 – San Diego, CA @ Quartyard
• 5/8/2025 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco
• 5/9/2025 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst Atrium
• 5/10/2025 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
• 5/11/2025 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
• 5/13/2025 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
• 5/14/2025 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
• 5/15/2025 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
• 5/16/2025 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Basement
• 5/17/2025 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
• 5/18/2025 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater
• 5/20/2025 – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
• 5/21/2025 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Loung
• 5/22/2025 – Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam
• 5/23/2025 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
• 5/24/2025 – Indianapolis, IN @ HI-FI
• 5/25/2025 – Detroit, MI @ TBD
• 5/27/2025 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
• 5/28/2025 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
• 5/29/2025 – Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theatre
• 5/30/2025 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
• 5/31/2025 – New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza