Check Out Michael aka Mikol Jelks’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael aka Mikol Jelks.

Hi Michael aka Mikol, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a Hip Hop artist. A Father. A Husband. A black man with Latin roots. A believer & Music lover. My love for music and my faith spill into every aspect of my life. I started writing lyrics as a way to escape and deal with my upbringing in the foster care system. It was therapy for me to write. I was in it my entire life. So music and God was all I had to hold on to. All the trouble that came with being in the system could’ve sent me down a dark path but music and faith kept me from it. I grew up moving from home to home so I struggled with finding who I was because my environment always shifted. Turned out to be a blessing because I learned how to adapt. That’s something you hear in my music now. I’ve been writing for 10+ years and pursuing artistry for eight of those years. I want to inspire people with my story, and I want to challenge people through my art. I always find myself in between the two and it’s helped me to breed innovation… My purpose is to continue to break the generational cycles on my life and motivate others to do the same.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For me, my struggles were always with identity & self-doubt. I always had a hard time really believing in myself coming up. Believing that I could make it past my circumstances. I had a lot of self-doubts and till this day, I deal with the remnants and seeds of it. That also comes in the form of me carving out a lane for myself. I always compared myself to others because I couldn’t find what made me, me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At heart, I am a creative. I am a rapper and songwriter. I am most known for my music and being an artist. I also do motivational speaking and work in the nonprofit world. But my music is what I’m best known for. What sets me apart from others is the perspective I bring. Which is my story. Being a black kid with White and Latino roots who grew up in a Christian home. I try and offer a nuanced perspective in my music and I believe that’s what sets me apart from others.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5 – 10 years, I see myself involved with building the creative spaces in LA and bringing innovation to them working with new artists and creating sound. All the while being involved in philanthropy and the social services industry. Helping merge being a creative and doing social work and business together.

Pricing:

• Show bookings range from $500 – $1000
• Speaking engagements $500 -$750
• Speaking and performing $1000 – $1500
• Project management- $,250 – $1,000

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Legendariminds.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/Mikolxmuse
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Mikoljlks
• Twitter: Twitter.com/mikolxmuse
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCXtq7-nN00qsBcaDvtY_anw

Image Credits
Image credits got to Zxmbiac aka Jr Martinez, Elonce aka Ronnie Craig Jr, & Ashley Byrd