Mick Jenkins

Biography

Jayson Andrew "Mick" Jenkins (born April 16, 1991) is an American rapper based in Chicago and signed to Cinematic Music Group.

Early life and education

Jenkins was born in Huntsville, Alabama. Following his parents divorce, he moved to Chicago, Illinois with his mother and sister when he was nine years old. As a child, Jenkins was heavily influenced by his parents' musical preferences. His mother listened to Neo-soul, while his father enjoyed contemporary black gospel music. When Jenkins was just 17 years old, he began going to open-mic events at Young Chicago Authors, which engages young writers. Mick Jenkins attended Hirsch Metropolitan High, where he began participating in mock trials for the school's law academy in 2008. Following this opportunity, he went on to become a courthouse intern at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. Jenkins ended his law studies in 2009, when he became an intern at Sir & Madame, a clothing store, and briefly became an aspiring fashion mogul. Later in 2009, he returned to Huntsville to attend Oakwood University, and later served 34 days for a misdemeanour charge. Oakwood is a private college that is affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In Jenkins's sophomore year at the school, he entered a rap competition, where the prize was a pair of Beats By Dre headphones. Jenkins did not win the competition, but states that it led him to discover a passion in making music. Jenkins ultimately dropped out of Oakwood after his father lost his job at the school, meaning tuition was no longer affordable. Jenkins claims to have dropped five mixtapes while in college, though he later disregarded them and removed them from internet access. The Mickstape and The Pursuit of HappyNess: The Story of MickalasCage, however, are still available. In 2012, Jenkins pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana. He consequently served 34 days in jail in Alabama, before returning to Chicago to focus on music.

2012–2013: Career beginnings, Trees & Truths, and mixtapes

On January 13, 2012, Jenkins released his first official mixtape, The Mickstape×The Mickstape13 January 2012 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1C.S.I.E.1:562Like a Villain3:583Value Village3:484Purple Snowflakes3:055Kewl Niggas4:006Cold Chillin'3:167Pineapple Trainwreck3:368Mr. Jackson2:209Stay Up3:0010To the Melody3:4711Cupid3:0312Loafin3:0313One of These Nights4:0314Restless2:32, followed by The Pursuit of HappyNess: The Story of Mickalascage×The Pursuit of HappyNess: The Story of Mickalascage5 August 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Formal Introduction1:542On My Mind2:403The Session3:014Tip Your Hat3:165Happy Thoughts3:056Ox n Pab0:297Happily Screwed Interlude2:008The Mike Love Joint1:489We Out Here4:1510You Been Told2:5911Talkin $hit4:1012Ox n Pab, again0:3413Brake Lights3:3114Gang Bang3:2015A.M.F.O.S. Interlude2:2616Mirage [outro]2:52 in August 2012. These consecutive mixtapes included involvement from several record producers, such as After the Smoke, Swisha House, Chris Calor, Quincy Banks, Chuck Inglish, Vanilla, and Dijon, among others. During 2012, Jenkins returned to Chicago and joined the YCA (Young Chicago Authors), poetry collective, where he performed his first a cappella verse. This resulted in attention from local recording artist, and a leader of Chicago's Pivot Gang collective, Saba. The two then collaborated on a track called "Heaux", which was meant for a Mick Jenkins project, but ended up featuring on Saba's mixtape GETCOMFORTable (2012). Jenkins also became a member of a hip-hop group, called Free Nation. Other members include Prop, J-Stock, Burman, and Maine The Saint. Free Nation is "a hip hop group that promotes creative thought without accepting narrow views imposed by the powers that be".
In April 2013, Jenkins released his Trees & Truths mixtape. The tape quickly became a local favorite, featuring acid jazz-influenced production, biblical allegory, and his lacerating lyricism. Only few months after its release, a collaboration between him and fellow Chicago rappers Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa came in the form of the single "Crossroads", which garnered both attention and praise.

2014–2015: The Waters and Waves

In July 2014, Jenkins received significant attention after the release of his single and a visual of "Martyrs×Martyrs3 November 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Martyrs3:40", which juxtaposed insight on harsh societal truths with a catchy hook. The thought-provoking single held messages on gun violence, the fight between his conscience and new-found success, and his turbulent childhood in Chicago. "Martyrs" led prominent figures in the hip-hop community such as Timbaland, to reach out and praise Jenkins for his musical talent and intricate lyricism. On August 12, Jenkins released his project, The Waters, to critical acclaim. Considered by many to be Jenkins' breakout project, The Waters is centered on the idea of comparing water to life's truths. Shortly after releasing the project, Jenkins announced he would be touring during the fall on the 2014 Smoker's Club World Wide Roller's Tour alongside Method Man, Redman, B-Real, Trademark da Skydiver, and Berner. His first official tour took place in February 2015 with Kirk Knight, Noname and Saba. He also joined Joey Bada$$ and Denzel Curry for Phase 1 of their World Domination Tour.
On July 20, 2015, Mick Jenkins announced his Waves EP, which was released on August 21, 2015. Mick Jenkins began streaming his new project in full via NPR's First Listen on August 13, 2015. Waves is the follow-up to Jenkins' critically acclaimed 2014 mixtape, The Waters. Jenkins kept the collaborators on Waves confined to those within his inner circle. The project features the likes of Jean Deaux, Saba, TheMind and popular producers such as Kaytranada. Jenkins also accompanied French producer STWO on his North American tour from the end of August through the beginning of October.

2016: The Healing Component

On August 17, 2016, Mick Jenkins released the first single from his highly anticipated debut album, "Spread Love". On August 25, 2016, Jenkins released his second single of the album, called "Drowning×Drowning26 August 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Drowning6:00", which features an instrumental performed by Toronto-based jazz quartet BADBADNOTGOOD. The song has a direct reference to the death of Eric Garner, a black man who was strangled by police. The album, The Healing Component×The Healing Component23 September 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1The Healing Component5:022Spread Love3:533Daniels Bloom3:414Strange Love6:095This Type Love?2:246Drowning6:017As Seen in Bethsaida2:378Communicate3:579Plugged3:56101000 Xans3:1511Prosperity4:4412Fall Through3:5313Love, Robert Horry3:3714Angles4:2315Fucked up Outro4:52, was released on September 23, 2016. Many of the songs on the albums feature intros and outros with a dialogue about love with a female narrator, his sister. The Healing Component, abbreviated THC, explores the theme of love throughout the album. From self-love to romantic experience, he juxtaposes different forms love can take.

2017–2020: Or More EP series, Pieces of a Man and The Circus

On November 21, 2017, Mick Jenkins released Or More; The Anxious, the first mixtape in a series of projects Jenkins describes as "a project series involving musical ideas and concepts that are currently inspiring the album's creation process." The second mixtape in the series, Or More; The Frustration×or more; the frustration24 February 2018 · EP · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Go Time2:372Same Ol'1:323Rags3:384Cry If You Want (FYP)3:3156am Matinee2:496Earl Sweatshirt Type Beat1:567Walk Different1:388Blessed Assurance2:54, was released on February 24, 2018. On October 26, his second studio album, Pieces of a Man×Pieces of a Man26 October 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Heron Flow3:172Stress Fracture3:133Gwendolynn’s Apprehension3:454Soft Porn3:425Grace & Mercy1:516Barcelona2:347Percy Interlude0:448Reginald2:489Padded Locks3:4510Ghost3:3411Heron Flow 22:0912Plain Clothes3:5113Pull Up4:2714Consensual Seduction3:4615U Turn2:4616Understood3:2817Smoking Song3:31, was released. The album's first single, "Understood" was released on October 12, 2018. The second single "Padded Locks", featuring veteran Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, was released on October 21, 2018. The album also prominently pays homage to Gil Scott-Heron's 1971 album of the same name.
In March 2019, Jenkins was featured on the single "Cold" with Brooklyn Michelle. Additionally later in the year on September 18, Jenkins released the single "Percy" featuring fellow Chicago-based rapper Qari produced by greenSLLIME, also from Chicago.
On January 3, 2020, he released the single "Carefree×Carefree3 January 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Carefree3:10" from the EP The Circus×The Circus10 January 2020 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Same Ol2:102Carefree3:103The Light4:254Flaunt2:215The Fit2:226I’m Convinced2:207Different Scales2:24, released on January 10, 2020.

2021: Elephant in the Room

On October 8, 2021, Mick Jenkins announced his anticipated third album titled Elephant in the Room×Elephant In the Room29 October 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Valley of the Shadow of Death3:022Things You Could Die For If Doing While Black3:023Stiff Arm3:294Contacts2:565Scottie Pippen3:536Gucci Tried to Tell Me3:097D.U.I.2:598Speed Racer2:039Truffles3:1510Is, This Cigarettes3:3111Reflection3:4312Rug Burn3:15, which was released on October 29. The first single, "Truffles×Truffles3 June 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Truffles3:15" was released on June 23, 2021. This was followed by "Contacts×Contacts8 October 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Contacts2:56", released on October 8 with the announcement of the official album release date and track list reveal. The album's final single "Scottie Pippen×Scottie Pippen22 October 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Scottie Pippen3:53" was released on October 22.

2023-2024: The Patience

On July 7, 2023, Jenkins announced his fourth album The Patience×The Patience16 August 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Michelin Star1:552Show & Tell4:203Sitting Ducks2:174Smoke Break-Dance2:4750072:26620041:257ROY G. BIV1:548Pasta2:259Farm to Table3:0810Guapanese2:2411Mop2:48, releasing the JID-assisted lead single "Smoke Break-Dance" on the same day. The album would mark his first release away from Cinematic Music Group, now releasing in collaboration with RBC Records and BMG. The album's second single, "Guapanese×Guapanese28 July 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Guapanese2:242Smoke Break‐Dance2:48" released on July 28, 2023. In June 2024, Jenkins was featured on Indian rap duo Seedhe Maut's single "Bure Din×Bure Din14 June 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Bure Din4:25".

2025: type shit, Scarecrows and A Murder of Crows

On January 16, 2025, Jenkins released the EP type shit×type shit17 January 2025 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Type shit2:012Krilling2:183Publix2:374Long Time Coming2:325Brown Recluse2:13, exclusively on the online music platform EVEN. The EP would see Jenkins rap over "type beats" that he found on YouTube, and he explained the process behind the release, noting the underpayments that artists get from music streaming platforms. He would also mark this as the start of his "next phase in music", promising more music and content to arrive throughout 2025. Seven months later, Jenkins released the two-track single Scarecrows, consisting of respective collaborations with Smino and Ab-Soul.
On September 19, 2025, Jenkins released his fifth album A Murder of Crows×A MURDER OF CROWS3 October 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Dream Catchers2:322Words I should’ve said4:193Eating Crow (interlude)1:074Workers’ Comp3:065Pundits (YAPPERS)3:276DeadStock2:487on VHS2:108Move2:539Shining2:4010Coco Gauff2:1711Bigger Than Ever2:34, in collaboration with British producer Emil, exclusively on EVEN. Supported by the singles "Coco Gauff" and the Enny-assisted "Words I Should've Said", the album would later be released on streaming platforms two weeks later on October 3.