Mic Crenshaw

Michael Crenshaw was born in the '70's on the South Side of Chicago, and was raised between there and Minneapolis.

In the 80's, as a teen in Minneapolis, Crenshaw was apart of the growing movement in the hardcore music scene to confront white supremacist gangs in the streets.  Youth began to organize themselves, with Crenshaw among the leadership.  He was a founding member of Anti-Racist Action and the famed Minneapolis anti-racist skinhead crew, The Baldies. 

Crenshaw explains, "It was a violent time. We believed that violent racist people and their sympathizers had to be met with force."

To escape the violence, Crenshaw eventually moved to Portland, OR in the early '90's.  In Portland, Crenshaw channeled his commitment to social justice and equality into music and educating marginalized youth.

In 1993, Crenshaw co-founded Hungry Mob, the longest running live hip hop band in Portland.  Quickly, he became one of the most respected artists in Portland and the Northwest. 

In 2001, Crenshaw won Portland's Slam Poet Championship, and went on to finish as a National Semi-Finalist.

With over 15 years as a performing artist and with numerous albums recorded as various collaborations, this year Mic released his debut solo album, 'Thinking Out Loud.' 

Featuring hand-picked guests and producers including Stic.man of dead prez, 'Thinking Out Loud' encompasses the many musical genres that impact Crenshaw, and the world around him.

'Thinking Out Loud' has gone on to spend over 10 weeks on CMJ's National Radio Hip Hop Charts, peaking at #4.

'Thinking Out Loud' is independently released with Focused Noise Productions and distributed online and in select stores by Burnside Distribution Company.

Currently Mic's social work is spear-headed through the organization that he co-founded, Global Fam.  After going to Rwanda in 2004 to attend a conference for Youth Empowerment and Economic Justice, Crenshaw created Global Fam to help open a computer education center back in the region.

After allocating computers and shipping them to Africa, all thanks to Mic's initiative and commitment the computer center in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, has now been open and offering training courses since the beginning of 2009.

Using benefit concerts and the local communities to support the center in Central Africa, Crenshaw has now expanded Global Fam to include local education and music projects in Portland.

Just as in Crenshaw's non-profit projects, his music is a testament to his commitment to help humanity during these crucial times in whatever way he can.