Mykko Montana Only 24-years old, Southside Atlanta native Mykko Montana has one of the biggest street and club bangers of the year. While it may seem as if the 6’4” lyricist is an overnight success, his current buzz has been years in the making. He’s released several mixtapes over the course of 3 years, however the pivotal moment in his career came in the form of the massive hit “Do It,” which has quickly become an Internet phenomenon. Fans from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds are choreographing and posting dance routines to the song’s rhythmic beat on YouTube daily. Without an album available to the public or a solid radio push, Mykko has been performing in front of huge enthusiastic crowds for months on the strength of the record and there seems to be no end to the welcomed chaos in sight. “It’s really a slick story that came about from me being in the studio with some females and I just started rapping about what I was seeing,” explains the MC. From grinding it out in local clubs 7 days a week and staying in the mix, to establishing crucial relationships with DJs and investing time and money in studio sessions, Mykko’s brand of ghetto appeal comes from his ability to create feel-good music that returns to the essence of original Hip-Hop. Building on the success of his breakout single “Do It,” Mykko’s new material overall remains balanced, however listeners can expect him to evolve lyrically and fuse various styles of music. Mykko has always strived to push several steps past the norm. It would’ve been expected and respected for him to spit verses with a handful of bars that depict his challenging childhood being that it paints the typical hood picture of poverty, struggle and violence; however he prefers to deliver playful vocals and celebratory anthems. His musical tastes are just as unpredictable as the music he creates citing old-school R&B throwbacks Otis Redding, Al Green and Marvin Gaye as well as groups Boyz II Men and 112, as influences. Mykko is also big on remaining true to who he is as an artist by not filling his upcoming debut album with collaborative efforts. “I want people to get to know me and hear me first before other folks just start cosigning me. I want to be able to stand alone.” He also plans on using a majority of underground producers on his project, with the exception of a few notable names like Sonny Digital, DJ Spinz and B. Wheezy. Creativity is in Mykko’s DNA. As a kid, he would use his pen as a form of therapy and self-expression. It was the gift of the written word that gave his bottled up frustrations a voice and awakened the artist within him. It was a heartfelt poem he penned in tribute to his deceased grandmother that landed in the local paper that lent to Mykko’s confidence to further explore his talents. Destined for greatness, the former all-star athlete followed suit in his pursuit of Hip-Hop fame. Although he’s been grinding it out in the trenches for several years, he’s still considered a new artist, but it’s a challenge Mykko is ready to meet head-on. “I don’t do what ‘they’ do, I keep God first and make fun music. I don’t have to stand out, I let my actions do that and I stay focused on being me.” And in the event he loses sight of his goals the African symbol tattooed in the middle of his forehead, which means humility, pride and power, is a well-documented reminder. As the next artist out of the “A” to bring a refreshing wave of style to the Hip-Hop mix, the self-professed “cool, laid-back, comedian,” is exactly what the game has been missing. Mykko Montana, Atlanta's premiere rapper with the fire single,"Do It"