AUSTIN, TEXAS —The only thing as unique as Texas culture is the people within it. Diversity is proudly the property of Texas, and it has played a role in some of the state’s greatest moments in time. Many of the most influential music artists in history were African American Texans, and the same is true today. Black History Month is a time of pride for achievements like this.  

The Sound of Texas reverberates from musicians past and musicians present. Because of Black History, the Lone Star State has been shaped into a place that will always be known for breeding many of the world’s most highly regarded musicians to ever live.

Austin-based hip-hop artist Mike Melinoe is one of many voices that make up today’s Texas music scene, but his story of perseverance sings louder. Melinoe began his music career in Detroit, Michigan.

“I’ve been writing since like probably 7,” said Melinoe, “It’s been a long journey, though.”

The musician came to Austin in 2018 to visit his girlfriend and had every intention of going back to Detroit.

“Then she suggested that I should stay,” said Melinoe. “She posed the question like, ‘What do you have, basically, at home?’ I wasn’t doin’ music or shows too much in the city. I couldn’t get the bigger gigs. I was like, ‘Sang, if I go back, what would I be going to - a job?’ I had $8 in my pocket, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m gonna stay’.”

A few months after moving to Austin, Melinoe became homeless.

“It was super hard being homeless, living with roaches… that taught me a lot,” he said.

With his family back home in mind, giving up wasn’t an option.

“I just feel that if I don’t make it happen, then there’s probably a large percent [likelihood] that they may never breach this level of comfort or success,” said Melinoe. “I feel that it is my duty to wake up and go as hard at it at a rate that I’ve never seen before. Some days I might be tired, but I know for a fact I gotta make these moves because I have a whole village in the background of my head. I left everything back home, and I gotta make it now.”

Melinoe says he asked himself what he needed to do to get to where he needed to be. Shortly after, he began working two jobs while continuing to work on his music career. All the while, art has remained his therapy.

Mike Melinoe shows off his artwork. (Meghan Gonzalez/Spectrum News)

“The name of my style is ‘shades of hospitality,’ and it is the baggage that we carry in time,” said Melinoe as he walked around his room and stared at dozens of his paintings hanging on the walls around him. “It’s more of a portrait of a person that may not look human-like, but in my eyes - if this was me, this is the homeless times, this is the $8, or this is fights in school or poverty,” said Melinoe as he pointed to his paintings and added, “But this is still a beautiful portrait at the end of the day.”

Melinoe says he hopes to have a gallery one day to provide space to other local artists who may not have a platform to be seen.  

“It’s very important that if you have some sort of morals or standards and a backbone to always strive for it,” said Melinoe.

Along his journey, Melinoe has been featured on the TV network “Viceland,” he’s toured overseas, and most recently, he received a day in Austin, Texas, proclaimed in his name. Mayor Steve Adler honored Melinoe November 14, 2019.

“I mean, coming out here with $8 to feeling great, getting an Honorary Day in Texas, and my mom got to see… that was a peak. I feel like the struggle is what makes the art. You know, sometimes you have to understand that you have to be taken back by the experiences and accept help. Whatever you really wanna do in life or whatever you want, you will do it. If I gotta work two jobs, if I gotta work three jobs - whatever the case may be - I just have to look at it as a ticket to a moment in the road to success.”

 

Mike Melinoe and his mom (Photo Courtesy: Mike Melinoe)