Mike Dreams - Dreamer’s Poetry

A HIGHLY impressive work of musical art. This has repeat spins written all over it. Congrats, Mike. You made a dope album!

Nice Album bro.

keep'em kickin!

excellent work. haven't listened to the entire thing yet, but so far very very very good.

wow. im pretty amazed. all the leaks were dope & so is the entire album. very well put together. about to listen to it again!

Six tracks in...Mike put his heart into this album. I'll rate this in an hour!

Ive been waiting for this album for a while! Listening now

Nicely done, Mike!

I JUST GOT ONE WORD........ DOPE!!!!!!

to be honest, my expectations were a lil higher than this. there were some great songs, some good songs, and some below average ones. the below average ones were few and far between, as well as there bein no bad songs. overall, im not impressed, but thats cuz i already heard much of the material and cuz i had semi-high expectations. overall, a very solid album, but as one of Dreams' fav artists would say, theres "Room for Improvement." 3.5

fav songs:
1.Feelin' Out This World
2.We Goin' Worldwide
3.DreamGurl
4.The Greatest Never Heard
5.Success Is...

Alright Mike, let me make up for all the above comments (excluding homey @joshL who rightfully expressed his feelings), and for all the other Resident DJs/members who support and will continue to support you but are a bit too busy with their choice of grind. You can understand, right?

Expectations are a funny thing. Your mind runs rampant with excitement. You whip yourself into a frenzy with anticipation. Most times, however, expectations raises the bar too high. The event pales in comparison to the hype and you are left disappointed. Every once in a while though, what you’ve waited for equals or even eclipses what you eagerly hoped it would be. The last time I felt like this was after I watched “Dark Knight”. Now it's happened again. Ladies and Gentlemen, steps in - Dreamer's Poetry.

1. Right from the beginning, things starts off on the right foot with some mood-inducing slow tempo production primed for Mike Dreams to deliver some introductory bars. Mike spits about his introduction to the world and transition to the mic, giving any new listeners a great introduction to who he is as an emcee and what they should be expecting from Minnesota wordsmith on this album. If Mike’s lyrical skill and ability as an emcee hadn’t been clearly displayed on the previously heard tracks, it’s put on full display with this track. No matter how fierce Mike sounds, however, "Intro" is ultimately a positive and powerful statement. He uses his talents and abilities to drive home some spiritual and socially conscious points, while also having nothing but fun on the microphone.

2. This song is probably the best match on the album in terms of capturing the album’s plot in a single song, and it does a great job in delivering that aspect. Mike uses the haunting piano-driven beat to kick kinetic verses about his dedication and devotion to the grind, coupling his I'm-gonna-make-it attitude with the message of keep pushing until you have nothing left to give and how it'll bring satisfaction/success at the end of the day. There’s a mature, self-assessment conveyed in his words, personal but still resounding to anyone whose day revolves around financial struggles, relationships and the day-to-day grind.

3. The beat is dramatic enough to give Mikey the space he needs to go in lyrically. As with his previous releases, Mike picked beats where emotion has to be present within the music itself even without the lyrics, while he commands the listening audience to pay attention to one of the nicest upcoming artist in the rap game while stating his views on HIS current status. Boastful yet humble, as you can tell from his rhymes that his heart/intentions are in the right place, which only bodes well for the future. Production benefits from added vocal effects.

4. Throughout the album, the chorus will be what it should be: memorable and a good representation of the rest of the lyrics. Christina Fisher gives the song a beautiful tone and compliments the vibe of the song perfectly - pushing on and not stopping when met with opposition. As a brassy beat by Apollo DeLorean grabs your speaker with racing drum arrangements, Mikey unleashes slick pop-referential style moving past negativity to follow his goals. Type BANGER!!!

5. Over an infectious chipmunked-vocal loop beat, Mike Dreams deals with the topic of self hatred in the community, as how peeps should all stop struggling against each other to instead wake to how we are all one and the same in the big scheme of things. A heavy concept addressed and assessed in a way that even the most ign’ant rap fan could appreciate. Mike Dreams is a smart rapper who is concerned with the advancement of himself and his people, all to aware that elevation of self and Rap music is worthless without lifting others up with you.

6. finds the Minnesota native delivering a touching personal look about the psychological effects from all his struggles. Mike vents his spleen at haters, jealous rival emcees to unsupportive DJs. Serving boasts with a notable sense of confidence, but it also presents optimism for the future. In-house beatsmith, Wisdom, backs the emcee’s poetically desperation-tinged yet hopeful rhymes here with some fittingly assertively audible soulful boardwork.

7. Continuing with the theme of persistence and determination of becoming a well known emcee, Mike delivers a track in banging style. Combining his clever wordplay with a fair balance of consciousness with street relativity and a touch of braggadocio mixed in every now and then - making it clear that staying true to yourself is the only real definition of real. This is that balance I crave in hip hop music. There is that hidden conscious, but nothing too heavy to take away from the fun. Balance is the key. Spitting about being who you are and not what they want you to be has never sounded so dance-friendly before. And Christina Fisher on hook captures you with her vocals that follow the synthesizer melodies and range from breathy to full. A fine balance between what a listener wants to hear and what a listener needs to hear. Mike Dreams FTW!

8. Mike sharing things that are on his mind. The lyrics of a struggling musician trying to hold it down for his fam but on the edge and brink of falling apart. But equally maintaining a determined positive frame of mind despite life’s ills. I was a bit worried to hear an entire album by producers who I’ve never really heard before. Those worries were put to rest only a couple of tracks in, and the result is some quality beats which at the core contains elements from some of the most commonly used softwares. A perfect case of A bad craftsman blames his tools but, a good craftsman can work magic with the most meager resources. Major props to all the producers. Even in the absence of big name producers, Mike Dreams (whose ear for beats I vouch for) still manages to find the right people to craft exactly the types of beats he can vibe with. Crunchy kicks and snares, synthesizers and Keyboards with clean production of bass notes supporting sometimes melancholic, sometimes upbeat melodies but ALWAYS colored in soulful tones - production on "Dreamer's Poetry" is solid, and one that doesn’t stray from a cohesive and altogether vibrant sound.

9. A wonderful synth-soaked production from Patrick Jermaine, while both Mike and Ashley urges the audience to continue to push no matter what obstacles they may face. DuBose’s vibrant voice complements the music nicely. Mike's lyrics are simple but encouraging, and studies have shown that if you listen to this song before your day begins, it is impossible to have a bad day. We can all relate to message, but I doubt we can make it sound as good. With more material like this, soon Mike's dreams will turn into reality.

Halfway through the album and Mike Dreams as expected hasn’t disappointed at all on any track so far.

10. Over a smooth piano powered, soft synths and a snappy RnB beat, Mike does a fantastic job of narrating his rhymes about finding the perfect girl, done without any of the prurience or not-so-subtle misogyny. Instead, its done all respectfully while holding hands with the beat. Straight honest, though bit demanding, is something that every girl should understand if a guy were to ever explain it to her the way Mike Dreams does on this track. As with the producers, the singers are all well-chosen, as Oli wisely concentrates on working with the beat and fits in with his delicate vocals. An enjoyable listen from Head-to-Toe ;-)

11. Over stuttering baseline, coupled with crunchy kicks and crisp snare hit, MD digs deep to uncover one of life’s most important, yet simple truths – all that matters is that life is enjoyed and appreciated. Pushing intelligence and positivity to the forefront of his rhymes, Mike discusses the idea of working hard, staying driven and appreciate their blessings, expressing a joy for the simple things in life, however small they might seem. Uplifting but without sounding preachy. I was hyped when I heard Mydus would be producing on the album because I am an absolute fan of his work and the upbeat yet soul-infused “Weekend” doesn’t disappoint.

12. Well, the production relies on simple drums and droning synths, although as always Mike is trying to make a point, I find this song a bit lack-luster compared to the other ones, but still doesn’t disappoint. Because lyrics are there no doubt as Mike starts to talk about how his trying to get into fame, how his music is for all the right reasons and why his actions leads to false judgment, instead he just trying to express himself in the rap game. Honest attitude towards his own situation allow for the listener to really connect to the lyrics and vibe with his mission of becoming a well known emcee.

13. A celebration of love, life, and spirituality, moderately soaked in Mike's Christian beliefs. I'll admit, his preacher stance was a little off-putting at first for me, but on further listens, he sounds more like someone sharing his beliefs and less like a preacher. It's much less missionary, it's not forcing it down our throats but it's mainly offering an option. Its actually mentioned in a 'this is how I find peace' kind of way. Joint also feature a short spoken-word message from Mike Dreams' father which add a nice personal touch and overall human profile vibe to the song. Oh don't worry the beat is solid.

14. Over a charming, extremely soulful, old timey sample that is repeated just enough to keep it catchy, and leave listeners wanting more, Mikey shares his memories, experiences and struggles of his earlier years in a retrospective fashion. As he has learned to stay humble through the years and continually open to learning, at the end of the day, he never forgets his roots as these are the places and memories that have shaped him. As he takes his personal experiences into account while professing his love for hip hop, his audience can easily form a relationship with him and his love for music. Refreshingly personal verses.

15. Highlighted by mellow string loops and steady drums, this feather-heavy track sees the MD reflect on struggles while looking forward to the future. Though the topic is a recurring theme and remain fairly basic, rhymes are sharp with intricacies/metaphoric-inventiveness in each verse for those who do prefer to dissect lyrics. Perfect for those sleepless nights when you need to just vibe it out to your dreams!

16. It’s one of those beats which you can completely lose yourself in. The progressive piano throughout the track is haunting, while synths and drums are layered over it, the piano’s still the hook that everything else latches on to. It takes a blistering guitar solo to pull attention away from the piano. An insane ear for beats. Lyrics work because Mike Dreams earns them, working hard to create a sonic space, pushing intelligence and social change that welcomes sincerity and soul searching without pretentious groans, managing to address social issues without being judgmental.

17. The real sonic body-blow comes towards the end of the album in the form of the heart-felt "Stay Forever". The sample-driven cut built around a classic Motown track from Michael Jackson, who by now, y'all know has obviously influenced Mike Dreams, but who isn't? The best song on the album and finds Mike Dreams at his most introspective over wistful strings which successfully, perfectly, utterly (Adverbs can eat my left nut) convey the hope and self-doubt, looking back at his own life leading up to the present – and then looking forward, melancholy and apprehension the lyrics touch upon. What may be the beat of the year for me, make a perfect backdrop for Mike’s lispy heart-wrenching performance. He shares his thoughts and feelings with the listener with such transparency and honesty that the lyrics seem like a diary on wax. Nothing is too personal for him to put down on paper: self-doubt, his experiences, fears, and struggles, but more than anything - OPTIMISM.

This is a documentary and soundtrack that provides inspiration, positivity and motivation to dreams of all kinds. If he has as much love for this music as I think he does, this won’t be his best album, he can only get better with time. Overall, Mike Dreams is very well on his way to taking his dreams to the next level, wherever he chooses to take it, and regardless of who adds color to his shades of gray, it'll be hip hop that's both true and enjoyable, and that's an underrated combo in my humble opinion.

@Mr.Top Hat - You want a job? Haha

WOW!

I have to admit that I wasn't feeling some of the stuff you put out earlier, but I was really impressed with this mixtape, and it's something i'll listen to for a while. I love the soulful feeling in the intro, and you have a nice voice and spit some real nice lines. Wasn't feeling some of the productions. I wasn't feeling the production on Success Is, but it says alot for your lyricism since I still enjoyed the song, and that, to me anyway, is the mark of a great artist. I like the way you expressed yourself on Greatest Never Heard. Soulful samples and a good beat. With good lines expressing how you feel. Love the realness. Respect the album and you should know I like it alot more then some of the stuff mainstream heavyweights are putting out, so mad props.

How is Mike not signed to a major label yet? How?

definitely feelin this one

This Classic is gonna be part of his Legacy