Mikey D creates a powerful platform to bring quality artists to the forefront. His company, Pass the Torch, gets rid of the old school/new school dichotomy and recognizes artists as equal individuals reaching for the same goal.
By day, Michael Deering works as a diligent full-time employee at Pepsi in the Hudson Valley. By night, however, after his shift is over and he puts away his uniform, he takes on the persona of hip-hop extraordinaire Mikey D. This chosen lifestyle provides him with sufficient real-life experiences to create music with. The artist is a living legend from Queen, New York. He is best known as the 1988 new Music Seminar Champion and the lead rapper of hip-hop group Main Source. Today, Mikey D is promoting his company Pass the Torch Distribution.
Pass the Torch is the embodiment of his efforts to foster unity in the hip-hop community. Through the company, Mikey D brings together established and younger artists. Pass the Torch’s mission is best expressed in the succinct line, “We educate, not separate.” The distribution company hopes to bridge the gap existing in the hip-hop industry through respect.
With Mikey D’s extensive history and hip-hop involvement, he recognized crucial needs that needed to be addressed in the industry. The idea for Pass the Torch has been on his mind for some time now. However, he neither had the time nor the recourse to act on his novel idea. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the United States, New York was one of the most affected areas. The pandemic severely disrupted people’s activities. Mikey D suddenly found himself with all the time that he needed and more. Everything in his mind finally clicked, and Pass the Torch was born. Reflecting on the global health crisis, he says that “the pandemic was a gift and a curse.”
At first, the company was only supposed to be a platform for artists to interact with each other. When Rob Schwartz of Who? Mag Multimedia found out that Mikey D was set to release a new EP entitled “Talkin That SHHHH!” On September 11, 2020, he suggested that they establish Pass the Torch as a distribution company. The motivation for this was twofold. First, a distribution company would allow them to take control of their music. Second, it would enable them to support and promote younger artists. Many are looking forward to Mikey D’s new EP, which will be the first release from Pass the Torch and set the company’s tone.
Instead of merely following trends, Mikey D sets them. Pass the Torch empowers hip-hop artists to surf their own waves. Mikey D wants to continue celebrating the university of music, especially hip-hop. He is also championing the need for and power of respect. His vision is for Pass the Torch to become a major digital distribution platform within five years.
Visit the company’s official website to learn more.
