“Hot Pockets in My Raps”: Get To Know Michael Christmas Posted by Alec Zisi on 01/15/14 | Filed under Michael Christmas, New artists

About a year ago, I was kickin' it in my favorite clothing store in Boston, Annie Mulz, when a dude with a nonstop smile walked in and immediately took over the room. He seemed like a chill ass dude who knew everyone, so naturally I introduced myself - and this is when he told me he was an unknown rapper named Michael Christmas. After chopping it up for a while, I noticed that he was a very charismatic, down to earth guy - and ended up peaking his music when I got home. To my surprise, it was really dope.

Fast forward to the present, and relatively unknown Michael Christmas has been on just about every hip-hop website I can think of; from Complex, to GMAD, to right here at RefinedHype. After hearing his newest tracks, and seeing the success that came with them, I was compelled to get more info on him. I ended up getting an interview after one of his shows in Boston, and to my pleasant surprise learned that he was the same funny dude I met a year ago - only now he's got a team at his back, and the world in his vision.

When listening to Christmas's most recent tracks, I found that his style was extremely unique; as he raps from the perspective of a regular dude, with comedic twists and hidden lyricism in each bar. The first question I asked him was how he would describe his music. He replied, "I write the shoebox with a dollar under your bed, when you need to go get bread and milk at the store type of music." That one sentence really gives you a perspective on the type of dude Christmas is, and shows that he is exactly who he appears to be in his music videos.

Another thing I've noticed about Michael Christmas is that in his music he doesn't tend to give a fuck. Not in an Odd Future, talk about killing/raping people type of not giving a fuck; more of a "I'm gonna talk about Hot Pockets in my raps, bitch" type not giving a fuck. When asked if he could be on either a Jay Z, Kendrick, Kanye, or Drake song, he replied "I'd have to do a Jay Z track, just because I'd love to fuck up a Jay Z track. I'd love to take the best Jay Z song, and just fill it with all kinds of debauchery, sounding like Beanie Segal or some shit". This makes me love Christmas's music even more, because I know that he 100% would fill a Jay Z track with some crazy, weird style that few people would understand, but many people would enjoy. In my opinion, originality is missing in a lot of hip-hop nowadays, and Michael Christmas, with his unique way of not giving a fuck, is really bringing that originality back.

Because of Michael Christmas's unique style, I was really interested in who his influences were, and who he thought his music was similar to. He told me that he finds himself similar to Ol' Dirty Bastard, because "who else is up on stage yelling 'I think I'm Michael Ceraaaaaaaaaaaa" in some crazy ass voice? I love the personality that ODB brought to his music, and find it similar to the personality I bring to mine". After seeing how crazy his live show was, with the crowd going just about as nuts as he was, I totally agree with him. He truly projects his crazy personality with his music and (on and off) stage presence, something I have to respect because it's the first time in a while I've seen an artist I absolutely KNOW is real.

All in all, walking away from chopping it up with Michael Christmas I found myself wanting him to succeed, not just because I like his music, but because I see him as a figure for regular dudes everywhere. He proves that you don't have to rap about guns, bling, or f***ing bitches to be interesting, you really just have to be yourself.

Check out his most recent music video "Jackie Brown" below, and follow him on Twitter, @MickeyChristmas.

(By @Alec Zisi)

RefinedHype has merged with The DJBooth. It's the same articles you loved on RefinedHype, new address. For more info, check out the official announcement.