Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
East London born Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE is a renowned producer, composer, singer, dancer and DJ, whose history is firmly etched in the UK black music industry, taking the sounds of sub-culture to a global audience over the course of his 20 year long career.
As co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue, founded in 2001 with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Asante is credited with the conception and composition of REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), Touch (2011), Legacy (2011) and Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2006).
As a music producer, Asante boasts a diverse catalogue within his discography; creating music for films Street Dance 3D and All Stars, to production for major label artists including Delilah, Raleigh Ritchie, Estelle and George The Poet (whose sold out Search Party tour he also delivered musical direction for).
But it’s his work over the years with Kano, a Mercury Prize and Brit Award Nominee, winner of the MOBO Best Album Awards, that put Asante on the map way back in 2005; an early pioneer of the-then newly coined genre grime, a sound that would go on to shape a generation and knock down doors abroad, Asante’s influence can be heard across the capital and beyond. Trips to LA have seen him working with Kool Kojack (Ariana Grande/ Kesha) and Mike Free (Big Sean/ YG).
Recent theatre work includes composition for Tree, a Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba creation for Manchester International Festival, Black Sun for Ballet Black and The Effect, a National Theatre production of Lucy Prebble’s play directed by Jamie Lloyd. Recent television work includes composition for Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship, a National Geographic documentary special, the BBC documentary The Three Lives of Michael X, and a collaboration with Brian Eno on Netflix’s Top Boy.
Outside of the studio, Asante mentors and delivers master classes in directing, choreography and music and is also found residing in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s faculty as a Professor of electronic music, from where, in 2018, Asante was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS). Asante received an MBE to Hip Hop Dance and Music in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Michael 'Mikey J' Asante
Photo: Benji Reid
As co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue, founded in 2001 with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Asante is credited with the conception and composition of REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), Touch (2011), Legacy (2011) and Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2006).
As a music producer, Asante boasts a diverse catalogue within his discography; creating music for films Street Dance 3D and All Stars, to production for major label artists including Delilah, Raleigh Ritchie, Estelle and George The Poet (whose sold out Search Party tour he also delivered musical direction for).
But it’s his work over the years with Kano, a Mercury Prize and Brit Award Nominee, winner of the MOBO Best Album Awards, that put Asante on the map way back in 2005; an early pioneer of the-then newly coined genre grime, a sound that would go on to shape a generation and knock down doors abroad, Asante’s influence can be heard across the capital and beyond. Trips to LA have seen him working with Kool Kojack (Ariana Grande/ Kesha) and Mike Free (Big Sean/ YG).
Recent theatre work includes composition for Tree, a Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba creation for Manchester International Festival, Black Sun for Ballet Black and The Effect, a National Theatre production of Lucy Prebble’s play directed by Jamie Lloyd. Recent television work includes composition for Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship, a National Geographic documentary special, the BBC documentary The Three Lives of Michael X, and a collaboration with Brian Eno on Netflix’s Top Boy.
Outside of the studio, Asante mentors and delivers master classes in directing, choreography and music and is also found residing in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s faculty as a Professor of electronic music, from where, in 2018, Asante was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS). Asante received an MBE to Hip Hop Dance and Music in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Michael 'Mikey J' Asante
Photo: Benji Reid
Known For
Composer, Musician, Producer, SoundBBonFilm CREDITS
3Also Known As
Mikey JMichael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
East London born Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE is a renowned producer, composer, singer, dancer and DJ, whose history is firmly etched in the UK black music industry, taking the sounds of sub-culture to a global audience over the course of his 20 year long career.
As co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue, founded in 2001 with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Asante is credited with the conception and composition of REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), Touch (2011), Legacy (2011) and Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2006).
As a music producer, Asante boasts a diverse catalogue within his discography; creating music for films Street Dance 3D and All Stars, to production for major label artists including Delilah, Raleigh Ritchie, Estelle and George The Poet (whose sold out Search Party tour he also delivered musical direction for).
But it’s his work over the years with Kano, a Mercury Prize and Brit Award Nominee, winner of the MOBO Best Album Awards, that put Asante on the map way back in 2005; an early pioneer of the-then newly coined genre grime, a sound that would go on to shape a generation and knock down doors abroad, Asante’s influence can be heard across the capital and beyond. Trips to LA have seen him working with Kool Kojack (Ariana Grande/ Kesha) and Mike Free (Big Sean/ YG).
Recent theatre work includes composition for Tree, a Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba creation for Manchester International Festival, Black Sun for Ballet Black and The Effect, a National Theatre production of Lucy Prebble’s play directed by Jamie Lloyd. Recent television work includes composition for Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship, a National Geographic documentary special, the BBC documentary The Three Lives of Michael X, and a collaboration with Brian Eno on Netflix’s Top Boy.
Outside of the studio, Asante mentors and delivers master classes in directing, choreography and music and is also found residing in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s faculty as a Professor of electronic music, from where, in 2018, Asante was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS). Asante received an MBE to Hip Hop Dance and Music in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Michael 'Mikey J' Asante
Photo: Benji Reid
As co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue, founded in 2001 with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Asante is credited with the conception and composition of REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), Touch (2011), Legacy (2011) and Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2006).
As a music producer, Asante boasts a diverse catalogue within his discography; creating music for films Street Dance 3D and All Stars, to production for major label artists including Delilah, Raleigh Ritchie, Estelle and George The Poet (whose sold out Search Party tour he also delivered musical direction for).
But it’s his work over the years with Kano, a Mercury Prize and Brit Award Nominee, winner of the MOBO Best Album Awards, that put Asante on the map way back in 2005; an early pioneer of the-then newly coined genre grime, a sound that would go on to shape a generation and knock down doors abroad, Asante’s influence can be heard across the capital and beyond. Trips to LA have seen him working with Kool Kojack (Ariana Grande/ Kesha) and Mike Free (Big Sean/ YG).
Recent theatre work includes composition for Tree, a Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba creation for Manchester International Festival, Black Sun for Ballet Black and The Effect, a National Theatre production of Lucy Prebble’s play directed by Jamie Lloyd. Recent television work includes composition for Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship, a National Geographic documentary special, the BBC documentary The Three Lives of Michael X, and a collaboration with Brian Eno on Netflix’s Top Boy.
Outside of the studio, Asante mentors and delivers master classes in directing, choreography and music and is also found residing in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s faculty as a Professor of electronic music, from where, in 2018, Asante was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS). Asante received an MBE to Hip Hop Dance and Music in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Michael 'Mikey J' Asante
Photo: Benji Reid