Michael D. Williams, better known as DaBlackMic, was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Newark, NJ, where music became the heartbeat of his life. His earliest sparks came riding through Jersey and Queens with his cousin Dexter, immersed in the sounds of A Tribe Called Quest and hip-hop’s jazz-infused grooves. At home, music was the foundation of family life—his father shaping the atmosphere as a DJ and his mother instilling a deep love for melody. These moments laid the groundwork for a lifelong journey: a boy who found his voice in rhythm and soul, destined to become one of Newark’s most influential cultural architects.

 

A graduate of Arts High School in Newark, where he majored in vocal music, DaBlackMic sharpened his technical ear for harmonies, theory, and performance. His education became the foundation of his signature style, blending the discipline of classical music with the raw soul of hip-hop. Guided by pivotal mentors like Mike V (Brick Bandits co-founder) and DJ Tim Dolla, he learned the craft of production hands-on, spending hours in makeshift studios mastering the MPC 2000XL and shaping his sound.

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In 2000, he co-founded the Brick Bandits, igniting a movement that married Jersey club’s kinetic rhythms with hip-hop’s sampling culture. Their sound poured out of Newark and reverberated worldwide, laying the groundwork for what became one of the most influential regional genres in global dance music.

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As a producer, DJ, and collaborator, DaBlackMic’s reach is unmatched. He has toured with Bryson Tiller, Lil Baby, Diddy, The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert, and Ryan Trey, serving as both performer and trusted tour DJ. His production credits include work with Bryson Tiller, Eric Bellinger, James Fauntleroy, Jasmine Sullivan, Gwen Bunn, Tevin Campbell, Teyana Taylor, and D.O.C. At the same time, his placements include household names such as Drake, DJ Khaled, Joe Budden, PNB Rock, and Faith Evans. Among his proudest achievements is producing Gwen Bunn’s “Between the Lines” featuring Faith Evans—marking the first time in 25 years Evans cleared her own sample and returned to the mic for a new record. “Are you kidding me?” DaBlackMic reflects. “That moment blew my mind—it validated everything.”His career has earned 3 Grammy nominations, international tours across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Germany, and unforgettable stages such as London’s Tape, where his chemistry with Bryson Tiller transformed a performance into an electrifying moment of synergy. Beyond accolades, DaBlackMic’s mission is simple but profound: to make people feel. His music is a vessel for love, connection, and inspiration—whether through the Jersey Club foundations he helped pioneer, the soulful textures of Trapsoul, or the global sets he curates as a DJ.

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Today, he continues to expand his impact, with upcoming placements, a renewed passion for DJing, and the launch of DaBlackMic TV, his YouTube hub for creatives seeking insight into the art and business of music. Looking ahead, he sees his legacy not only in the records and performances but in nurturing the next generation of artists through mentorship, education, and love for the culture.