Mike Beatz

Third World Don
Backstage
Backstage
Background information
Birth nameMichael Anthony Barnett
Also known asThird World Don
Born (1988-12-05) 5 December 1988 (age 35)
St. Mary, Jamaica
OriginKingston, Jamaica
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, sampler, keyboards
Years active2006–present
LabelsUMG
Websitewww.thrdwrldgvng.com

Michael Anthony Barnett, (born 5 December 1988) also known as Third World Don or Mike Beatz, is a Jamaican rapper, singer and record producer from Kingston, Jamaica. His production resume includes notable hip hop acts such as T-Pain, Trina, C-Rayz Walz & East Coast duo C-N-N.[1][2]

He is a member of the Miami group Wizard Sleeve, most known for their hit single "Riverside (Let's Go!)", released by Data Records in 2010.[3][4] The single entered the charts at No. 2 in the UK & Ireland and is noted as one of BBC Radio 1's top 40 singles of that era, with over 23 Million streams on the digital platform Spotify.[5][6][7]

In 2011, he released the solo project "Boom Bap", produced entirely by Norwegian beat-maker Adonis.[8][9] The 10-track EP features guest appearances from Guilty Simpson, Royce da 5'9", AZ, Termanology, Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli, Reks, and ¡Mayday! frontman Wrekonize.[10][11][12][13] Don has also worked with US rappers Saigon, Sean Price, and Cappadonna from Wu-Tang Clan.[14][15][16]

After Relocating to Los Angeles in 2017, Third World Don inked a recording contract with Strainge Entertainment,[17] a label owned by Elliot Grainge,[18] son of billionaire music mogul and Universal Music Group’s chairman and chief executive officer Lucian Grainge.[19] He then released his single "Ray Charles" to much critical acclaim,[20][21][22] amassing over 1.3 Million streams on SoundCloud alone.[23] The song is also featured on Universal Music Group’s curated Hip Hop Alternative compilation album.[24] Pharrell Williams, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, Big Sean and Chance The Rapper are also featured on this compilation.[25]

Grainge, looking to expand his reach even further, signed newcomers Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine, adding them to the label's roster,[26][27][28] which was subsequently shut down when Grainge was sued by Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne for trademark infringement.[29][30] The 24-page lawsuit accused Grainge of violating his label Strange Music’s intellectual property rights by adapting the name Strainge, which he claimed was confusing and misleading to fans.[31] After a lengthy court battle, Grainge sent out a press release stating he would no longer be using the name Strainge, instead operating under his new imprint called 10K Projects.[32][28]

Don has since released a handful of buzzworthy tracks in recent years such as "Blessed", "Kelly Price", and "FDB", which a raunchy, in-your-face cut that features labelmate Trippie Redd.[33]

  1. ^ "Bring It Here Capone-N-Noreaga". www.whosampled.com. www.whosampled.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  2. ^ "MP3 | Trina – Rich Girl". The305 Online Magazine. www.the305.com. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Riverside (Let's Go!) by Sidney Samson". www.songfacts.com. www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Sidney Samson Feat. Wizard Sleeve – Riverside (Let's Go!)". Discogs.com. www.discogs.com. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Riverside (Let's Go!)". www.spotify.com. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. ^ "The Biggest Tracks of 2010". www.bbc.co.uk. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  7. ^ McAlpine, Fraser. "Sidney Samson ft. Wizard Sleeve – 'Riverside (Let's Go)'". BBC. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  8. ^ Nottingham, Kevin. "Mike Beatz & Adonis: Boom Bap". kevinnottingham.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  9. ^ Campbell, Howard. "Boom Times for Mike Beatz". The Jamaica Observer. www.jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Video: Mike Beatz ft. Guilty Simpson – You Know". nahright.com/. nahright.com/news. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Mike Beatz & Adonis f. Royce Da 5'9" "World Go Round"". www.Hiphopdx.com. Hip Hop Dx. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Mike Beatz & Adonis feat. Termanology & AZ "Who I Do It For"". Thatsenuff.com. Thatsenuff.com. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Mike Beatz (Feat. Wrekonize) – "My World"". www.maydayonline.com/. maydayonline. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  14. ^ Fall, Kyle. "Mike Beatz & Adonis – Entourage Flow (Feat. Saigon)". www.rapdose.com. www.rapdose.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  15. ^ "I Love You (feat. Guilty Simpson, Sean Price & Killah Trakz) – Single". www.itunes.com. ITunes. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  16. ^ "Mike Beatz & Adonis Feat. Capadonna "We All We Got (I'm Da Kid)"". www.thisis50.com. thisis50.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  17. ^ Small, Kimberley (6 June 2017). "Third World Don lands major deal with Capitol Records". jamaica-star.com. Jamaica. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Strange vs. Strainge: Tech N9ne lawsuit aims to end confusion". www.trademarklawyermagazine.com. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Sir Lucian Grainge". www.universalmusic.com. www.universalmusic.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  20. ^ "Third World Don Ray Charles". allmusic.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  21. ^ Fall, Kyle (12 May 2017). "Third World Don Ray Charles". www.itunes.com. www.itunes.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  22. ^ G, Corey (23 March 2017). "Third World Don- Ray Charles". www.newsickmusic.com/.com. www.newsickmusic.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  23. ^ Fall, Kyle (12 May 2017). "Third World Don- Ray Charles". www.soundcloud.com. www.soundcloud.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  24. ^ "Hip Hop Alternative UMG Recordings, Inc". www.genius.com. September 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Hip Hop Alternative By various artists". www.spotify.com. September 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Rapper Trippie Redd Inks With Capitol Music Group's Caroline-Distributed Strainge Entertainment". www.allaccess.com. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  27. ^ Azoff, Cameron. "Elliot Grainge: ten thousand reasons to be cheerful". Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  28. ^ a b "artists". www.10kprojects.com. November 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  29. ^ Mitchell, Gail (6 September 2018). "Tech N9ne's Strange Music Sues Strainge Entertainment for Trademark Infringement". Billboard. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  30. ^ Berry, Peter (4 October 2017). "tech n9ne's strange music sues strainge entertainment for trademark infringement". www.xxlmag.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  31. ^ "Tech N9ne Nothing Strange Here ...My Company Name Got Ripped Off!!!". www.tmz.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  32. ^ "a statement from Elliot Grainge Entertainment". www.bizjournals.com. California. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  33. ^ Fall, Kyle. "third world don releases hot track kelly price". www.thenextwavechicago.com. www.thenextwavechicago.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.