M1llionz
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Surfacing as one of the most prominent rap moguls in the United Kingdom, Miguel Rahiece Cunningham, better known by his rap name M1llionz has established his reputation across…
M1llionz
Surfacing as one of the most prominent rap moguls in the United Kingdom, Miguel Rahiece Cunningham, better known by his rap name M1llionz has established his reputation across the UK rap landscape. With his swift ability to deliver poetic storytelling against drill beats – what he has done over the last couple of years has enabled him to carve out a unique lane for himself in the scene, that of a trailblazer. An inimitable figure utilising every moment that the current sound of UK rap has to offer.
Born in Handsworth, Birmingham, M1llionz spent much of his youth relocating to different areas. It was this with the combination of being a young black man growing up in inner-city Birmingham, which resulted in him being involuntarily forced to grow up early – robbing him of the ability to afford a certain type of innocence and vulnerability children are granted at a young age. “I think the stuff that I was going through young made me kind of grow up early, or I wouldn’t last out here, really,” he says. “Moving from house to house at a young age is different to being at home and playing games like normal children would be doing at a young age.”
What differentiates M1illonz from others is how he transforms the seemingly mundane details of his everyday life into a story while simultaneously merging his unique Birmingham accent with his Caribbean heritage for attentive ears to gravitate towards and take heed. “My Jamaican culture is why I rap like that,” M1illionz says. “The slang I use in my lyrics, with many Jamaican references, comes from thinking about my culture and the environment I grew up in.”
When it comes to the trajectory of M1llonz’s career, his Mixtape Provisional Licence helped propel the young star, introducing fans to his crafty storytelling; the mixtape immerses listeners into the portrayal of the daily brutality people like M1llionz face while also using spellbinding beats and vivid imagery throughout the mixtape. This led to people gradually gravitating towards the 12-track project – resulting in the rapper hitting his first milestone as Provisional Licence reached the top 10 in the charts.
His latest single, “Right Dere”, further extends M1llionz’s ability to raise the bar again. The visuals of the 169-produced single show M1llionz going head-on with a childhood friend amid political instability. M1llionz’s ability to deliver thought-provoking wordplay with skill and ease is telling from the single. “I ain’t nothin’ more than a trapper that raps (what?) or nowadays I’m a rapper that traps,” M1llionz raps on the track. The song explores the path of clashing between your former and later self, leaving a reflection trail for anyone who can relate to his story.
Now, with a renewed lust for life and new levels set to be reached by the young rapper, M1llionz is ready to take his rightful place among the UK rap elites as he gears up to release his next project, “Ghetto Life”. When questioned on why he named his next release “Ghetto life” he jokes: “because I’ve got a ghetto life mindset,” he says. “What it means to me is being complacent. You could have come from poverty, but whenever you get to the top of success, as long as you keep that mindset, you should never really fail.”
His artistic development through his up-and-coming project indicates growth and an overall yearning for more. “I tried to slow it down a bit so that people can hear what I’m saying,” he states. “I have better beats, and the content of my music is less violent. This tape represents struggle, perseverance and growth.”
One of the standout tracks on his project is “Windrush”. The song is a tribute to the Windrush generation, with M1llionz not holding back from unapologetically addressing the trials and tribulations the Windrush generation and their descendants have faced up until today. “I wanted to bring light to it. Not that there’s not a light on it already, but a light from a street rappers’ perspective that wouldn’t normally rap about stuff like that,” M1llonz states. “The crowd that I’m going to reach would probably not be that interested in stuff like that, and it would be an eye opener for them, and also, it shows that I can touch on these kinds of topics.”
Even with mentioning political and social issues in his next project, “Ghetto Life”, M1llionz hasn’t shielded away the mellow and soft side of his artistry. “Just give me one more, even if you’re not sure. Sometimes I feel like I’m knocking on the wrong door. She told me you don’t make the rules when it’s not yours,” M1llionz smoothly raps on his unreleased song “Insecure.”
Another tune comforting listeners’ ears is “Sliding”, where Millionz expresses his thoughts of the struggles growing up young in Birmingham over a tranquil and peaceful beat, allowing listeners to digest everything he articulates easily. “Birmingham, where the little yutes have no guidance, I’ll soon be rich enough that I can buy the whole Island”, M1llionz fluently raps.
His new project shows M1llionz’s ability to be a multifaceted musician with various layers to his craft. His ability to combine multiple genres in his creative process is a gift not to go unnoticed. In the following phrase of his career, we can only expect a more open, authentic version of M1llionz thus far. “I’m ready to open up more and give people more vulnerability,” he admits. “I want to give people an insight into what I’ve gone through rather than what I’ve done. I’m ready to show people my growth and more.”