Michete

Michete grew up in Spokane Valley, Washington.[1][2] She studied theatre and improv throughout high school[3][2] and has said that pop music "became a central part of [her] identity" around that time.[1] She began writing raps when she was 15.[4][3] In 2014, she wrote, recorded, and self-released her first song, "Rap Game Kimmy Gibbler".[3]

On October 22, 2015, Michete self-released her first mixtape, Cool Tricks, on Bandcamp.[5][6] Spin put Cool Tricks on their list of the 50 best rap albums of 2015.[7] In September 2015, Michete performed her first live show with Shamir at The Crocodile.[3][1]

In 2016, Michete self-released her second mixtape, Cool Tricks 2.[8][4][9] She also moved to Seattle.[1] In 2017, she self-released her third mixtape, Cool Tricks 3, on Soundcloud and Spotify.[10][11] In 2018, Michete performed with Cupcakke in Seattle.[12][13]

Michete's latest single, "Back of the Truck", premiered on YouTube on October 27, 2020.[14]

Michete is a self-described "underground pop star".[15][1] In an interview with The Stranger, she said "I’m just really passionate about pop music and that became a central part of my identity in high school... That was when I got really into pop music and into the idea of developing a pop persona, an aesthetic, a sound, and all of it coming together and representing an idea."[1]

Michete's lyrics often deal with her experiences of being queer and transgender, and reference her struggles in relationships with men.[6][16] Mixtape Methodology described Michete's lyrics as "gleefully raunchy" and being about "sex, magic and casual abomination".[3]

Paste defined the sound of Michete's Cool Tricks as "[combining] the minimalistic get-go of trap and Miami bass with the... fury of early Nicki Minaj", while saying that Cool Tricks 2 "flirted with more dance- and pop-oriented fare".[6] Out called Cool Tricks and Cool Tricks 2 "electro-rap" and referred to Michete as a "glam-punk rapper".[17] Spin described the tracks on Cool Tricks 2 as "approximations of big-budget hip-hop that maintain their underground edge", comparing her instrumentals to the work of DJ Mustard, will.i.am, and LMFAO.[8] Paper described Michete's work as "unapologetically silly but smart underground pop" with "synth-pop production".[16]

Michete's music has been compared to the music of Kreayshawn, Nicki Minaj, Peaches, Kesha, and Kanye West,[6][2][8] all of whom she considers to be inspirations.[6][3] She has also stated Lady Gaga as an inspiration.[1][3]