Lyrics & The Lab: Paul Mic

Hip Hop artist, audio engineer, photographer, videographer and entrepreneur, Paul Mic

Mic Over Matter- Paul’s aim is a sure shot by raising the BARS.

Meet Paul Mic. Multi-talented and torching. Bringing a unique vibe to the Midwest tribe, this hot pick totes the bars and shoots the angles from a positive perspective. Tap in as I chat with the independent rap heat on the beat.

“As a kid, I would just love sitting in my room and listening to albums.”, says the MC. Patrick “Paul Mic” Allen remembers music as his recreational “go to” and therapy. “I come from a musical family on my dad’s side.”, he adds. “Music always moved me spiritually.”

The East St. Louis native took to hip-hop’s 90’s era like a moth to a flame. “I loved Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.”, Allen shares. The 35 yr. old artist also admired well known rap legends such as Outkast, Ice Cube, Nas, and the late Tupac Shakur. “That would be the beginning for me.” Paul grew passion for the style and lyricism of particularly Westcoast MCs. “I’ve always resonated more with their rap. When we were growing up, a lot of Westcoast artists were conscious artists.”, explains Mic. “They also had a calmer pace. It fits my personality. Also, one of my favorite bands was Funkadelic. Those rappers sampled a lot of the G Funk sound.”

Paul Mic’s debut album, Koolaid & Soulfood was released in May of 2016 on streaming platforms. “My very first EP was called “Quest to Innovation” I did back in 2013.”, says Paul. “I just wanted to be innovative and different as an artist.” The rapper’s style can be described as “laid back and chill”. “A lot of my music could be considered as “dark”. Not like satanic or devil worship.”, he laughs. “Just a dark sound.” In June 2020, the MC released his sophomore album, Soulfully Inspired. “I never skim through beats and say, “I’m just going to write a song.” The song always just comes to me.”

Paul Mic- “Terrible” (feat. Alayna Lovely)

“I write about my life, and also things that affect me. Things that I think are important to society. I make inspirational, positive, and informative music. Uplifting.” Paul’s third studio album The Oracle was released in July 2021, followed by his latest album Dream in November 2024 featuring local artists such as Alayna Lovely, and Long Beach rap group Horseshoe Gang member, Debo. He was also featured on artist Eugeno’s single Rebel.

Paul Mic is currently focused on promoting, performing, and marketing his music. The entrepreneur is also a photographer and videographer. “I have some booked performances coming up. I’ll also be in Kansas City this spring.”, he confirms. The artist also looks forward to more collabs and networking. “I want to be remembered as “big bro unc”. I also want to work with younger artists as far as artist development. Especially in finding their sound. I want to be known as a genuine artist that looks out for the community.”