Each month, we will speak to an athlete, celebrity, or non-Hip Hop entertainer about what Hip Hop means to them. This feature is intended to showcase how far-reaching the influence of Hip Hop culture has grown in the past 50 years and how much the culture means to so many.
This month, we spoke with Mike Clark Jr.
Mike Clark Jr. is a rising Southern Soul and R&B artist from Macon, Georgia. At just 20 years old, the singer-songwriter has already amassed over 100,000 Shazams, 5,000+ radio spins, and millions of streams across platforms. His breakout single “Auntie Outside” went viral on TikTok and caught the attention of DJ Smooth and Collipark Music founder Michael Crooms, ultimately landing Clark a deal with the iconic label behind acts like Soulja Boy and Ying Yang Twins. He is now signed to both Collipark Music and Atlantic Music Group.
Since signing to Collipark, Clark has collaborated with legends like Bun B and viral comedian Kountry Wayne. His latest viral single, “Keep On Steppin,” is already showing signs of building virality—gaining traction across social media and streaming platforms, and over 1,000,000 streams on Spotify.
So Mike Clark Jr., what does Hip-Hop mean to you?
“To me, Hip Hop is more than just music. Like Southern Soul, it’s a movement, a language, and a way of life. It’s how we tell our stories. Hip Hop is a part of our culture. A lot of what we say and what we wear is heavily influenced by Hip Hop.
Growing up, Hip Hop taught me about struggle, hustle, pride, and how to survive. It’s raw, it’s real, there is nothing like it. I think Southern Soul has a chance to grow into something big, just like Hip Hop did.”
