BU Today Sessions: Micah

Using hip-hop to stay above water

June 29, 2010
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At the end of Micah Domingo’s freshman year at Boston University, the international relations major found a new passion: hip-hop.

“So many things happened that year, I just needed a space to put my thoughts,” says Domingo (CAS’10), who performs as Micah and was previously known as Rapper Steph. “It made the struggles and other things in life so much easier to deal with.

“This art form is all about reaching into your heart, trying to extract and dissect all those things we don’t really pay attention to, but that have so much bearing on our functions and our expressions.”

Domingo finds inspiration in a range of influences, from the indie rock of Broken Social Scene and Rilo Kiley to the beats and lyrics of Mos Def, Common, and Collective Efforts. “It’s really all over the map,” he says. “My music, each individual song, captures a raw emotion — a feeling that’s just itching to get out of my skin.”

Touring has taken him from Brooklyn to California and back to Boston, but school is part of the mix: Domingo plans to pursue a master’s in sociology. With support from fellow senior Conor Loughman (COM’10) and his independent label Base Trip Records, Micah will carry on as well.

“For me, hip-hop is the music of struggle,” he says, “fighting to stay above water.”

Learn more about Micah on Myspace and at Base Trip Records.

Check out the 2010 BU Sessions here, and the original BU Sessions here.

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  • Alan Wong

    Executive Producer

    Alan Wong oversees a team of video producers who create video content for BU's online editorial publications and social media channels. He has produced more than 300 videos for Boston University, shuffling through a number of countries in the process: Australia, Argentina, Peru, Ireland, China, and Cambodia. He has also bored audiences in Atlanta and Boston giving talks on video for higher ed. Profile

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Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 19 comments on BU Today Sessions: Micah

  1. Micah is going to be performing at Amnesty Internationals annual concert JAMNESTY on MONDAY APRIL 5, at 7PM at BU CENTRAL. THE EVENT IS FREE and OPEN to the public!!

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  2. Rapper Steph is awesome… but I think the author of this story is confused, referring to RS as “he” and “him”… However, just listen to Domingo (Stephanie Domingo, or Micah Domingo?), or read more about her at http://www.dailyfreepress.com/bu-s-resident-rapper-1.1317343, or see the promo pics on her myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/rappersteph.

    It is quite evident to this reader and listener that this is a strong, articulate, and talented young woman, not a man. Just listen and watch!

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  4. wow i gotta say, im impressed. Hip Hop nowadays isnt what it used to be. This girl brings it back to real hip hop, AND I LIKE IT! She has some talent. LETS MAKE A TRACK!

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  5. Does gender matter? Absolutely not. Micah is amazing and that’s all that matters. People who get stuck on “her”/”him” really need to get over it.

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  7. rapper steph great flow, and alot of energy! because of that, i really liked American Dream.

    As for the gender question towards ‘does gender matter’ commentor, i think youre reading too much into it, i think the original comment was just pointing to a syntax error in the article, no one is really dwelling on domingo’s gender since talent and passion is clearly there…

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  8. Micah is awesome!!! Just to clarify for those who have commented in confusion, Micah is now a male. Therefore, “he” was correct. “Rapper Steph” is his old stage name, but I believe BU Today may have used it because fans may not know his new stage name, “Micah.”

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  9. This production was wonderful. The crisp-clean-words were matched by the crisp-clean-shots. Oh so fresh and so clean, clean. I am proud of you Micah. Keep it up.

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  10. Hey everyone, just clarifying. Micah is a transgendered male and is currently in the process of transitioning from female. He has also, since this article was written, changed his rap name from “rapper steph” to “micah”. He uses male pronouns (he, him his).

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  13. Hotness! very much circa early 90’s. Made me think of Digible Planets. Keep up the good work. If you ever make it out to Hollywood, look me up.
    Lt

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  14. No offense was intended by my earlier comment about “Rapper Steph: “He”? “Him”? I ‘m sorry if it appeared to be critical or something.

    I was raising a question about what–on the surface–appeared to be a reporting error or typo. I only decided to mention it because I had gone to Micah’s myspace page and press pages where he is referred to as “she” and “her.”

    Micah’s got mad skillz. Keep it up.

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  15. Some warning about the profanity in Michah’s “American Dream” would have been appreciated. I’ve got the kiddos at home, and thank goodness I didn’t try to play this during a break at work! I don’t expect to hear f-bombs dropped at BU Today. Just let people know.

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  19. I like the way that you flowed to the beat. I am a hip hop producer. I produce in many styles of hip hop beats (Dirty South, East Coast, West Coast, and even Pop). I would be more than happy to send you some free beats. Just contact me via the email I left here or you can stop by my blog site and contact me there.

    Great job and keep up with the good work girl!

    Hip hop drum samples

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