ARCHITECT OF THE NEW WAVE: 10 years of MIKE’S ‘WINTER NEW YORK’
Author: Rasha Sensei
December 22nd. Exactly ten years ago, a then 17-year-old Michael Jordan Bonema, known to the world as MIKE, released the seminal mixtape “Winter New York“. This 15-track project was much more than an underground upload; it was the birth of a movement. Blackout Hip Hop marks a decade since this release laid the definitive groundwork for the modern abstract and lo-fi Hip Hop scene.
In 2015, MIKE was an emerging artist navigating life between London and the Bronx. This displacement fueled the introspective and raw nature of “Winter New York“. The mixtape served as the foundation for the aesthetic of the [sLUms] collective — a sound defined by dusty, fractured soul samples and a stream-of-consciousness lyrical style. While many discovered him later through projects like May God Bless Your Hustle, it was here that he first mastered his signature short-form delivery.
Across its 15 tracks, starting with the atmospheric “Snow Falls” and moving into cuts like “Paid Programmes,” MIKE showcases his early mastery of the SP-404. The project feels like a sonic collage, where tracks reflect the chaotic but cold environment of New York in December. His delivery is low-key and submerged, a style that prioritized emotional honesty over commercial polish, touching on the struggles of youth and urban isolation.
MIKE’s influence on the current landscape is undeniable. Before the abstract turn of artists like Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE and his crew—including Adé Hakim and Navy Blue were already carving out this soulful, fractured lane. “Winter New York” was the spark that proved emotional vulnerability and raw, unpolished production could create a deeper connection than any studio sheen.
Ten years later, MIKE stands as a pillar of the independent scene with his 10k label. “Winter New York” remains an essential snapshot of a visionary finding his voice in the dead of winter. A decade on, these 15 tracks still capture the cold, beautiful soul of the underground.
