For this episode, we're calling it the Prequel, I felt it would be a good idea to give listeners insight into who I am. What's my life story, relationship with mental health and how hip hop culture has influenced me, basically, we turned the tables, and Kenny Burns interviewed me. We get into everything from where I was born, my real name and why I changed it to Michael, being Vegan and hating it and learning how to cook chicken at 9. Selling weed, road managing Mobb Deep, working at the Source Magazine and running Benzino's Record label. I could keep going but probably better for you to listen for yourself. 

"Hawaii" Mike: The Prequel Episode Season 1.5

Mental health is a taboo subject in Urban communities, yet 20-25% of people in America have a diagnosable mental health illness, and most go without treatment. I recently came out of a bout with depression I had no idea I was fighting. When I began sharing my story, I received a flood of responses from people who had similar experiences but never shared them with anyone. It’s time we shift the conversation and change the culture, Mask Off, hosted by Hawaii Mike, is here to open the dialogue through life and mental health in our hip hop community and we invite you to join the conversation.

Health & Fitness

On this week’s episode “Hawaii” Mike has a conversation with a man who just became the 17th pitcher, and only 3rd lefty, to strike out 3,000 batters. He’s a six-time all-star, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner, 2009 ALCS MVP, 2009 World Series Champion, a New York Yankee, he is CC Sabathia! 
CC talks growing up in the Crest (Vallejo, CA), how he wouldn’t trade his childhood, always being called on for the “big games”, his anxiety (not about baseball), putting his life before baseball, taking the bad with the good, and what that 2009 World Series run was like. Tune in, like, share with your people. One…

MASK OFF Ep. 19: CC Sabathia

This  episode of Mask Off "Hawaii" Mike kicks it with a friend fro 15+ years, a DJ who plays not only top nightclubs but A-List events including the annual Oscars afterparty, the homie DJ M.O.S. 
We take it back to his childhood, growing up in the United Nations, the influence of @djsussone, traveling the world, finding his soulmate @kissthedeejay through DJ lessons, and how he takes time out of his busy schedule for self-care through meditation and cheffing it up in the kitchen. 
All you have to do is press play...

MASK OFF Ep. 18: DJ M.O.S.

The Bronx is in the house as we have my man Buda Da Future on this week’s episode. We talk growing up with parents who were heavy into street sales, his apartment being “the spot”, the influence of The Chronic, first time in the studio with Amadeus and Young Guru, placing his first beat with 50 Cent and finding the positive in every situation, including the loss of his mother. You never know what will be revealed when you take the Mask Off…

MASK OFF EP 17: Buda Da Future

This weeks episode features someone who's name you might not off top but you definitely know his strains Gelato and Sunset Sherbert as they and his brand Sherbinskis have been name dropped in over 200 songs.  We talk growing up in Cali, moving on his own and finding his way to growing cannabis, working with the Cookies fam, dealing with PTSD, and using the plants healing properties to help his brother. On top of being one the illest grows, he's a pretty fly cat and his brand is being touted as the Louis Vuitton of cannabis. 
The man, the myth, the soon to be legend, Mr. Sherbinski himself Mario Guzman.

MASK OFF Ep 16: Mario "Mr. Sherbinski" Guzman

In this episode we get into the life of a young man by the name of Mack Wilds. You were first introduced to him as Tristan when he played Michael on The Wire. The native New Yorker, one of Shaolin's finest, gives us some insight into his life's journey, growing up around his pops barber shop, staying out of the streets, how he met wu-tang, Method Man breaking character on set, his greatest achievement, 90210 and more. Press play, listen, rate and share with your people. 

"Hawaii" Mike: The Prequel Episode Season 1.5

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