RAS Mikey C is the professional name of singer, songwriter, dancer and educator, Dr. Michael Courtney. A renowned multi-disciplinary artist, he has traveled the world, studying his craft and spreading a message of universal understanding to communities and cultures across the globe.
The classically trained RAS Mikey C is the co-founder and CEO of Fore I’m a Versatile Entertainer (F.I.V.E.) LLC. He holds a B.F.A. in Dance from UARTS Philly, an MA in Ethnochoreology and a PhD in Arts Practice Research from the University of Limerick in Ireland. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
Musically, RAS Mikey C’s sound is a genre-fluid mix of soul vibes, downtempo grooves and uplifting lyrical messages of spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. Since his debut, the prolific creator has released three EPs, and three singles. The professor refers to his music as ‘edutainment’. With that in mind, his songs offer personal growth and education as the keys to solving the many ills of our troubled world.
Thin Line is the brand new EP from RAS Mikey C, released worldwide via all major streaming services on January 14, 2023. The stylistically diverse yet thematically consistent 5-song collection examines the inequities of our modern society. Although delivered from the perspective of a black man living in America, the Doctor’s message is a universal one of wisdom, peace, love, and understanding.
From the opening riff of the bluesy anthem “Still, We Breath (S.W.B)”, to the organic dance grooves of “Holiday (Ocean)”, RAS Mikey C navigates a multi-genre set with soul and style. With a mix of analog and electronic instrumentation, he speaks the truth, with organic grooves.
Ambient synths and strings set an ethereal scene over a trap beat on the EP’s title track. Emcee Iron Lion joins RAS Mikey C on the song with an insightful and poetic freestyle. “Expectation” follows with classic reggae groove. On the track the singer searches for the truth in a smooth tenor, dropping biblical references and philosophical guidance along the way.
“How Long” is a groovy downtempo and low-key r&b-leaning psychedelic rock slow jam. RAS Mikey C visits a mellow neo-soul vibe as he serves up thought-provoking answers and questions like, “What happens to the love you lose when you hate?” The record closes on the infectious jazz and Caribbean dance vibes of “Holiday (Ocean)”.
Check out Thin Line in its entirety below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear “How Long” on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, and “Holiday (Ocean)” on the Deep Indie Dance. Follow the links below to connect with RAS Mikey C. Get on his socials and dig into a rich catalog of music.