Iowan produces 'Iconic' rap song on Rick Ross and Meek Mill's new joint album
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
A Des Moines Public Schools alum, Mike Hurst, has produced rap songs for hip hop up-and-comers. But Hurst Hitz' latest track, "Iconic," landed on Atlanta rap legend Rick Ross and Meek Mill's new joint album.
Ross and Meek Mill released their newest effort, "Too Good To Be True," in early November and the Hurst-produced song is No. 12 on the album.
"I've been listening to Ross since Day 1," Hurst told the Des Moines Register.
As the world celebrates 50 years of hip-hop music, Hurst's success in the music industry is 20 years in the making.
'You're not going back to Des Moines': How Hurst Hitz landed in Atlanta
Hurst's childhood days were spent in Des Moines, where his father Michael was a pastor at local churches.
Hurst liked church music but his love for rap beats wasn't found in the pews. His parents listened to jazz. But after one summer spent in his mother Wanda's native Louisville, he found a greater love for hip hop as a genre.
He was surrounded by older cousins, and they introduced him to legendary rappers such as Master P, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and Lil Jon. Nas, Jay Z, DMX and The Hot Boys played on speakers. Hurst's love for music followed him through his childhood.
After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 2010, Hurst attended the University of Missouri. First, he wanted to become a dentist for financial purposes. Then, he switched to health sciences to help train athletes.
When he graduated in 2014, Hurst's plan to enroll in grad school went sideways after a leading professor in the graduate program retired.
"I'll never forget he was like, 'you gotta get a plan and figure it out, you're not going back to Des Moines," Hurst recalled his dad saying at the time.
More: Rapper Ludacris shows love for Des Moines-native producer Bangladesh at the Iowa State Fair
Hurst stayed in the college town for a year. He looked at new cities. Los Angeles was too expensive. New York City was too cold. Miami is fun to visit, but for him to live? Then, in 2015, he moved to rap's capital city: Atlanta.
Mike Hurst receives 'Iconic' confirmation the week of 'Too Good' album release
In Georgia, he interned with Tamiko Hope while working odd jobs elsewhere. Hope manages rap producer DJ Princess Cut and has worked with Sonny Digital, Grammy winner Zaytoven and Metro Boomin.
For months, Hurst emailed Atlanta power player Rico Brooks, who also manages producers in the city, with Hurst Hitz beats. They were all one-way communications.
A couple of years ago, Hurst sent a message that read in part, "these beats in this pack I think will fit a style of Rick Ross." Brooks responded. The Atlanta manager agreed and sent the beats to Ross' DJ Sam Sneak. From there, Sneak reached out to the Des Moines native.
"Sometimes, when you're trying to have timeless music, it takes some time," Hurst said.
Hurst found out on Nov. 7, just three days before "Too Good to be True's" release, that "Iconic" would be released as part of the joint album with Philly rapper Meek Mill. It is Hurst's biggest song from a production standpoint so far, he said, but patience is a piece of his process.
"While you're on your journey, you may think things happen on your time. Everything does truly happen in God's timing," Hurst told the Register in a recent interview.
Hurst kept going to inspire Black youth in city of Des Moines
While Hurst had mentors while growing up in Des Moines, he lacked role models who drove the same car or had the style of house that he wanted. The junior Hurst's pulpit became a production booth. He's made beats for over half his life since sixth grade.
And for years, he pursued the opportunity to work with Ross.
"Being able to be that figure has honestly been the goal to show a young Black or brown child in Des Moines that you can do it too," he said.
Hurst had the opportunity to meet Ross during the album release week. The album also catapulted to No. 1 on the Apple Music hip-hop and rap album charts.
More: It's lonely as a Black comedian in Iowa. How 5 Black comics are helping others learn the ropes.
Now, he is focused on making beats and material for more major artists. In one of the final lines on "Iconic," Ross raps, "some things you keep inside." And Hurst has a message, as well.
"For all the kids back home, the world is yours."
Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Mike Hurst produces 'Iconic' on Meek Mill and Rick Ross' rap album
