Born in Winnipeg in 1986, Mikel Rondeau (aka Echonawmik) has already had many accomplishments early on in his life. As a national boxing champion from 2003 to 2005, for fighters aged 19 and under, he has traveled the globe competing at world class levels since he was sixteen years old.

However, in 2005, upon returning home from his last boxing championship bout in South Korea, he decided to put the gloves down, and focus on his first love, music. Carrying with him the same hunger and competitive spirit that served him so well in his athletic career, he eventually garnered the attention of one of Canada’s most prolific hip-hop producers, Michael Arnone (aka DJ Kutdown). A veteran DJ and producer, gaining most of his experience from his time with Canada’s legendary Frek Sho crew, Arnone was impressed by Rondeau’s drive and abilities. Recognizing a great opportunity, Arnone was instantly interested in partnering musically with the boxer-turned-rapper. Within three weeks of meeting in early 2009, the duo had recorded the bulk of what is to be their first LP together.

A fresh voice for a generation of frustrated youth in the desperate cities of Western Canada, Rondeau’s raw lyrics fit perfectly over Arnone’s gritty, yet jazzy musical backdrops. With topics ranging from growing up in a broken home, to an ode to boxing great Muhammed Ali, Rondeau and Arnone promise to deliver and album that will be revered by all types of music fans in Canada and abroad.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.