Courtesy.
[Mike Darole](https://www.instagram.com/mikedarole/?hl=en) has been through hell and back, but he doesn’t let that stop him from doing what he loves most: music. The Bay Area native had much success with his hit single “Hello” featuring RJ and Compton AV in 2017, a record that was blasted through nightclubs and functions up and down the West Coast.
But an unfortunate event took place in his hometown of San Jose, where he was shot near the heart and almost died. Being a father to two beautiful children, he knew he had to get back on his feet and continue what he started — spending the majority of his time in the lab perfecting his craft. Just as he’s gaining momentum, a recent shooting would set him back yet again. That’s not even counting the trauma that comes with being shot twice.
His faith in God would keep him going, still to this day. Darole is an extremely talented singer, songwriter, producer and rapper, with an innate ability to create bangers with substance. He states, “I probably wrote one of your favorite artists’ hits, lowkey. ’all don’t even know about it.”
As life continues to hit us all in the face, he recently teamed up with his blood younger brother to create The Pi$ce$ Brother$.
**Talk about being a songwriter and what songs you’ve done.**
Because of how the industry works, these people might feel some type of way. I respect it. I told myself coming into this year, I have to get my credit. It’s cool getting to the bag and working out situations with people, but if they really believe in me and want to see me win, I deserve my credit. Put my name on the record. I’m also working with a publishing company, we’re trying to work something out so I can get my name on stuff. Hopefully start writing for other artists as well for their label.
**What kind of records are you doing, more R&B or more hip-hop?**
I like to do the R&B stuff. My hook game is crazy, I can write a dope rap hook for anybody. I’ve been writing a lot of melodic singing shit too, so it’s been going well.
[](https://www.instagram.com/p/B-v0oodpMB7/)
[I got shot twice but dammit I'm BLESSED🙏 LET ME KNOW what y'all think!! IM BACKKKKK NEW VIDEO LINK IN BIO](https://www.instagram.com/p/B-v0oodpMB7/)
**How did you and your brother come together to make music?**
So my brother has been watching me do my thing, and I didn’t know he was studying. We’re 5 years apart, he just turned 21. He’s been studying my shit. He came out of nowhere. I asked him “bro, have you heard this song?” He said “what song?” I named some song, he’s like “how’d you know?”
**Brother:** Yeah, it caught me off guard! \[laughs\] I told him about the music I was making.
I was asking him about a song, but then he told me about his song. He was doing it low key. He sent it to me, I’m like “this shit sounds good! This is a good vibe.” He’s a younger version of me, but he’s coming with some dope shit. I’ve been in groups before, but this is my brother. I know he’s always going to have my back and I have his back.
Initially, I was going to help him out with solo shit and focus on my solo stuff. We started to collabing and it sounded really good. After I got shot this time around, I said “we’re family, we’re brothers. Let’s do a group together, show the world what we’re about.” Obviously, I want to inspire others. I’ve been knocked down hella times. I have this courage, this drive, this ambition where I’m always going to get back up. No matter what! I’ve had a bullet in my heart. I got shot again, I've had 5 bullet holes in me. There’s still bullet fragments in there. I was cut open: my stomach cut open, my chest cut open. I had open heart surgery. I got God in my corner.
**I see you have a Faith tattoo on your cheek.**
Yes, that’s my daughter’s middle name too. I had to put her name on my face, plus my faith. We started creating and things have been great. I really believe in this. I want us to push forward. Ever since our first release a week ago, we’ve been getting really, really great feedback. There’s a lot of potential in this.
**How did you guys get your name?**
We’re both born in March, so Pisces season. I said “man what’s a dope name to come with we were like shit Pisces brothers. It’s different, it’s unique. There’s nothing else out like that. I’m like “shit, I think this will work.”
**What’s the dynamic working with your brother as a musical duo, as opposed to WITH friends?**
When you work with a friend, you always seem to have each other‘s back. But from past experiences, I was in 2 different groups. People start feeling themselves, egos get in the way. You can’t control that but since we’re brothers, this is bloodline. Obviously he’s going to listen to me and I’m going to listen to what he has to say, because we have each other‘s best interest. He’s seen a lot of the stuff go on with me, growing up and seeing the ups and downs.
Plus, I have a lot of experience in this. I’m like “you know what, all of my mistakes are going to be avoided for you,” because I’m going to make sure you don’t have to experience any of the Ls I’ve taken. That alone, he said I inspired him. That I was one of his role models, so I really appreciate that. That’s way different than doing it with a friend, because a friend may sometimes try to compete. This is not a competition, we all have our own spotlight as a team.
**What would your guys’ sound is, or what lane you’re in?**
**Brother:** We got a little West Coast, but we come a little different. We have different sounds.
We don’t try to sound like any other artist, that’s one thing for sure. We come different because we don’t just rap, we have the melodic. We do a little singing shit too. It’s a different vibe. Every record, whatever it is. If it’s on some smooth shit, we’ll come with that smooth stuff. If it’s some rap shit, we’re talking facts. Talk about real life, and come with that dope shit.
**You guys are doing everything independent. Talk about knowing how to maneuver, just from past experiences.**
When I had groups before, I’d act like my own manager. I’d call schools and other promoters like “hi, how are you doing?” I’ll change my voice up, all that. Tell them that we have this group. When we do the school tours, we’ll say “we’re doing this knowledge is power tour, and we want to bring these kids to explain their story.” For people like us, we didn’t have any guidance. I had to learn the hard way and be my own coach.
Courtesy.
I've always been a go-getter type of dude where I’ve set goals. “I’ve got to make this happen.” I’ve always been let up because when someone told me they could do something, they’d always let me down. At this point, I had to stop relying on people and get to it. Whatever it is I have to do, I have to do it. Plus I have kids now, it’s bigger than doing it for myself. I have to do it for them. Real talk, I don’t want them to experience anything I’ve gone through in life.
**How old are they?**
My babygirl’s about to turn 3, and my boy’s 8. I had my boy at a really young age, but it made me mature. I still fool around, being funny and shit, because that’s my personality. But when it’s time to hit the switch, to get right and handle business, I can handle business as well.
**How is balancing fatherhood and being an artist?**
Man, my goals and expectations are on a different level now. The balance is tough because I have to put my career on hold at times, so I can focus on my kids/family and spend that mandatory quality time. I almost had my life taken again, so every minute Im with my kids is special to me. However the grind doesn’t stop and I have to continue to go hard and push forward for them.
**How was the recovery process for the shooting this time around?**
Man, that shit was tough to be in the hospital again. What the fuck, I got shot again? How the fuck did this happen? I just have that drive and it’s bigger than me. My kids are the reason why I get up every day and go hard. I was taking it day by day. At first, I had no feeling in my arm. It’s a piece of my elbow is missing. I have 2 bulletholes from that. They wanted to go do surgery, but they said there’s a chance I may not have the feeling again or I might not have full motion. I said “let’s not do the surgery, put the cast on and see what happens.” After they took the cast off, they put me in physical therapy and I got my movement back.
**What would the surgery have done?**
They said they would’ve gotten all of the bones. Everything would’ve been put back together. The piece that was missing, they would’ve done something. Shit, it was a great thing I didn't. \[laughs\] You know how when they put a cast on, your arm’s stuck like this \[holds arm upright\] for hella long? they took this shit off and I started doing moving immediately. Now, I have my feeling back. The range of motion is almost all of the way there, but there’s certain things that I can’t do all of the way. Hopefully in time, I will.
**How’s music been a coping mechanism for you through these battles?**
Music is the best coping mechanism. If I didn’t have music, I don’t know what I would do. That’s where I vent. If I don’t have anyone to talk to, at least I have the mic to talk to. I could put my feelings into this music. That’s one of the saviors to keep me going.
**What can we expect next?**
You can expect greatness. You can expect me to inspire the world, and that’s what I want. Anybody who’s been through it or is going through it, I want to be somebody they can talk to, listen to, come to. My story is real. I’m doing everything to make it happen. Besides getting shot, I’ve been through way more stuff. Me and my brother have seen a lot of stuff growing up that plays a part in today. They can expect greatness coming, I want to inspire the world.
**Are you still doing fashion?**
Yeah. I’m not really focused on the clothing line right now but whenever my people ask me to help design or my opinion, I'll give my opinion or feedback. I have this thing called Legit Living. I used to do this years ago but I took a break to focus on the music. I eventually want to come out with Legit Living clothing and The Pi$ce$ Brother$ merchandise. See, I designed that hoodie \[Family Over Everything hoodie\].
**Is there anything you want to let us know?**
Mainly I want people to know that whatever you go through in life, you have to understand that it's temporary. It’s up to you, because everything is in your mind. Your mind could be your worst enemy. You could fuck up your own self thinking negative. You always have to think positive, always have to think the best. Everybody stay tuned and ride with me on this journey. I really want to be great in life, provide a great future for my family, the close ones around me and my team.
Courtesy.
