Michael Barnett (born 1971), better known by his stage name
Big Mike is an
American rapper from
New Orleans, Louisiana. He was originally a member of
Convicts with Houston rapper Mr. 3-2. Its album would be the first of many releases Mike would put out on Houston-based
Rap-A-Lot Records. Following the release of the eponymous
Convicts, Big Mike impressed the heads of
Death Row Records and almost signed with that label before he was called by
James Prince and asked to replace
Willie D when he left the
Geto Boys. He accepted and became a part of the group on its 1993 album
Till Death Do Us Part. When
Willie D rejoined the group on its next album, he left the group. Big Mike has released five solo albums thus far,
Somethin' Serious in 1994,
Still Serious in 1997,
Hard to Hit in 1999,
Keep it Playa in 2006, and
Serious as Can Be in 2009.
Still Serious was his highest-charting album, peaking at #16 on the
Billboard Hot 200.