SUNY Canton Business Major Rhymes His Way to L.A.

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SUNY Canton Business Administration major Michael I. Wallace performs at SUNY Canton. Wallace was recently selected for the second round of auditions for the competitive TeamBackpack Cypher.

CANTON, NY (03/06/2015)(readMedia)-- A SUNY Canton Business Administration major is launching his professional rap career.

Michael I. Wallace of Harlem was recently invited to participate in the second round of the TeamBackpack's Cypher auditions, which brings together up-and-coming and professional hip-hop artists. Wallace, who performs under the name Don Mykel, is planning on participating during early May in Los Angeles, Calif.

"I'm going to use some of my best verses for the auditions," he said. "This can help me break into the industry before I graduate."

TeamBackpack brings together talented and diverse musicians with the goal of creating and promoting a positive environment to connect individual artists to their fans without major labels. Although the Cypher events are not competitions, they are highly competitive.

Wallace gained notoriety on campus last year when he opened for A$AP Ferg at the college's spring concert. He's recorded two mixtapes titled "The Lone Pharaoh" and "The Infinite" and filmed YouTube music videos in New York City and in Canton. In addition to his musical aspirations, he cofounded the underground label, Empire the Nation Records, with his roommate Danesha S. Williams.

"Balancing college, a rap career and a label on a student income is not easy," he said.

Wallace is now looking to secure funding to participate in the auditions. He's launched a GoFundMe page and is asking his friends, family and supporters for help.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses, as well as 10 exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 14 athletic teams compete as provisional members of the NCAA Division III and the USCAA.

-www.canton.edu-