If for no other reason than getting a last minute “before they were famous” view of certain icons in West Coast gangsta rap, you should check out this video. In this second installment of interviews we did with the judges of the new SPEED Channel program Car Warriors, we meet the very down-to-earth Mad Mike, who most people might recognize from the television show Pimp My Ride.
If you were alive in the last six years and had any exposure to MTV, you probably think you know Mad Mike, but this interview introduces you to someone you’ve probably never met before – Mike Martin, a shade-tree, car stereo installer from Compton (in his own words). Whatever your preconceptions about Mike might be – leave them at the door. Nothing you see on TV is real… not even “Reality TV.”
So once again, the Mavens took the time to show you the face that no one else took the time to reveal; the real face of a man driven by the same thing that drives all car guys – The Passion Principle. Here’s a guy who gets paid to do what he loves and has fun while he’s doing it – all while somehow managing not to take himself too seriously. Fame and money aside, what could be cooler than that? Isn’t that what we all really want?
In this interview, Mike gives us a hint of the mindset that can take a regular guy the incredible distance from the swap meets of Compton to international television fame. Take a look and listen closely – there’s a really cool section at the end you won’t want to miss!
:: Avon Bellamy
Man, I remember cresnshaw blvd and it’s allure for all people to come hang. Real fun especially on Sundays. Props to you Mike and your success story.
Dang, that was such a rad video man! That guy had me laughin’ and inspired all in 5 minutes. These types of videos are the stuff. Was that Jimmy Shine in the back? Would be rockin’ if you could get Jimmy Shine to do a video with you guys and the So-Cal Speed Shop. That’d be Epic!
seems like a cool dude ^^
Cool vid!!
I lol’d hard at “Nobody used to like Snoop back in the day cause he was always rappin’.” Amazing.
Loved the bit about Snoop
Cool video Antonio
even since i first saw pimp my ride this man always seemed real down to earth…cool to hear from him, his humbleness in his success. props…
Dude’s mad cool. I wish i had that one thing i could focus on, but i get sidetracked too easily. Thanks for posting this though, really cool vid.
wow awesome video!! i remember meeting mad mike waaaay back through my boy Ryan Uchida at Stereo 2 Go in Lakewood. He was a frequent visitor also when Ryan opened Creative Audio. Love the article!
Hey Motor Mavens guys how do I to speak directily with Mad Mike?