About
Rapper and songwriter known for songs like "For My People," "Talk About It," "sobriety," "throttle," "good in goodbye," "ghost town," and "serene" along with being signed and affiliated with Polo G's ODA label. He is also known for his viral origin story of meeting Polo G at LAX and turning that moment into a record deal, along with his Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts under the handle @cnnmikey, where he shares music previews, studio clips, and personal reflections with his growing following.
Before fame
He grew up in an environment marked by instability and financial struggle. He bounced between trailer parks and public housing growing up which would eventually inspire his music. He attended Springfield High School in Ohio and began using music as an outlet while still a teenager. He initially wrote and recorded independently, and uploaded songs online which helped grow his online following. He released the early notable song "sobriety" in June 2022. His life changed in 2023 while traveling through LAX airport after he recognized Polo G and took a risk by approaching him and playing his music. His music was listened to by Polo G and they exchanged contact information which would eventually lead him to sign with Polo G's label ODA later in 2023.
Trivia
He chose the stage name CNN Mikey to reflect how he wants his music to feel like "breaking news" from his life.
Family life
His real name is Michael Zender. He was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio.
Associated with
He featured Einer Bankz on the song "Talk About It" in 2023.
