Michael “MIKE-E” Ellison is a Hip-hop and spoken word recording artist, actor, and philanthropist. MIKE-E was born in Ethiopia, where he supports orphan outreach and healthcare programs, while maintaining nationwide recognition with one of the country's most popular hits "Ethiopia (Everything Will Be Alright)." Stateside, the Detroit-based lyricist is recognized for repeat performances on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, appearing regularly in nationally televised spoken word vignettes for the NFL, and teaming with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to orchestrate and headline the nationwide AfroFlow Tour – a live music concert and groundbreaking cancer awareness initiative.

Acknowledging Hip-hop’s indigenous roots and an array of world music, MIKE-E’s current innovative project, “AfroFlow”, recently became the first ever Hip-hop CD released by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the world's largest institution dedicated to the African-American experience.

With acting and voice over credits that span theatre, film, television and radio, MIKE-E also wrote, produced and appears in a series of televised ads promoting cancer awareness. The versatile performer became part of sports and television history when he opened the NFL’s three-network simulcast with a poetic performance, as over 34 million viewers tuned in to watch the New England Patriots vs. New York Giants 2007 regular season match-up.

A member of Detroit’s 2002 National Slam Poetry Championship team, MIKE-E’s been featured in international print campaigns for urban clothier Pelle Pelle, and his “Everything Will Be Alright” Barack Obama remix scored several of the newly elected President’s campaign videos and was played at numerous rallies nationwide.