Mill Bill is an artist out of Boise, Idaho we spoke about a while back with his track “Crazy” featuring Mark Battles. Mill has an exciting and outgoing personality that translates fluidly into his music. Always putting himself out there and not afraid to hold back, he’s been building a solid foundation and fandom.
The last year has been instrumental for him as he began working with his current manager Colter Bailey. Together they have been grinding hard and always planning the next move. This has paid off greatly as Mill Bill has become one of Idaho’s biggest rising stars.
Now, he’s ready to put his story out there for everyone to hear. As someone who likes to enjoy his success, Mill never wants to forget where he came from and what molded him into who he is today. A true “born from ashes” type of story. He never had anything handed to him, more often than not, he would have something or someone taken away.
A Tough Beginning
Unfortunately, this story is dark from the beginning. Mill Bills mother was raped causing his conception. At the time she was married to another man who left her when he saw the baby come out African-American. Born in Atlanta, Georgia October 7, 1986.
Before he was 4 years old there was a two week period his mother and he slept under bridges and in parks. By age 6 he moved to Idaho with his mother who had come back to be closer to her family. During this time Mills’ mother was married to his step-dad. His step-dad was both very mentally and psychically abusive up until his death when Mill Bill was 14.
Troubled Youth
School was a hard time for Mill, especially early on. In elementary school he was bullied for wearing second hand clothes, having two white parents, and for being African-American. This was beginning of his take on abuse outside the home. He always managed to maintain As and Bs but this negative social aspect held him back.
From being kicked out of school for fighting. To be put on probation at the age of 11 for two felonies and aggravated assaults in which he threatened two people with a knife. He was in and out of juvie up until 2001 when his step-father passed away. This may seem like a “good thing” to some on account of his abusiveness, but the loss of his step-dad devastated his mother. She attempted to commit suicide which resulted in the state taking Mill and his sister to an orphanage.
Looking For A Home
At the young age of 14, Mill has been through more than most people deal with by their 20s. Now, he’s away from his mother and stuck in an orphanage where it’s pretty hard to get adopted as a troubled teen. He spent two years there before admitted to rehab at the age of 16 for drug and alcohol abuse. It was at this point he met his foster dad who “sorta” adopted him, and the two are still very close to this day.
Another two years later and Mill is 18 and being kicked out into the world. He lived in Florida for about two years until coming back due to financial reasons and to help his mother who was coming off her third back surgery. Two weeks after turning 21 he got his first DUI which kept him in Idaho for another two years. He then had to beat another aggravated assault charge in which he shot at someone in self-defense.
The Come Up
After facing, and beating, that last charge Mill Bill moved to Boise. Looking to build a better life for himself and his family both now and in the future. All was going according to plan until 2014 when he caught a marijuana intent-to-sell charge. After spending some time in prison he was let out on parole. After 18 months he went back in for violating his parole and spent 16 months in jail.
During this time his mother passed and after being released in August of 2018, he knew it was time to change his life around for the better. Since then, he’s been focusing 100% on his craft and love of music. Last year, he sold out The Knitting Factory in Boise and threw Snow tha Product last year, which was a huge hit. He’s also performed in front of thousands of people, and Pig Out in the Park, and has reached nearly 30 thousand followers on Facebook.
His story isn’t a perfect one. But, it is a story someone can look up to and gain inspiration and teachings from. Not everyone has the ability to keep fighting, to persevere. To know that you have the ability to change your future no matter what your past. It may not happen quickly, but if you ever need reassurance or proof that it is possible to follow your dream. Just Google “Mill Bill.”
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