Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE, a London-born composer, producer, and DJ, has left an indelible mark as a pioneer in the UK hip-hop and grime scenes. Collaborating with notable artists such as Kano, George The Poet, and Estelle, he has honed his distinctive sound over the years. Recognised for his contributions, he was awarded an MBE in 2021 for ‘services to hip-hop’.

Mikey’s musical compositions, inspired by his innate cinematic sensibilities, uniquely blend elements of hip-hop, classical, and electronic music. His score for the critically acclaimed and 2024 Sundance Audience Awarded feature film KNEECAP, earned him the BIFA award for Best Original Music.

Alongside Brian Eno, he’s also known for creating the score for the groundbreaking Netflix Original multi-series TOP BOY and he’s the co-composer for the Apple TV+ drama series CRIMINAL RECORD, starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo.

His documentary work includes original scores for the Sky/Lightbox docudrama series GUNPOWDER SIEGE, the National Geographic feature documentary CLOTILDA: LAST AMERICAN SLAVE SHIP, and the multi-EMMY award-winning docudrama series AFRICAN QUEENS, for which Mikey received a nomination for ‘Outstanding Music Direction and Composition’.

Beside his work as a film composer, Mikey is the co-founder of the globally acclaimed hip-hop dance company Boy Blue, which holds the distinction of being Olivier Award-winning associate artists at London’s iconic arts venue Barbican, and are known for their collaboration with Danny Boyle on the live show FREE YOUR MIND: THE MATRIX NOW.

His ongoing collaboration with theatre director Jamie Lloyd includes composing the score for Lucy Prebble’s, THE EFFECT, starring Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell; ROMEO & JULIET, starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers; and THE TEMPEST, starring Sigourney Weaver.

Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE, a London-born composer, producer, and DJ, has left an indelible mark as a pioneer in the UK hip-hop and grime scenes. Collaborating with notable artists such as Kano, George The Poet, and Estelle, he has honed his distinctive sound over the years. Recognised for his contributions, he was awarded an MBE in 2021 for ‘services to hip-hop’.

Mikey’s musical compositions, inspired by his innate cinematic sensibilities, uniquely blend elements of hip-hop, classical, and electronic music. His score for the critically acclaimed and 2024 Sundance Audience Awarded feature film KNEECAP, earned him the BIFA award for Best Original Music.

Alongside Brian Eno, he’s also known for creating the score for the groundbreaking Netflix Original multi-series TOP BOY and he’s the co-composer for the Apple TV+ drama series CRIMINAL RECORD, starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo.

His documentary work includes original scores for the Sky/Lightbox docudrama series GUNPOWDER SIEGE, the National Geographic feature documentary CLOTILDA: LAST AMERICAN SLAVE SHIP, and the multi-EMMY award-winning docudrama series AFRICAN QUEENS, for which Mikey received a nomination for ‘Outstanding Music Direction and Composition’.

Beside his work as a film composer, Mikey is the co-founder of the globally acclaimed hip-hop dance company Boy Blue, which holds the distinction of being Olivier Award-winning associate artists at London’s iconic arts venue Barbican, and are known for their collaboration with Danny Boyle on the live show FREE YOUR MIND: THE MATRIX NOW.

His ongoing collaboration with theatre director Jamie Lloyd includes composing the score for Lucy Prebble’s, THE EFFECT, starring Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell; ROMEO & JULIET, starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers; and THE TEMPEST, starring Sigourney Weaver.

TV

2024 – Gunpowder Siege
Lightbox / Sky

2024 – Criminal Record
STV / Tod Productions / Apple TV+

2023 – African Queens (Seasons 1 & 2)
Nutopia / Netflix

2023 – The Good Fight Club
Century Films / Sky

2019-2022 – Top Boy (Seasons 3 & 4)
[Additional Composer]
Cowboy Films / Netflix

2022 Clotilda
National Geographic

2021  – Michael X: Hustler, Revolutionary, Outlaw
Sky Studios / BBC Studios

2014 – YOMO: You Only Marry Once
Created by Yonah Odoom & Moshana Khan
Ment2Excel Digital

2011 – One Man Walking
Directed by Margaret Williams
MJW Productions

Film

2024 – Kneecap 
Directed by Rich Peppiatt
BFI / Fine Point Films / Mother Tongues Films

2019 – Good Dog [short film]
Directed by Andrew Gillman & Natalie Ibu
Artemisia Films

2013 – All Stars
Directed by Ben Gregor
Vertigo Films

2011 – Intervention [short film]
Directed by Arno Hazebroek
Falcon Features

2010 – Street Dance
Directed by Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini
Vertigo Films / BBC Films

Stage & Dance

2024 – The Tempest
Directed by Jamie Llyod
Theatre Royal Drury Lane

2024 – Romeo & Juliet
Directed by Jamie Llyod
Duke Of York Theatre

2024 – Cycles
Directed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Boy Blue / Barbican

2023/24 – The Effect
Directed by Jamie Llyod
National Theatre / The Shed

2023 – Free Your Mind: The Matrix Now
Directed by Danny Boyle
Boy Blue / Factory International Manchester

2019 – REDD
Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy
Boy Blue / Barbican

2019 – Tree
Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah
Young Vic / Manchester International Festival / Green Door Pictures

2018 – Outliers
Directed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Boy Blue / Barbican

2017 – BlakWhyteGray
Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy
Boy Blue / Barbican