Michael Barnett, better known by his stage name Big Mike is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was originally a member of Convicts with Houston rapper Mr. 3-2. Its album would be the first of many releases Mike would put out on Houston-based Rap-A-Lot Records. Following the release of the eponymous Convicts, Big Mike impressed the heads of Death Row Records and almost signed with that label before he was called by James Prince and asked to replace Willie D when he left the Geto Boys. He accepted and became a part of the group on its 1993 album Till Death Do Us Part. When Willie D rejoined the group on its next album, he left the group. Big Mike has released five solo albums thus far, Somethin' Serious in 1994, Still Serious in 1997, Hard to Hit in 1999, Keep it Playa in 2006, and Serious as Can Be in 2009. Still Serious was his highest-charting album, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 200.