Meet the producer making bank on Fiverr writing hip hop tunes

Mike Burton, also known as Keybeaux, is a rapper and entrepreneur from Texas who has found a lucrative niche writing customized raps for clients on the popular freelancing platform Fiverr. In fact, he earns over $82,000 a year from his work on the site, with total earnings from all his commissions exceeding $500,000 over seven years.

Mike, who holds a degree in communications from the University of Houston, has always had a passion for writing. When he saw that he could offer customized raps on Fiverr in 2015, he jumped at the opportunity. However, his first request was demotivating, asking him to create a song about why it’s okay to listen to Eminem, which he felt sounded more like a term paper than a rap.

Despite the initial setback, Mike decided to give Fiverr another try a year later while working at a call center. He offered to create 30-second verses for $5 each, and demand for his services began to grow. By December 2016, he was able to quit his job and focus solely on his Fiverr commissions, which now command up to $560 each.

For Mike, the best part of his work is helping people express themselves through rap. He writes and produces songs for a variety of clients, including companies, businesses, podcasts, and YouTube channels, as well as personalized love songs and birthday songs. However, he draws the line at anything involving violence or profanity, as he’s not interested in requests like that.

“I’m acting as a conduit for your ideas,” Burton told CNBC.

Although Mike enjoys his work and can write a verse in just 30 minutes, he admits that he sometimes runs out of creative ideas. When that happens, he takes a break by creating his own original music under his stage name Keybeaux, which he releases on various music platforms.

To connect with Mike, follow him on Instagram @keybeaux or hire him directly on his Fiverr page.