‘Biggest accomplishment’: KCK rapper Irv Da Phenom talks Deadpool & Wolverine trailer

Before Mitchell Irving picked up a microphone and became the rapper Irv Da Phenom, he was a kid who grew up reading comic books in Kansas City, Kansas.

A lifelong fan of Image and Darkhorse comics, Mitchell loved being transported to the world of action, adventure and wonder that he read about in those pages.

Now that he has heard one of his own songs, “Red and Yellow,” in the final “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie trailer, everything has come full circle.

“This is definitely the biggest accomplishment to date,” Irving said. “Beyond the industry standard, the level of inner child smiling is unmatched.”

Irving’s “Red and Yellow,” originally a freestyle rap inspired by Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow,” was written as a tribute to the Kansas City Chiefs’ colors (red and gold), and Irving’s hometown, Kansas City.

The musician considers this one of his favorite songs in his catalog, as it serves as a love letter to his city, the landmarks he grew up around, and Kansas City’s Superbowl-winning football team. The track was never picked up by the Chiefs but over the years became popular among fans.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Irving understands fandom.

When he was a kid he kept a shoebox full of his favorite comics under his bed. He gravitated towards the darker characters, the ones with gritty stories like Spawn, an antihero created in 1992 by Canadian artist Todd McFarlane. Spawn is published by American company Image Comics and doesn’t belong to either of the two big comic book houses.

The one character from Marvel Comics that appealed to Irving was Deadpool.

Wade Wilson, more commonly known as the snarky anti-hero Deadpool, was the self-aware embodiment of chaos who broke the theatrical fourth wall and spoke directly to readers. Irving was captivated by the creativity and freedom of the character. His love of Deadpool stayed with him to this day.

No wonder Irving, who has always encouraged musicians to “to think about your music as a soundtrack for your life,” was elated to hear his song would backup the trailer of a movie staring the character Deadpool and one of the most popular X-Men characters, Wolverine.

Irving says that he was contacted in February by a third-party company informing him that a film was interested in using his song. It was later revealed that a song he released more than a decade ago was being considered for the third installment of the Deadpool franchise.

“I asked myself why Red & Yellow and as soon as I said that it hit me, the costumes,” said Irving. “It is a big deal because of Logan wearing the original yellow Wolverine suit and this movie has a lot of the fans super hyped.”

Irving said he was beyond excited not only to hear his song in the film but also because he had information that fans would get to see a comic book-accurate Wolverine on the big screen for the first time.

Irving remained tight-lipped about the information. He wanted this to be a big surprise for fans and he didn’t want to get hopes up in case the plan changed.

A rapper and a comic book fan

During the months he waited for official news to break, Irving reflected on how time had changed life for a Black inner-city kid with a love for comic books and a hefty dose of talent.

“I was so into my own world that I was unaware it (comic books) was not cool until I got to high school and saw it wasn’t really a popular thing where I was,” said Irving. “But I was into it.”

Irving remembers that being one of the first stands he took against the cultural dogmas in his community. Irving was unfazed by the prospect of people mocking his interests, and this nonchalant attitude towards others’ opinions was reflected in his music. Instead of trying to cater to others’ tastes, he focused on creating the music he wanted to hear.

Irving embraced that sense of rebellion, intentionally or by happenstance, in emulating the spirit shared by Deadpool. With that rebel spirit, Irving always encourages his listeners to do their own thing. That is one of the main reasons he is excited to see Deadpool finally enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Irving feels (along with many fans), that the Marvel films have begun to lose steam and Deadpool is exactly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, needs to recapture fan excitement.

“Deadpool maybe is so chaotic that it will put the MCU back in place,” said Irving. “For me it is going to be interesting to hear all of Deadpool’s critiques on the MCU and it takes a special skill to do that.”

Irv Da Phenom’s newest album

Earlier this year Irving released his newest album “Big Lover.”

In addition to his music, he has also started doing voice over work. Irving hopes that with the new attention on his Chiefs-praising rap, the song will join the ranks of Tech N9ne’s “Red Kingdom,” as another anthem played at games.

Since the release of the “Deadpool & Wolverine “ trailer last week Irving has had a large outpouring from fans and supporters alike via social media. He feels like having his music align with and highlighted by a Hollywood blockbuster franchise that impacted his youth so directly is a “dream come true”

“As an independent artist, my music travels through word of mouth and now it is in a Deadpool trailer,” said Irving. “It’s not just a win for me, we made this song so big that it is in an MCU trailer and to be able to share this moment with my listeners, have them celebrating with me is huge.”