Killer Mike

Killer MikeKiller Mike performing in March 2014Background informationBirth nameMichael Santiago RenderAlso known asMike BiggaBorn April 20, 1975 , U.S.GenresOccupation(s)InstrumentsVocalsYears active1995–presentLabelsAssociated actsMichael Santiago Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his Killer Mike, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and activist. He is the founder of Grind Time Official Records, which he launched through the and . Mike made his debut on "Snappin' and Trappin'" from 's 2000 LP , and later appeared on the -winning song "" from their greatest hits album . He has since released five full-length albums as a solo artist.

In December 2008, Mike signed to fellow Atlanta-based rapper 's . In 2012, he released , produced entirely by American rapper and producer . Killer Mike and El-P subsequently formed a duo in 2013, branding themselves ; the duo was signed to and released their in June of that year.

Mike is also known as a social and political activist, focusing on subjects including , , and . In addition to addressing themes of racism and police brutality in his music, he has also delivered several lectures at colleges and universities, written about social justice topics for publications such as , and been the subject of interviews regarding police misconduct and race relations. He was a visible and vocal supporter of , refusing to support after Sanders left the race, and again supported Sanders in .

Mike has appeared in films such as , , and . The documentary series , in which he explores issues in the U.S. that affect the black community, premiered on in January 2019.

Contents Musical career[] 1995–2005: Early life and career beginnings[] Michael Santiago Render was born in the neighborhood of , on April 20, 1975, the son of a policeman father and a florist mother. Because his parents were teenagers at the time of his birth, he was partly raised by his grandparents in the neighborhood of Atlanta. In 1995, Killer Mike briefly attended Atlanta's , where he met producers and eventually of . His music debut was a feature appearance on OutKast's "Snappin' & Trappin'" from the 2000 album , followed by their 2001 single "", which won the 2002 for . He was featured on several other tracks that year, including "Poppin' Tags" from 's .

Killer Mike released his debut album, , in 2003 while being managed by Dayo Adebiyi and Al Thrash of Own Music. The album's lead single was "Akshon (Yeah!)", which featured OutKast on guest vocals. A remix of "Akshon (Yeah!)" was included on the soundtrack of ' video game . The album's second single was "", featuring and , which peaked at #60 on the . It is Killer Mike's highest charting single to date as a lead artist.

Following the release of his own material, he appeared on "Flip Flop Rock" and "Bust" on the Speakerboxx half of OutKast's double album. He also appeared on "Southern Takeover" with on 's CD . Killer Mike appeared alongside on the song "" by in his album . It peaked at #26 on the Hot 100, becoming Mike's second top 40 hit ("The Whole World" being the first). The song was also used on the Madden NFL 2004 game soundtrack and by the for their .

Killer Mike performing in May 2008.2006–2012: Pledge series and R.A.P. Music[] Main articles: , , , and What was to be his second album, Ghetto Extraordinary, had its release date pushed back several times due to disputes between and . Originally recorded in 2005, the album was eventually self-released as a in 2008.

Killer Mike's second official album, , was released on his own Grind Time Official label in 2006, followed by in 2008.

According to an article published in the June 2007 issue of , Killer Mike addressed why he left the Purple Ribbon roster. He stated that he felt as if Purple Ribbon was the equivalent to the "Clippers," while he wanted to join the "Lakers." T.I. later announced that he and Killer Mike had been in talks about bringing Mike to his imprint on Atlantic, and Killer Mike confirmed that he had signed in December 2008. He released his fourth official album, , on Grand Hustle in 2011.

In 2013, Killer Mike announced that he was working to release two albums in 2014, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind IV and R.A.P. Music II, both of which were to feature production by . Although neither album was released as planned, 2013 and 2014 did see the release of two albums, both collaborative efforts between Killer Mike and EL-P.

Killer Mike also announced in 2013 that his next solo album would be titled Elegant Elephant, a project he described as his "". He did not specify a timeline for its release.

2013–present: Run the Jewels[] Killer Mike (left) and El-P (right) as Run the Jewels at in 2014.Main article: Killer Mike was introduced to rapper/producer by executive Jason DeMarco in 2011. The following year, produced Mike's album and guested on the song "Butane (Champion's Anthem)". That same year, Killer Mike guested on El-P's album . When R.A.P. Music and Cancer 4 Cure were released within weeks of each other, the two rappers decided to tour together. The success of the tour eventually led to the decision to record as a duo, which they named .

Run the Jewels released a free on June 26, 2013. The next year, on October 28, 2014, Run the Jewels released their second free album, . On September 25, 2015, the duo released a re-recorded version of Run the Jewels 2 made entirely with , titled . A third album, , was released on December 24, 2016.

Other ventures[] Acting[] Mike has been featured in the films 20 Funerals, (2006), and (2006). He has also performed as a , playing a rapper/actor-turned-U.S. President named in the cartoon from 2006 to 2008. Mike guest-voiced a phone in an episode of the same name of Adult Swim's . He appeared twice on the Adult Swim series , once in 2012, where he acted as a for a female opera singer, and again in 2014, where he performed a rap battle with while the two were forced to walk on treadmills.

Graffitis SWAG Barbershop[] Mike and his wife, Shana, opened a barbershop in on November 1, 2011. The two acquired and reworked a barbershop and named it "Graffitis SWAG" (Shave, Wash, And Groom). He had waited nine years before choosing to open the barbershop, after having an early business manager advise him against the plan. It took his wife advising him to do it now while he had the time and money to pursue his lifelong dream. He eventually plans to open 150 shops across the United States over time, predominantly in cities with large black communities.

The barbershop is decorated with artwork on the walls honoring historic black leaders like Mike said that he hopes to "lift up men in the community who are out of work and help move them toward sustainable, lifelong careers" and give his employees "opportunity for real economic elevation". As of 2012, the shop employed six barbers, with plans to add four to six more licensed barbers to the team. Mike also said that he hoped to pursue his own barber license in the winter of 2012.

The enterprise has been successful and the shop has become a gathering place for the community, in addition to hosting events such as a season premiere for and serving as the setting for several music videos. A second location in was planned for 2014.

Activism[] Mike is an outspoken social activist focusing on subjects including , , and . His views are reflected in his music, as well as in interviews with the media. As a publicly viewed figure, Mike feels it is his responsibility to represent African-Americans: "I feel I have to be politically active and I have to be a credit to my race." He has been vocal on the subject of police misconduct, his father being a former police officer. His anti-brutality sentiment can be found on the song "Reagan" from his album , and the song "Early" on .

In response to the 2014 controversy in , Mike said:

> I'm appalled that regular Americans are apathetic. I'm appalled that people choose to use the word "thug" as a code word for "nigger". I'm appalled at everyday citizens... when will we, as an American constituency, tell our politicians enough's enough? Enough mayors supporting murderous police departments. Enough police chiefs having to give excuses for murderous police officers.

In an published in magazine, Killer Mike stated that "there is no reason that Mike Brown and also are dead today—except bad policing, excessive force, and the hunt-and-capture-prey mentality many thrill-seeking cops have adapted".

Mike and El-P performed at The Ready Room in on November 24, 2014, the same night that the Grand Jury verdict was announced stating that Darren Wilson would not be charged with a crime in the shooting of Michael Brown. Mike opened the set, which began about two hours after the announcement was made, with a heartfelt speech. Fan-shot footage of the speech later went viral.

Mike, in an op-ed, defended rap lyrics and says that they should be defended as freedom of speech.

Commenting on the related to the , Killer Mike noted that he understood the frustrations leading to violent demonstrations, but encouraged protesters to use their energy to organize for lasting change. In a Billboard op-ed, Mike stated:

> For the people of Baltimore—I don't criticize rioting because I understand it. But after the fires die down: organize, strategize, and mobilize. Like Ferguson, you have an opportunity to start anew. I don't have a solution because whoever's there will have to come up with it. But we need community relations: riots are the language of the unheard.

He made similar points in an interview with the : "Baltimore is an opportunity for us to do something different. As society, there's a real opportunity to organize there, and if we do not take full advantage of the opportunity to organize, then the riots truly meant nothing."

Mike has given lectures about race relations in the United States at several American universities, including Northwestern University, and the .

Political involvement[] Killer Mike introduces at a November 2015 in AtlantaIn June 2015, Mike briefly ran as a to become the representative for Georgia's 55th district in the . Despite encouraging voters to write in his real name, Michael Render, any votes he received would not have been considered valid due to his failure to previously register as an official candidate in the election. He said his purpose in running was to raise awareness of the special election, and to demonstrate that political outsiders can and should run against established politicians.

Mike announced his support of Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in June 2015 after Sanders announced his intention to restore the . After introducing Sanders at a rally held in Atlanta November 23, 2015, Mike spent time recording an interview with the presidential candidate at Mike's barbershop. Mike released his interview with Sanders as a six-part video series the following month.

In the following months, he remained an active and vocal supporter of Sanders, delivering speeches at rallies, voicing support in televised interviews and on social media, and traveling with the campaign.

In February 2016, Mike received criticism during his activism for Sanders for quoting American anti-racism and LGBT advocate regarding , which was criticized as misogynistic and mistakenly attributed as being his original phrasing online and in the press. Following Sanders' exit from the race, Mike refused to support Clinton, due to her pro-war record.

He has been an advocate for investment in ; in July 2016 he called for people to transfer their money to black-owned bank Citizens Trust, stating, "We don't have to burn our city down. But what we can do is go to your banks tomorrow. You can go to your bank tomorrow. And you can say, 'Until you as a corporation start to speak on our behalf, I want all my money. And I'm taking all my money to Citizens Trust".

In June 2017, at festival, Mike endorsed leader in the .

On March 22, 2018, Mike appeared on with host defending black gun ownership. He says it had been filmed a week prior to the March for Our Lives yet released the weekend of the protest. He also stated that he told his children that if they participated in the that he would expect them to leave the family home. On March 26, 2018, he posted a video stating that the NRA used his interview out of context, saying he actually supports while simultaneously advocating for black gun ownership. During this same video he gave his endorsement for gun ownership alternatives, listing the by name.

Personal life[] Mike married his wife, Shana, in 2006. He has four children: Pony, Mikey, Aniyah, and Malik.

Discography[] Main articles: and Studio albumsFilmography[] Awards[] Grammy Awards[] YearNominee / workAwardResult"" (with )WonReferences[] Further reading[] External links[] Killer Mikeat Wikipedia's Studio albumsCompilationsSinglesFeatured singlesRelated articlesStudio albumsRemix albumSinglesConcert toursRelated articlesStudio albumsSinglesGroupsMembers [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1]Retrieved from "": Hidden categories: Killer Mike Gives Tearful Speech to Atlanta Protesters: Watch - XXL

Killer Mike Gives Tearful Speech to Atlanta Protesters: Watch - XXL

×[https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6035310&c3=&c4=&c5=&c6=&c15=&cv=2.0&cj=1] As protests in Atlanta escalated toward looting and clashes with police, ’ appeared at the mayor’s press conference to deliver an emotional speech pleading with protestors not to vandalize their city.

The rapper, the son of an Atlanta police officer, said that while he has “a lot of love and respect for police officers,” mentioning that police department’s “” African-American officers in the 1940s. “Here we are 80 years later, and I watched a white officer assassinate a black man, and I know that tore your heart out” Killer Mike said.

“I’m mad as hell. I woke up wanting to see the world burn yesterday, because I’m tired of seeing black men die. He casually put his knee on a human being’s neck for nine minutes as he died like a zebra in the clutch of a lion’s jaw.”

He continued, “So that’s why children are burning it to the ground. They don’t know what else to do. And it is the responsibility of us to make this better right now. We don’t want to see one officer charged, we want to see four officers prosecuted and sentenced. We don’t want to see targets burning, we want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burnt to the ground.”

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On Friday nights, protests broke out in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Portland, Oakland and in — including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in recent days —spurred by protests in Minneapolis following the killing of by police.

However, Killer Mike referenced the peaceful demonstrations of Martin Luther King in asking Atlanta protestors to stop destructing their own city.

“I am duty-bound to be here to simply say: That it is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house, so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization. And now is the time to plot, plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize,” he said.

“It is time to beat up prosecutors you don’t like at the voting booth. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs. Atlanta is not perfect, but we’re a lot better than we ever were, and we’re a lot better than cities are.”

Atlanta protestors and police had a confrontation at Atlanta’s CNN Center Friday, with video from the scene — — broadcast on the news network.

“I love CNN… but I gotta say to CNN right now: Karma’s a mother. Stop feeding fear and anger every day. Stop making people feel so fearful and give them hope,” Killer Mike said.

“I’m glad [protestors] only took down a sign and defaced a building, and they’re not killing human beings like that policeman did. I’m glad that they only destroyed some brick and mortar and they didn’t rip a father from a son, they didn’t rip a son from a mother, like the policeman did.”

Prior to Killer Mike, T.I. also addressed the citizens of Atlanta:

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Rapper Killer Mike urges calm in Atlanta Killer Mike said Friday night that he's "tired of seeing black men die." But in an address to those participating in violent protests across Atlanta on Friday night, the rapper tearfully urged them to not destroy a city built on black-owned businesses and a history of civil rights.

Atlanta was one of many cities that faced violent protests on Friday in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. Protesters in the city set a police car on fire, smashed windows at the CNN building, and damaged several other buildings and businesses.

Killer Mike joined Keisha Lance Bottoms and rapper T.I. to address the violence Friday night, saying that while he feels that same hurt and anger as demonstrators, "it is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization."

Killer Mike said that watching an officer "assassinate" a black man was "crippling." He compared the officer's knee being on Floyd's neck to "a zebra in the clutch of a lion's jaw."

"We watch it like murder porn over and over again, so that is why children are burning it to the ground. They don't know what else to do," he said, adding that now is the time for people to plan, organize, and mobilize.

"It is responsibility of us to make this better, right now. We don't want to see one officer charged, we want to see four officers prosecuted and sentenced," he said. "We do not want to see targets burning, we want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism, burned to the ground."

The way to make that change, he said, is to remember those who helped steer the Civil Rights movement.

"I know that tore your heart out. And I know it is crippling, and I have nothing positive to say in this moment because I don't want to be here. But I am responsible to be here because it wasn't just Dr. King and people dressed nicely who marched and protested to progress this city and so many other cities," he said. "It was people like my grandmother, people like my aunts and uncles."

Instead of spending time participating in the violent protests, Killer Mike's final advice to demonstrators was to channel their anger and frustration into making political change.

"Two of the most effective ways, is first, taking your butt to the computer and making sure you fill out your census to make sure people know where you are and who you are. The next thing is to exercise your political bully power and go into to political elections, and beating up the politicians that you don't like. You got a prosecutor that sent your papa to jail and you know it was bulls***? Put a new prosecutor in there. Now is your election to do it. You want a different senator that's more aggressive, that pulls marijuana through? Now is the time to do that. But it is not time to burn down your own home."

"We have to be better than this moment. We have to be better than burning down our own homes, because if we lose Atlanta, what else we got?" he added. "I want you to go home, I want you to talk to 10 of your friends, I want you guys to come up with real solutions. ... We don't need a dumb a** president repeating what segregationists said."

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