killer mike Archives

Killer Mike Explained Donald Trump’s Victory Before It Happened (Video)

Just minutes ago, Hillary Clinton delivered her concession speech after losing the presidential election to Donald Trump. There is no doubt that today, November 9, 2016, will go down in history as a clearly marked moment in time when, years from now, we will all remember where we were the... Read more

November 9, 2016 Lifestyle

Run The Jewels Release The First Single From RTJ3 & It’s Another All-Out Assault (Audio)

It has been two years to the month since Killer Mike and El-P released RTJ2. The pay-if-you-wish encore set from the Atlanta-to-Brooklyn super-duo came at a time where both MCs' careers benefited from each other, and making some of the biggest music of their lengthy tenures. RTJ3 now appears upon... Read more

October 24, 2016 Audio

Killer Mike Tells Blacks Don’t Talk About Revolution Because “You Ain’t Ready To Revolt” (Video)

Over the last few years Killer Mike has emerged as one of the most potent voices of the people, particularly African-Americans and the disenfranchised. He gained a national platform after the killing of Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO, as he simultaneously conveyed the outrage of many... Read more

September 23, 2016 Video

T.I.’s New EP Is His Most Political Work Yet. It’s Us Or Else (Audio)

With the release of "Warzone," T.I. shared with the world his most powerful video to date. By visualizing an America in which innocent victims of police shootings are White and the officers Black, the multi-platinum rapper made the boldest political statement of his career and added his voice to the... Read more

September 23, 2016 Audio

Outkast, Goodie Mob & Killer Mike Prove Its Still Family In The Dungeon (Video)

Last night (September 10), Atlanta, Georgia played host to the One Musicfest at Lakewood Amphitheater. As announced leading up to the event, the concert included a Dungeon Family reunion including Outkast, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, and others. From those three entities, only Khujo Goodie was not in attendance. However the... Read more

September 11, 2016 Video

Hip-Hop Took The Gold In August. Hear The Best Of The Month (Audio)

August was filled with the Olympics and some of the worst heat of the year, but it also brought some great Hip-Hop. De La Soul released their first album in 12 years, and it debuted at #1 on the Rap chart. Andre 3000 had some choice words for ghostwriters. Nas... Read more

September 10, 2016 Audio

The Entire Seattle Seahawks Team Could Be Protesting the National Anthem

There are times in modern history when things seem to be happening at a clip never before seen, with intensity that leaves many questioning when the fight began and why it only seems to be happening today, in the here and now. Most would argue that it's technology's presence in... Read more

September 8, 2016 Lifestyle

Run The Jewels & DJ Shadow Give New Meaning To Political Warfare (Video)

Run The Jewels has a standing reputation for incredible music videos. As independent artists, Killer Mike and El-P have been able to make bold statements that match their cutting lyrics and pounding beats. Teaming with DJ Shadow for The Mountain Will Fall single "Nobody Speak," the rep is all the... Read more

August 24, 2016 Video

Big Boi & Killer Mike Are Working On A Joint EP

Big Boi and Killer Mike go back. Way back. The two met in the mid-90s, while Mike was at Morehouse and Big Boi was in the early stages of changing the face of Hip-Hop, as one half of OutKast. Big Boi took Mike under his wing, eventually having him record... Read more

August 22, 2016 Fresh

Killer Mike Argues Not Much Has Changed For Blacks Since The Death Of Emmett Till (Audio)

Killer Mike is working to bring real change to a system that may be against him. The co-founder of Run The Jewels is leading a successful, nationwide charge to urge dissatisfied humans of all races to pull their money out of financial institutions that don't value them back. In his... Read more

August 10, 2016 Audio

Killer Mike Explains How Sneakers Can Be Turned Into Tools Of Financial Empowerment

Since the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in July, there has been a shift in tone in the protests against police violence towards Black citizens. Amidst the rage, sadness and sense of haplessness, there also has emerged a renewed urgency to act, beyond marches and hashtags. Killer Mike... Read more

August 7, 2016 Lifestyle

Killer Mike Was Heard. The People Are Fighting The Power With Their Money.

Last week, veteran MC Killer Mike made a strong call to action following the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police officers. Appearing on HOT 107 in his hometown city of Atlanta, Georgia the Run The Jewels co-founder urged his followers and those seeking institutional change to "run"... Read more

July 15, 2016 News

Killer Mike Says It’s Time To Take Down The System By Taking Our Money Out Of It (Video)

Killer Mike has become one of Hip-Hop's most inspiring and intelligent spokespeople, and he spoke passionately and powerfully to Atlanta's Hot 107 about the need to make real change. NOW. His words speak for themselves: - On putting our money where our mouths are, literally: “We don’t have to burn... Read more

July 8, 2016 Video

Run The Jewels Want Their Rhymes Over DJ Shadow’s Beat To Leave You Speechless (Video)

Run the Jewels are beloved for many things - not the least of which are the thoughtful, inspirational, and often comedic lyrics contained within their songs. As Heads learned back in April, the same goes for the duo's work with DJ Shadow, the highly celebrated DJ who is releasing his... Read more

June 14, 2016 Video

Killer Mike Explains Why The Trap Does Not Make Dollars Or Sense (Video)

One of the pivotal records of Killer Mike's career was his appearance on Outkast's "Snappin' & Trappin'." Right as the mainstream erupted around 2000's Stankonia release, Mike came in with a song that celebrated the street-life of Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding hoods. Sixteen years later, Killer Mike's personality has... Read more

May 25, 2016 Video

This Killer Mike Interview Shows HE Should Have Run For President (Video)

Last year, Killer Mike set the Internet ablaze when he announced he was running to be a Georgia State Representative. Though the campaign was short-lived due to a technicality, the excitement was palpable, not just because the man born Michael Render is a beloved MC, but because, for the last... Read more

May 8, 2016 Lifestyle

Run the Jewels Deliver An Ominous Warning In Virtual Reality (Videos)

Don't let the first several seconds of darkness fool you - Run the Jewels' new video is immersive, conceptual, and dope. The black-and-white 360-degree virtual reality ready visual for "Crown" is deceptively simple at its outset, with some thunder and lightning serving as understated effects as Killer Mike drops the track's... Read more

May 4, 2016 Video

Run The Jewels Celebrate The Birds & The Bees In Their Video For “Love Again”

Run The Jewels is known for their hard raps and nostalgic Hip-Hop aesthetics. Killer Mike and El-P channel the likes of 2 Live Crew, Eazy-E, and even Lil' Kim when they team with Gangsta Boo for "Love Again (Akinyele Back)." Even in its title, the late 2014 Run The Jewels... Read more

April 17, 2016 Video

Killer Mike Says “Jim Crow Is Still Very Much Alive” (Video)

By now, even casual fans of Killer Mike's music have likely become familiar with his robust proclamations in his daily life, whether on social media, political speeches, or media appearances. Along with his extensive work on the campaign trail for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Killer Mike has been fighting... Read more

April 5, 2016 Lifestyle

Big Boi & Killer Mike Conjure Up Some Of That Dungeon Family Magic On “Born To Shine” (Video)

Late last year, Big Grams (Big Boi + Phantogram) released their self-titled debut EP. The major label hybrid featured two guests: Skrillex and Run The Jewels. One half of R.T.J. is Killer Mike, who 15 years ago, burst on the scene as one of the strongest branches of the Dungeon... Read more

March 28, 2016 Video

This 360° Run The Jewels Concert Is As Close As It Gets To Being On Stage With Them (Video)

Over the years, Run The Jewels, the duo of Killer Mike and El-P, have shown themselves to be among the most energetic performers in Hip-Hop. Mike and El pour as much passion into their onstage delivery as they do their fiery lyrics. To capture the energy and show what it... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

Killer Mike Is Taking The Fight To The Supreme Court To Protect Freedom Of Speech In Rap Music

In late 2015, Hip-Hop made its way to the steps of the Supreme Court when Killer Mike and others threw their support behind a teenager whose decision to pen a Rap song about goings-on at his high school got him suspended, permanently staining his academic record. Taylor Bell, a Mississippi student... Read more

February 19, 2016 Lifestyle

Finding The GOAT Album: Jay Z’s The Black Album vs. Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

February 3, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Killer Mike & Iconic Olympian Tommie Smith Discuss the Past & Current Civil Rights Movements (Video)

In one of the most iconic sports photographs, American Olympian athlete Tommie Smith is seen raising his Black fist into the air in solidarity with his fellow medal winners in a stunning show of solidarity with those back home fighting for civil rights. Nearly 50 years later, and Americans are... Read more

January 28, 2016 Lifestyle

Big K.R.I.T., Killer Mike & Nick Grant Are Royalty In Rap And Life (Audio)

Atlanta MC Nick Grant turned heads last year with not one, but two of the strongest freestyles of the year. Grant put on dazzling lyrical displays for 5 minutes at a time, as he seemed to thrive on the newfound national attention. However, Grant also showed that he was about... Read more

January 25, 2016 Audio

Killer Mike Owns The Moment On A Wavy, Electronic Track With Lushlife (Audio)

Killer Mike has worked with a complete cross-section of the music industry. Mike Bigga has cut tracks with Ice Cube, Gucci Mane, Cunninlynguists, and Jay Z, all resulting in satisfied fans. That's before Heads even get to Run The Jewels, Purple Ribbon, or Grind Time Rap Gang works. Today, Mike... Read more

January 13, 2016 Audio

Killer Mike Schools Stephen Colbert on Systemic Racism in America & How To End It (Video)

On last night's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Killer Mike (born Michael Render) dropped some knowledge on the state of race relations in this country, something he's been doing for years through his music but which has only recently become something that mainstream media have begun to acknowledge.... Read more

January 6, 2016 TV/Film

Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter II vs. Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

January 5, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Logic, Slug & Killer Mike Show All Hip-Hop Is Fruit From The Same Tree (Audio)

There's a lot of intolerance in Hip-Hop these days. The youth are accused of having a lack of respect for the history of the culture, and Heads who are older often look down on current Hip-Hop, glorifying the past and incorrectly lumping all of today's music together. The truth is,... Read more

December 30, 2015 Video

Killer Mike & Big Boi Are Helping Bring Hip-Hop’s First Amendment Rights to the Supreme Court (Audio)

On Monday (December 21), the Supreme Court received a plea for justice involving a Mississippi high-school student who in 2011 faced charges relating to an alleged threat he made against another, a threat law enforcement argued he delivered in the form of Rap lyrics. Taylor Bell was a senior when... Read more

December 22, 2015 Lifestyle

Hip-Hop’s Shining Moments of 2015: The Big, The Small, & The Revolutionary

Each and every year, there is no shortage of moments in time which crystallize the development of Hip-Hop's growth, and 2015 is no different. Over the course of the previous 12 months, the culture played larger-than-life roles in film, health, politics, television, and of course, music history. Here are just... Read more

December 21, 2015 Food for Thought

Killer Mike & Bernie Sanders Talk Shop in 6-Episode Mini-Series (Video)

After formally endorsing presidential candidate Bernie Sanders last month, Killer Mike (born Michael Render) has been promoting the Vermont senator's politics and campaign promises in an effort to galvanize American voters to rally support. In his introductory speech at a Sanders rally in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, Render called... Read more

December 15, 2015 Video

Run The Jewels Fuel The Real Life “Warriors” In A New Animated Video For Rubble Kings

Although neither El-P nor Killer Mike comes from the 1970s Bronx, New York, Run The Jewels is the perfect vessel to capture the angst, the pride, and the power in the street gangs of more than 40 years ago. Film documentary Rubble Kings is Shan Nicholson's captivating look back. Mass Appeal... Read more

December 1, 2015 Video

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of November 2015 In One Playlist (Audio)

As the year winds to a close, the good music shows no signs of slowing down. November brought great Hip-Hop from start to finish. Here's a playlist that features the best the month had to offer. You'll hear tracks featuring Nas, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, KRS-One, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Logic,... Read more

December 1, 2015 Mixes

Killer Mike Endorses Bernie Sanders & Calls Him a Revolutionary (Video)

Last night, Hip-Hop and politics merged in what may be the most powerful way in a generation. Killer Mike hosted presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where the two shared a meal, had a one-on-one discussion, and took the stage for a rally. Killer Mike (born... Read more

November 24, 2015 Lifestyle

Just Blaze Gives Away His Early 2000s Drum Sounds…For Free Download

Between 2000 and 2005, producer Just Blaze made iconic songs with the likes of Jay Z, Fabolous, The Game and Freeway. The Patterson, New Jersey native DJ/producer worked closely with Roc-A-Fella Records, in addition to launching his own production company, F.O.B. Entertainment. Although Just's breakthrough sound is often associated with... Read more

November 17, 2015 News

Royce Da 5’9″ & Killer Mike Are Hungry…& They Leave Nothing For Other Rappers To Eat (Audio)

Ever since their collaboration on "Underground Kings" from PRhyme's 2014 eponymous LP, Royce Da 5'9" and Killer Mike have left plenty of Heads wanting more. On tracks together, toe to toe is an understatement, and the two ridiculously skilled MCs continue to release unrelenting bar after bar on their respective... Read more

November 2, 2015 Audio

Run The Jewels Release a Fittingly Trippy Visual For Angel Duster (Video)

Run The Jewels are working their way through the self-titled sophomore album, which released one year ago today (October 24). El-P and Killer Mike are lacing fans with visuals to seemingly all of the Mass Appeal Records album's songs. But that's not all they're lacing... "Angel Duster" plays off of... Read more

October 24, 2015 Video

Run The Jewels Are Ruling The Stage. This New Tour Footage Visual Shows It (Video)

Often times, tour footage-driven videos can be mundane. Killer Mike and El-P's Run The Jewels outfit, however, has been rocking venues with palpable energy. So as the video to "Get It" shows the R.T.J. award tour, Heads who have not seen Mike, El, Trackstar the DJ, and others on the... Read more

October 13, 2015 Video

Celebrate Run The Jewels’ Tour With Music By Big Boi, Fashawn & TV On The Radio (Mixtape)

Run The Jewels are currently ruling the road. The duo of Killer Mike and El-P are taking the stage throughout October with their DJ, Trackstar The DJ, alongside proteges Boots and Cuz Lightyear, as well as Mass Appeal Records label-mates Fashawn. Appearing in Miami, Florida tonight (October 10), R.T.J. and... Read more

October 10, 2015 Mixes

Run the Jewels Perform on Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ & Bring Along a Big Name Backup Band (Video)

Now in his second week of his new tenure as host of the "Late Show," Stephen Colbert has already amassed an impressive list of musical guests including Toby Keith and Kendrick Lamar. Last night, El-P and Killer Mike graced the stage as Run the Jewels, performing "Angel Duster" off their... Read more

September 16, 2015 Video

On the 1-Year Anniversary of Mike Brown’s Death, Run the Jewels Explain Why Riots Work.

One year ago today, Michael Brown, an 18-year old unarmed Black man, was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO. The event, and the subsequent failure to indict Wilson for the shooting, set off widespread rioting in Ferguson and across the country, and also marked the commencement... Read more

August 9, 2015 Video

Glasses Malone Brings Together Killer Mike, Kendrick Lamar & Tupac on A Bone Thugs Track (Lyric Video)

In April, Glasses Malone released "Thuggin'," with Kendrick Lamar. Rather than a celebration of criminality or misguided behavior, the song explored the themes of Tupac's T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. philosophy, an acronym which stood for "The Hate U Gave Little Infants F**ks Everybody." Each MC took turns articulating the complexities of the... Read more

August 4, 2015 Video

Run The Jewels Cat-Scratch The First “Meow The Jewels” Single (Audio)

The fan-funded Meow The Jewels remix project by Run The Jewels is on the horizon. Following January's snippet reel, "Meowrly" marks the first single. With Killer Mike, El-P, and Boots' vocals still in tact from "Early," this version incorporates those "cat sounds" in a way that strangely feels anything by... Read more

July 18, 2015 Audio

Has President Obama Done Right By The Hip-Hop Community? Killer Mike Shares His Views (Videos)

Killer Mike (born Michael Render) has been making moves in his music career for more than a decade, working alongside the likes of Outkast, Ice Cube, Funkadelic, and of course El-P, with whom he performs as Run the Jewels. The success of RTJ, for many, is what has launched Render... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

Public Enemy’s 13th Album Is Inspired By Kendrick Lamar & Run The Jewels

After 28 years of releasing albums, Public Enemy aims to make a dent in 2015. The Long Island, New York Hip-Hop group's 13th studio album, Man Plans, God Laughs will arrive in less than a month. On June 16 via Facebook, the band announced the news, sharing the artwork. Additionally,... Read more

June 20, 2015 News

In The Wake Of Tragedy, Killer Mike Speaks Out About Gun Control & Domestic Terrorism

Rapper and activist Killer Mike has been in the news a lot recently, most prominently in relation to social and political events. After an appearance last month on HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher," he announced just last week that he was running for Georgia State Representative. Combined with his... Read more

June 20, 2015 News

Killer Mike Speaks About the Rachel Dolezal Fiasco on The Nightly Show (Video)

On the heels of an announcement earlier this week that he was running for George State Representative, and an abrupt end to the campaign, rapper and political activist Michal Render (also known as Killer Mike) made an appearance on last night's The Nightly Show. No stranger to the realm of... Read more

June 16, 2015 Video

Politics As Usual…Red Tape Derails Killer Mike’s Run For Office

Less than one day after announcing he was running for a Georgia State Congress seat, Killer Mike has called off write-in voters on his behalf. The Run The Jewels member took to Instagram (where he announced his brief campaign) to clarify: I can't run 😞 BUT 😀 For the folks... Read more

June 16, 2015 News

Killer Mike Is Running For Georgia State Representative

UPDATE: Politics As Usual…Red Tape Derails Killer Mike’s Run For Office From Uncle Luke to Rhymefest, Hip-Hop stars have attempted career moves into politics. Killer Mike may be the latest, starting right in his Atlanta, Georgia backyard. Today (June 15), the artist also known as Michael Render campaigned via Instagram... Read more

June 15, 2015 News