Dave Chapelle

Killer Mike Has A New Record, ‘Michael,’ Arriving With Features From Lil Wayne, Dave Chappelle, And More

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Killer Mike
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Killer Mike had a big 2020 with the release of the new Run The Jewels album RTJ4. Now, it looks like he’s stepping out on his own for a new solo record titled Michael.

“Yesterday I got the chance to sit and listen to @killermike new solo project ‘Michael,’” DJ Kenny Perez, a Milwaukee radio host, wrote in an Instagram post on March 16, during SXSW. “Without a doubt, RUN and embrace it when it drops. The project is a journey through his life, and he doesn’t hold back. Collabs with Andre 3000, Lil Wayne, Dave Chappelle, and more.”

Meanwhile, Killer Mike unveiled the song “Talk’n That Sh!t” in October of last year. “The song is self-explanatory,” he said in a statement. “With the video, I wanted to show the freedom and beauty in being able to turn up in spite of all the f*ck-sh*t. That upsets the bourgeoisie even more — in spite of all your criticisms, we’re gonna live free and stay lit.”

He also revealed nearly a year ago that a new Run The Jewels album was in the works. “I say this with a smile, and a wink — me and El-P were in the studio together,” he said. “We may have messed around and started Run the Jewels 5. So we’ll see what happens.”

Killer Mike Recruits Young Thug And Dave Chapelle For ‘Run,’ His First Solo Track In A Decade

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Much of Killer Mike’s solo work has come outside of music over the last decade. He’s fought for better marijuana laws, protested for racial and social justice, released a documentary, and much more. In the music world, much of his work there has come alongside El-P through their Run The Jewels duo. Running strong since 2013, the duo has delivered four installments in their Run The Jewels series with the most recent effort coming in 2020. After going more than a decade without releasing a solo track, Killer Mike is back in action on the solo route and he brought a couple of friends along for the ride.

Marking his first solo release since his 2013 fifth album R.A.P. Music, Killer Mike calls on Young Thug and Dave Chappelle for “Run.” The track was intentionally released on today’s Independence Day holiday and he explained why during an interview with Apple Music. “I’m truly a patriot,” he said. “How could I as a Black American not be a Patriot?” Killer Mike’s new song, which features a sharp verse from Young Thug and stern commentary from Chappelle, arrives with a matching visual that follows a Black man on the battlefield in the middle of a war. It appears that he’s running away from something, but we soon see that the man is running towards the battle. He explained this aspect of the video during the Apple Music interview as well.

“He’s running toward destiny,” he said. “He’s running toward defeating evil, and he is empowered by his ancestors… Fannie Lou Hamer, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisholm.” He added, “All these people, and their work and the energy they left as inspirations, that have bettered this country, not just bettered my community for black people.”

You can listen to “Run” in the video above.

Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jay-Z Called Dave Chappelle ‘Brave’ And ‘Genius’ During A Discussion About ‘The Closer’

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Last month, Dave Chappelle stirred up some controversy with his Netflix special The Closer. Comments he made about the transgender community led to outrage, including from the streamer’s employees. Chappelle did get some support from the likes of 50 Cent and Caitlyn Jenner. 50 agreed with Chappelle about DaBaby’s homophobic comments, which Chappelle semi-defended, while Caitlyn Jenner said Chappelle’s words were “100% right.” Jay-Z also showed Chappelle some love during a recent conversation about the special on Twitter Spaces.

Jay spoke said “true art has to cause conversation.” He admitted that The Closer made him uncomfortable at multiple points but said, “Sometimes it’s going to be abrasive, sometimes it’s going to be off-putting to folks. But it opens up an opportunity to have a dialogue.” Jay later called Chappelle “super brave and super genius. If you spend time with him, he’s brilliant,” adding, “I think he pushed a lot of buttons.”

He continued. “These algorithms allow you to talk to people who agree with you,” he said, adding, “We have to speak to one another when we disagree… Anything that doesn’t have that tension, it’s not going to be real. We had fake conversations all this time before Trump was in office, then we got to see people for who they really were. And then we got to have real conversations.”

Jay also said, “I think great art is divisive. Some people like it, some people hate it. When you’re making great art, you have to be fearless and create something that you believe in. That’s what it’s about.”

Jay’s comments come after Chappelle, along with Barack Obama, inducted him into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

Karen Civil Says Dave Chapelle’s New Documentary To Have Appearances Including Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dog, And More!

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Dave Chappelle

Public relations powerhouse Karen Civil took to Twitter to announce the special guests on Dave Chapelle’s upcoming documentary. The comedian is currently trending for his latest Netflix special that some deem transphobic. Dave Chapelle Making Big Film Moves Karen Civil wrote on Twitter saying, “Dave Chapelle gave us an early preview of his new documentary […]