Killer Mike

Happy 49th Birthday To Killer Mike!

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Killer Mike Endorses Colin Kaepernick for Time Magazine's Person Of The Year

On this day in Hip Hop history, Dungeon Family member Killer Mike was born in Atlanta, Georgia. From Grammy’s to politics, Killer Mike may be one of the most slept on figures of this culture we call Hip Hop.

Killer Mike’s Hip Hop career began with a feature on OutKast‘s 2000 album Stankonia, on the track “Snappin & Trappin.” His follow-up feature with OutKast on “The Whole World” won him a Grammy at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. That same year Killer Mike released his debut studio album, Monster, which peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

Over the next few years, Killer Mike released I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 1 & 2 before announcing in 2008 that he was signing to T.I.‘s record label Grand Hustle Records. Not much was heard from Killer Mike musically until he teamed up with El-P in 2011 to become Run the Jewels.

Cartoon Network executive Jason DeMarco introduced killer Mike and El-P. Later that year, El-P produced Killer Mike’s album R.A.P. Music. In the same year, Killer Mike was featured on El-P’s album Cancer 4 Cure. Due to the fact the albums were released within weeks of each other, the two decided to go on tour together. The tour’s success led the two to team up under the moniker Run the Jewels. The duo has since released two self-titled albums and plans to release a third this year. Run the Jewels 2 peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Aside from music, Killer Mike is one politically active and conscious brother. Over his career, he has been passionate about police brutality against people of color and systematic racism and has fought for social equality. He has been heavily campaigning for Bernie Sanders, introducing him at speaking engagements, sitting with him at interviews, and even going to his fundraisers as an honored guest. It is evident in his music and when he speaks in interviews that Killer Mike is passionate about humanity and wants to get us all on track and acting like civil, equal human beings.

Killer Mike has also appeared on T.V. and movies and is currently active as a rapper. His next solo project, Elegant Elephant, has been in the works since 2013, but there’s no word on when it will be released. Killer Mike is an icon, and his image in Hip Hop is one of the more positive ones the genre has to offer. Take some time today to enjoy some of the fruits of his labor if you don’t already listen daily. From everyone here at The Source, happy born day, Killer Mike. May you see many more years of success.

The post Happy 49th Birthday To Killer Mike! first appeared on The Source.

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Rico Wade, Legendary Organized Noize And Dungeon Family Producer, Has Died At 52

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Rico Wade The Art Of Organized Noize Screening 2016
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Atlanta, Georgia, has been the dominating hub of rap music for well over a decade now, but the region’s run began long before that. Rico Wade laid the groundwork for the South as part of the pioneering production team Organized Noize and Dungeon Family collective.

Sadly, the mastermind behind the sounds of OutKast, Goodie Mob, and Killer Mike, to name a few, has died at the age of 52. Today (April 13), a representative of the late musician reached out to AllHipHop to confirm the tragic news.

Several media titans and entertainers have taken to their official social media pages to share a touching message in Wade’s honor. One of the most moving came from Killer Mike.

“I don’t have the words to express my deep and profound sense of loss,” he wrote on Instagram. I am praying for your wife, children, the Wade family, and us all. I deeply appreciate your acceptance into the Dungeon family, mentorship, friendship, and brotherhood. I don’t know where I would be without y’all.”

Others who have shared their condolences online include Phonte, Juicy J, Ebro Darden, Arrested Development’s Speech, and Alchemist. View their statements below.

Details surrounding Rico Wade’s death have not yet been revealed.

Killer Mike Tour 2024: Dates, Tickets & More

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Fresh off his triumphant GRAMMY sweep for his critically acclaimed album MICHAEL, Killer Mike is gearing up to set stages ablaze with his electrifying North American tour, Down By Law – Summer 2024. Backed by his soul-stirring choir, The Midnight Revival, the tour promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans across the continent. Let’s delve into the tour dates, ticket information, and what to expect from this highly anticipated musical journey.

Read More: Killer Mike’s Deluxe Version Of “MICHAEL” Adds JID, T.I., Jacquees, And Young Nudy

The Buzz Around Killer Mike

Following the announcement of his North American tour, Killer Mike dropped a celebratory new video for the album’s anthemic track, “EXIT 9” (feat. Blxst). The video, depicting scenes of camaraderie and triumph in Atlanta, captures the essence of Killer Mike’s cultural significance. With nods to ATL landmarks and an emotionally charged GRAMMY speech, the video sets the stage for the upcoming tour.

North American Tour Highlights

Killer Mike’s North American tour is packed with highlights that promise unforgettable experiences for fans across the continent. From kicking off the tour with a bang at Memphis’s Riverbeats Fest to gracing the prestigious Kennedy Center stage in Washington, DC, Killer Mike brings his dynamic performance and infectious energy to major cities throughout the tour. Notable stops include a series of shows at New York City’s iconic Blue Note, an electrifying appearance at Chicago’s legendary Lollapalooza festival, and a captivating finale at Los Angeles’s The Novo. Killer Mike showcases his unparalleled musical prowess through each performance. His upcoming tour is no exception.

Read More: Killer Mike Recalls JAY-Z’s Reaction To “Michael”

Tickets & More Information

Tickets for Killer Mike’s Down By Law – Summer 2024 Tour are in high demand, and fans are advised to secure their spots early. With his recent GRAMMY wins and a reputation for delivering electrifying live performances, tickets are expected to sell out fast. Tickets are currently on sale. For more information on tour dates, ticket availability, and exclusive updates, visit Killer Mike’s official website and follow him on social media.

Down By Law – Summer 2024 Tour Dates

Memphis, TN – May 4 – Riverbeats Fest
Washington, DC – May 21 – Kennedy Center
Atlanta, GA – June 22 – Hot 107.9 Bday Bash
Vancouver, BC – June 29 – Vancouver Jazz Fest
Montreal, QC – July 3 – Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Quebec City, QC – July 5 – Festival D’Ete
Ottawa, ON – July 6 – Ottawa Blues Fest
Toronto, ON – July 7 – Danforth Music Hall
Winnipeg, MB – July 12 – Winnipeg Folk Fest
Nelsonville, OH – July 26-28 – Nelsonville Music Fest
Newport, RI – July 27 – Newport Folk Fest
New York, NY – July 29, July 30, July 31 – Blue Note
Detroit, MI – August 2 – The Majestic Theatre
Chicago, IL – August 3 – Lollapalooza
Minneapolis, MN – August 5 – First Avenue
Denver, CO – August 7 – Ogden Theater
Salt Lake City, UT – August 8 – Ogden Amphitheatre
Seattle, WA – August 10 – Thing Festival
St. Louis, MO – September 29 – Evolution Fest
Los Angeles, CA – October 15 – The Novo

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Killer Mike Announces “Down By Law” Tour, Reveals “Exit 9” Video

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Fresh off his Grammy sweep for his assured masterpiece MICHAEL, Killer Mike has announced the much anticipated North American leg of his Down By Law – Summer 2024 Tour, backed by his choir The Midnight Revival. Coinciding with the announcement, he has unveiled a celebratory new video for the album’s unabashed Atlanta anthem “EXIT 9 (feat. Blxst)” that depicts Blxst and himself breaking bread with the mayor and making the rounds to notable ATL landmarks from the Cascade roller rink to the infamous Blue Flame strip club in South Atlanta.

The video concludes with audio from Mike’s Grammy acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, where he emotionally declared “You cannot tell me that you get too old, you can’t tell me it’s too late, you can’t tell me that dreams don’t come true!” Killer Mike celebrated the launch of the “EXIT 9” video with its broadcast premiere across the BET/MTV networks (BET Jams, BET Hip Hop, MTV Live, MTVU, Yo! MTV) and gracing their Paramount Times Square billboard.

The tour marks Mike’s first major US run since last Summer’s High & Holy tour and his recent Grammy sweep, in which he won awards in all three major rap categories: Best Rap Album for MICHAEL, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS (ft. Future, André 3000, and Eryn Allen Kane).

The post Killer Mike Announces “Down By Law” Tour, Reveals “Exit 9” Video first appeared on The Source.

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Benny The Butcher Lists Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, And More As His Dream Collaborators

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Benny The Butcher isn’t shy about bringing up other rappers that he admires. It was just last month that he labeled J. Cole as the “best rapper alive.” The pair have crossed paths before teaming up for the hit “Johnny P’s Caddy” back in 2021. Benny also recently scored a big time collaboration with Lil Wayne. The two worked together on “Big Dog” from Benny’s newest album Everybody Can’t Go. Despite all the impressive collaborations he’s already pulled off, he has even more artists he’d love to work with.

Benny used a recent interview with Amazon Music as an opportunity to elaborate on his roster of dream collaborators. It started with his admiration for Tyler, The Creator. “He do what he want to do because he realize it’s him it’s nothing else,” Benny explained. But when pressed on other artists he wants to work with he had even more to say. “Man, definitely guys who I’ve been naming like Wayne, Kendrick … Killer Mike. He’s been going crazy lately. 38 Spesh — me and him about to do a project. He’s crazy. Just the guys who going to keep me sharp,” Benny responded. Check out the full interview with Benny The Butcher below.

Read More: Benny The Butcher Addresses Controversial DMX Comments

Benny The Butcher Wants To Work With Tyler, Kendrick, And Killer Mike

Earlier this year, Benny released his new album Everybody Can’t Go. The project was originally announced last year and set for release in August but it faced numerous delays. In addition to “Big Dog” with Lil Wayne songs like “BRON” and “One Foot In” with Stove God Cooks have received praise from fans.

Last month, Benny claimed that he turned down a potential meeting with Donald Trump. His comments on the former president sparked controversy last year among rap fans. He responded by claiming that he would be keeping politics to himself going forward. What do you think of Benny The Butcher’s list of potential collaborators? Who on the list do you most want to see him make a track with soon? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: What Is Benny The Butcher’s Best-Selling Album?

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Killer Mike Supports Vince Staples In His Pursuit To Bring Back His Netflix Series For Second Season

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Killer Mike and Vince Staples have had a lot of reasons to celebrate over the past couple of months. Both acclaimed rappers have been racking up praise from critics in the entertainment and the music industry, respectively. Of course, Mike was awarded several GRAMMYs for his second solo record MICHAEL. He wound up taking Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance. For Staples, television buffs have been raving about The Vince Staples Show, his Netflix limited series. Killer Mike has been a big supporter of it since it dropped, and he is backing it further.

According to HipHopDX, he the Atlanta native is demanding that the streaming giant renew it for another season. He shared an Instagram post of him and Vince Staples dressed dapperly with a passionate caption. “@netflix we need season 2 of The @VinceStaples show and Trigger Warning with Killer Mike! ☦ #MICHAEL” The Run The Jewels affiliate is referring to a similar short series he dropped in 2019.

Read More: Quavo Gives Kirk Cousins New Nickname After Atlanta Falcons Signing

Killer Mike Is All For Season 2 Of Vince Staples Hit Show

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Killer Mike (@killermike)

As we mentioned, the show has captured the attention of Mike from the start. When Vince tweeted and asked, “Who’s watching?” his fellow rap mate replied with glee “Me!” Furthermore, KM called the creative a “genius” and its clear their friendship is strong. Hopefully we do get that next season, with Rotten Tomatoes rating it 94% fresh.

What are your thoughts on Killer Mike backing Vince Staples in trying to get a second season for The Vince Staples Show? Did you get a chance to watch the Netflix series? If so, what did you think if of it? What was your favorite episode and why? Who had the best performance in the series? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Vince Staples and Killer Mike. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music and TV.

Read More: Rick Ross Hilariously Responds To Someone Claiming His Watch Is Fake

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Best Rapper Cameos On FX’s “Dave”

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Lil Dicky’s hit television series Dave has been airing since 2020 and has brought with it a host of exceptional cameo appearances. The series has seen Don Cheadle, Kourtney Kardashian, Marshmello, and even Brad Pitt appear as fictionalized versions of themselves, often for comedic effect. Of course, the series centers on Dave’s rise through the ranks of hip hop, offering an opportunity for many of rap’s finest contemporaries to make their mark. Throughout Dave‘s three seasons, dozens of rappers have popped up to interact with a fledgling Lil Dicky, as he progresses through such gauntlets as the Met Gala, the XXL Freshman cover, and a cross-country tour. Here are seven of the best rapper cameos in the series.

7. Trippie Redd

Unlike most of the other cameos in the show, Trippie Redd appears across several episodes of Dave and even takes Dave’s in-house producer and longtime friend, Elz, under his wing. As an established name in hip hop, Trippie Redd represents what Dave and his cohorts are trying to achieve while also serving as an intimidating figure the main cast is desperate to impress. In fact, Trippie is responsible for kicking off the plot of the Season 1 episode “What Wood You Wear,” after tasking Dave and Elz with babysitting his young and reckless nephew.

6. Rick Ross

If Trippie Redd represents a daunting force to Dave, Rick Ross is an untouchable leviathan in the series, a proverbial god amongst men. Ross appears in a brief but memorable role in the show’s third season, which sees him bestowing his massive and expensive diamond-studded chain upon Dave for safekeeping. Unfortunately, Dave is set up by a couple of thugs in Atlanta and must go through the wringer to ensure he doesn’t disrespect Rick Ross’s generosity by losing the chain. Eventually, Dave’s relationship with the Maybach Music pioneer paves the way for his success within the industry.

5. Doja Cat

Doja Cat never actually shared the screen with any of Dave‘s main cast members during her Season 2 appearance. However, her cameo says a lot about societal expectations of women and the mistreatment of artists within the music industry machine. In the episode “Somebody Date Me,” Doja Cat matches with Dave over the celebrity dating app Raya, and the two share a genuine connection over a weekend of texts. Unfortunately, Dave’s self-centered neuropathy results in him blowing his chances with the “Paint The Town Red” vocalist, as Doja’s constant work obligations prevent her from devoting 100 percent of her time to him.

4. Drake

The hype surrounding Drake’s appearance marked one of the biggest moments in the entire show, concluding the third season with a stunning and hilarious interaction. Drake and Dicky showcase a surprising amount of chemistry during the “One Dance” rapper’s brief appearance on Dave and serves as a punchline to a season-long arc about Dave’s ongoing quest for love. The only reason this cameo doesn’t top the list is because there is a bit of shaky green screen happening in the interaction, which suggests the cameo may have been filmed remotely. While Drake’s first stab at the show was a huge success, fans would surely welcome a chance to see the two rappers reunite in person with a proper cameo next season.

3. Killer Mike

Killer Mike appears in the same season 3 episode of Dave as Rick Ross and offers a similar awe-inspiring window into success. After spending the entire episode concerned that Killer Mike would not approve of his place in the rap landscape, Lil Dicky happens into a chance encounter with the Atlanta native and pours his heart out in the interest of securing his place in the culture. Killer Mike offers some genuine insight into black culture and the influence that certain elements of the Black experience have on hip hop and successfully convinces the ever-frugal Dave to make a sizable donation to a charitable organization.

2. Jack Harlow

Between the brown curly hair, the beard, and the complexion so white you could probably deep-fry him with a flashlight, Jack Harlow serves as something of an evil twin to Lil Dicky during his Season 3 appearance. Throughout the season, Dave finds himself burdened by unflattering comparisons to Jack Harlow, setting the stage for comedic exploration when they eventually meet up. Unlike many other rappers who appear too big to be aware of Dicky in the series, Harlow is all too familiar with his pale counterpart and was just itching for an excuse to drive Dave out of the Met Gala. The interaction is reminiscent of high school bullying in the silliest way possible.

1. YG

Legendary West Coast rapper YG appears in the very first episode of the hit FX series and offers Dave his first real shot at impressing the masses. For many fans who were not aware of Dicky’s music before watching the show, his on-the-spot freestyle, which he drops for YG and company, provides fans and critics alike to see that he truly has a mastery of bars. Over the course of just a few minutes, YG goes from dismissive of Dave to playfully ribbing him to being downright wowed by his lyrical and technical capability. In the end, YG agrees to do a song with Dave and collects a hefty sum for his collaboration. Of course, the episode ends without YG holding up his end of the bargain, leaving Dave to wonder if he’s just made a sizable investment or been scammed.

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Killer Mike Reveals Part One Of His ‘Down By Law Tour’ Dates Across The UK And Europe

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Killer Mike 2024 Gasparilla Music Festival
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Killer Mike’s mission to snag a date with Taylor Swift has apparently been shelved. Yesterday (March 4), the “Motherless” rapper took to Instagram to announce his latest priority—a summer tour.

Beginning in August, the Grammy Award winner will travel across Europe for part one of his headlining Down By Law Tour. So far, Mike has revealed 7 of the 12 dates, including stops in Dublin, London, and Paris. The remaining five dates are slated to be shared further down the line.

As of today (March 5), he hasn’t unveiled the tour’s official supporting acts. However, the poster shows that each stop will feature his longtime choir, Mighty Midnight Revival is expected to take the stage with Mike.

Killer Mike’s Down By Law Tour ticket sale is set to kick off on Friday, March 8, at 9 a.m. GMT (4 a.m. EST). The pre-sale for each O2 location will launch on Wednesday, March 6, at 10 a.m. GMT (5 a.m. EST). Find more information here. Continue below for the entire tour schedule and official tour poster.

Killer Mike 2024 Tour Dates: Down By Law Tour

08/19 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
08/22 – Dublin, IE @ National Stadium
08/23 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
08/26 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
08/27 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
08/29 – Paris, FR @ Bataclan
08/30 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria

Killer Mike’s Down By Law Tour poster

21 Savage, Killer Mike, And Lil Jon Get Nostalgic In Hulu’s ‘Freaknik’ Documentary Trailer

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Hulu’s Freaknik documentary Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told is just weeks from release after a year of development and today, Hulu shared the official trailer. The film will feature interviews from Atlanta luminaries like Killer Mike, Lil Jon, and more, with commentary from 21 Savage, historian Marc Lamont Hill, and Freaknik founder Amadi Boon, among others. They’ll reminisce on the wild, days-long street party that took over A-Town in the ’90s and brought attention from stars like Outkast and Tupac — and the Atlanta police when things began to get out of hand.

Freaknik has become the subject of much nostalgia in recent years, as Adult Swim created an animated feature about the Ghost Of Freaknik Past (as portrayed by T-Pain) called Freaknik: The Musical and rappers like Quavo and 21 Savage paid homage to the wild party in music videos for “Strub Tha Ground” and “Peaches & Eggplants.” A revival was attempted in 2021, but to paraphrase what a commentator says in the trailer above, it just wasn’t the same.

When the documentary was first announced, users on Twitter joked that some of the more respectable Gen-Xers might find their younger transgressions being “exposed.”

Those Freaknik aunties will only need to spend three more weeks in suspense; Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told comes to Hulu on 3/21.