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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.”
Pausing footage from the Hulu documentary to show your homeboy what his mama and auntie were doing in Spring 95. #FREAKnikpic.twitter.com/UkKzVkfbyg
— Adrienne | Creative Consultant and Soap Queen (@brownandbella) April 9, 2023
I see Hulu is going to have a documentary about Freaknik. I bet it’s a lot of Shook Ones who are praying they aren’t on film cutting up. Now me, I’m glad I’m not old enough to have been a part of that scene. pic.twitter.com/AbJAjR0UgC
— THEE MsNikki_MindYaBusiness85 (@RhondaNicole25) April 7, 2023
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.
Killer Mike says his Grammy night was supposed to be even more epic than it was. In case you missed it, Mike was arrested after sweeping the rap categories at the 2023 show.
“When I was going through my thing, Jay was hitting me like, ‘Hold on, stick around. I want to toast you,’” Killer Mike said. “And then, he hit me later, saying, ‘I was gonna concede my time to you.’”
You can hear it from Mike below.
Killer Mike recently graced The Late Show With Stephen Colbert with a powerful performance of his track “Exit 9,” accompanied by his backing choir, The Midnight Revival. The rendition culminated in an intimate acapella verse, showcasing the exceptional vocal talents of the ensemble.
This performance follows Mike’s recent appearance on The View, where he delved into his remarkable Grammy sweep. The acclaimed artist swept all three major rap categories at the Grammys, securing wins for Best Rap Album with MICHAEL and Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his track “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS,” featuring Future, André 3000, and Eryn Allen Kane.
The Killer Mike Grammy drama continues. For some background, there’ve been a few outspoken folks with very large platforms who were disappointed to learn that Mike swept the rap category (more or less) at this year’s Grammys, beating out some… shall we say, “more popular” candidates like Drake and Travis Scott.
Their opinions prompted very cranky reactions from their elders (does Joe Budden have any other kind?) but during his media victory tour, Mike seemed undaunted by the less-than-friendly reception to his win from younger rap fans, even joking on the Breakfast Club that he was really familiar with their game, either.
During his appearance on The Breakfast Club, Mike joked that he made a lot of money selling brooms online to celebrate his sweep, crediting their popularity to the kids’ complaints. “Shout out to the streamers and the youth,” he said. “Y’all done taught me a lot. I know my man Kai [Cenat] was upset… Hey, man, I didn’t know who the f*ck you was, neither!”
The jovial Mike then amiably requested an appearance on the 22-year-old’s stream, pointing out that Cenat has had Offset, another Atlanta rapper and a common ally between them, on in the past. “I ain’t hatin’ on none of y’all,” Mike said. “I ain’t on no n****s. I wanna see you win. I wanna see you happy.” He showed appreciation for Travis Scott, but showed the competitive spirit that has driven hip-hop for the past 50 years. “I will rap a motha*fcka under the table.”
You can watch Killer Mike’s full interview up top.
When a microphone gets in front of Killer Mike, the result is either going to be really great (his Grammy Award-winning album >Michael) or make anyone listening want to groan aloud in horror. His latest stint on The Daily Show falls into the latter category — at least, it does for me — and I think we should maybe consider restricting his engagement with live mics to him rapping on them and nothing else.
While Mike reflected on his Grammy wins, host Jordan Klepper asked him a jokey question about another award show fixture, Taylor Swift, wondering if Swift “snubbed Celine [Dion].” The minor controversy found fans nitpicking Swift for not properly acknowledging the Canadian diva, who presented her the award for Album Of The Year (despite her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis). Unfortunately, Mike took it left almost immediately, praising her for winning the award, then jokingly propositioning the “Anti-Hero” singer.
“She won at the Grammys,” he noted. “Her boyfriend won the Chiefs. If she’s into poly, me and my wife need a third. We’re trying to win again.”
Yikes, Mike.
Klepper did his best to mitigate the off-color joke, asking, “You feel like you could pull off polygamy right now?” prompting Mike to reel it in a bit. “I feel I could pull it off,” he said. “Only problem is my wife’s good with a gun. She doesn’t agree. But I’ll keep trying for all the men out there.”
Hey, man. That sounds like a YOU problem. Don’t do anything for all the men. My name’s Bennett and I ain’t in it. I’m sure the Swifties will be nice about this when they find out. It’s not like there isn’t already a wildly problematic history of rappers saying gross things about their leader.
#MICHAEL” The 
(@brownandbella) 