It’s been a long time since André 3000 and Big Boi operated together as Outkast, and appearances from the more elusive half of that duo have gotten fewer and further between since then. However, we recently got a new André 3000 verse on Killer Mike’s new album Michael on the song “Scientists & Engineers,” and if Mike’s to be believed, there’s much more coming in the near future. Mike recently told Sway In The Morning that Three Stacks had played him “nine” songs for him and that he’s flying out in a few weeks to listen to it. You can check a clip below, courtesy of HipHop-N-More:
Mike had previously revealed that “Scientists & Engineers” was almost shelved at André’s request until he heard the completed version with Eryn Allen Kane singing the chorus. After the song was initially recorded, Mike said, André wanted to nix the collab: “He called me, he’s like, ‘Kill, I don’t know about the song, man. We just got a good rap record, man.’ And then Cuz [Lightyear] was like, ‘You sent him the final record?’ I’m like, ‘Nah.’ I sent it over with Eryn’s hook and stuff. He hit back with, ‘Yeah, yeah, you got the record. Who is that?!’ So thank you, Eryn, I really appreciate you for that.”
However, they also recorded another song with a seven-minute André verse, as Mike told The Breakfast Club, so here’s hoping we get that one — along with the rest of André’s album, sooner rather than later.
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For two-plus decades, Killer Mike has existed at the periphery of the mainstream’s perception of Atlanta rap, despite being widely acknowledged by fans within the culture as one of the scene’s most talented members. There was Mike’s association with Outkast, the forebears of Atlanta’s rise to national prominence, and his tag-team duo, Run The Jewels with El-P, opening a whole new market of festival appearances and hipster blogger love.
He was even given one of rap’s ultimate blessings; on Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 To Pimp A Butterfly standout “Hood Politics,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning Comptonite throws Mike a lyrical shout-out while denouncing the hypocritical elitism within the hip-hop community. “Critics want to mention that they miss when hip-hop was rappin’,” he rails. “Motherfucker, if you did, then Killer Mike’d be platinum.”
To hear Mike himself tell it, though, there’s another reason behind the lack of hardware denoting his sales achievements. “My first record deal damaged me,” he told Spin in an interview this year promoting Michael, his first solo album in over a decade. “It made me afraid, it pulled me back. I hadn’t done terribly on the major. I just, you know, I came out the same year as 50 [Cent] selling 10 million f*cking records. I sold, you know, 500,000.”
While going gold with your debut album (2003’s Monster, which features the millennial-era sex-rap favorite “A.D.I.D.A.S.”) is no small accomplishment, Mike became convinced he belonged on the underground circuit, where his rap prowess could lead to all the critical acclaim that pursuing greater sales goals might cost him. So, he became a bit trapped between the two worlds; a charismatic would-be star content to grind it out below the radar where his talents might be better appreciated.
In all of this, he admits, it seems he never quite got around to introducing the audience to Michael Render, the man behind the Killer Mike persona — and maybe that’s why he never connected with audiences the same way that Kendrick Lamar would, despite sharing his fiery resolve and unapologetic outlook toward presenting his unvarnished view of the world around him. And so, Michael, released Friday via Via Loma after Mike spent half-a-million dollars of his own money recording and producing it, attempts to do that, explaining how and why Killer Mike came to be, and what he’s truly capable of when not relegated to a sidekick or partner role.
First of all, Mike’s Dungeon Family DNA runs throughout the project; it opens with an appearance from CeeLo Green in “Down By Law” and flourishes on “Scientists & Engineers” with features from the elusive André 3000 and fellow wayward Dungeon cousin Future. The album also embraces Mike’s more recent forays into the chaotic doom funk of his longtime production partner El-P on “Two Days.” But the prevailing musical thread that ties Michael together is the gospel of his youth.
Beginning with the ferocious “Shed Tears” and continuing through the defiant “Run,” picking up in the maudlin “Motherless” and piercing through the production of the album in its haunting use of organs and clips of passionate sermons from Malcolm X, the influence of the South’s church-steeped culture undergirds Mike’s tearful reflections and assertive remonstrations as he recounts his evolution from nihilistic drug dealer to community leader and unofficial poet laureate of Atlanta.
There are slip-ups, of course. A questionable reference to Brokeback Mountain on “Talk’n That Sh*t” undermines Mike’s coalition rhetoric (hard to form a coalition if you’re still so committed to dehumanizing at least 10 percent of any group of people working toward a supposedly common goal; as a resident of the city with one of the largest LGBTQ populations in the nation, Mike should know better), and occasionally, his real-life actions, however well-intentioned, come off as contradictory of the revolutionary bars he rattles off on nearly every song.
But if you’re going to paint a picture of a person, their flaws are necessarily going to be part and parcel of the completed image. That Mike refuses to shy away from even the most unflattering self-portrayals are a huge reason why he’s got so much support from the artistic community and from critics. He’s showing us just who Michael Render is, even if that’s just something we’ve all always known.
The last decade has been busy for Killer Mike. From headlining festivals to campaigning for political and social change, the Atlanta rapper is a tireless man of industry. Of course, not every moment of this period has been sunny. In 2017 Killer Mike lost his mother, Denise, who was a huge influence on him in every aspect of his life. On his sixth studio album, Michael, Killer Mike reflects on the highs and lows of his life in what is his most personal album to date.
It’s been eleven years since Killer Mike has graced listeners with a solo project. Musically speaking, the last decade for Mike has been heavily focused on Run the Jewels with rapper/producer El-P. While some of the tracks feature the fierce lyrical cadence Killer Mike wields in RTJ, the majority of Michael is a sonic departure. Michael plays like a personal journal. It’s a mishmash of self-reflection, trash-talking, and social commentary.
With its raw lyrical content and gospel production, Michael is something of a hood sermon that exemplifies Killer Mike’s best musical instincts. However, it also features some of his less-than-stellar tendencies. At times, Michael feels unfocused. Some of the tracks tend to wander away on idiosyncratic sonic detours that might leave some listeners feeling stranded. While these moments are few and far between, they are speedbumps for what is overall a smooth and satisfying ride.
In the opening track, “Down by Law” Killer Mike drops his thesis for the entire album. The track reflects on the current state of being a Black man in the United States. It’s a sobering look at how minuscule change only shifts social perspective, but never addresses systemic issues. Mike has never been one to mince words or stand on ceremony. He’s a raw nerve that scraps any notion of rap ephemera. There are songs on this album that will certainly endure.
The lyrics Mike spits hold a universal truth. They come from personal experience and never shy away from the dark subject matter. This might be the most prevalent on the track “Something For Junkies.” The song humanizes those who struggle with substance abuse disorder while warning the hazards of habitual drug use. Mike’s pragmatic view on the subject comes from his own history with family members falling down the holes of addiction.
The following track, “Motherless” delves into Mike’s loss of maternal figures in his life. The song is the second blow of a one-two emotional punch in the back half of Michael. Lyrically speaking, “Something for Junkies” and “Motherless” are the strongest tracks on the album.
Legendary producer No I.D. handles the lion’s share of crafting the sonic landscape on Michael. Each track is gorgeously crafted in layers of gospel, soul, funk, and classic speaker-busting hip-hop. Tracks like “Two Days” play like musical gumbo, shifting sonically mid-track from a guitar-driven, high hat-riding beat to a full-blown gospel symphony. While some of these sudden shifts might be jarring to some listeners, they mostly provide a sonic variety that flows naturally throughout Michael’s 14 tracks.
In fact, most of the speedbumps Michael are its in-track interstitials. Some songs, even great ones, contain opening monologues or closing sonic explorations that don’t always make for a cohesive listening experience. At best, they act as unique transitions. At worst, they offer sonic dissonance that will have some hitting the “next song” button.
Regardless of some of its themes of isolation and loneliness, Killer Mike is anything but on Michael. He has a cavalcade of high-profile guests populating the tracks, including Future, Young Thug, and CeeLo Green. Some of the more notable guest spots come from longtime collaborators.
The track “Scientists & Engineers” features a rare appearance from the elusive rapper/multi-instrumentalist Outkast member, Andre 3000. Over twenty years ago, Killer Mike made his debut on Outkast’s Stankonia. Now, Andre showing up on Michael feels like a homecoming of sorts, a celebration of two kids from Atlanta continuously making great music. The other half Run the Jewels, El-P also makes an appearance on the track “Don’t Let the Devil.” With its soulful hook and boom-bap beat, it’s something of a departure from RTJ’s output, but it feels right at home on Michael.
Overall, Michael is a standout release in Killer Mike’s already impressive oeuvre. While the album can sometimes feel a bit bloated, its high points overshadow its gluttonous tendencies. Michael is an album about growth and living a storied life. Its lyrics are raw, honest, and often beautiful. Killer Mike continues to be a force of change and enlightenment in hip-hop, and Michael is a soulful example as to why that is.
Killer Mike and Andre 3000 have been collaborators and friends for decades. As members of Atlanta’s Dungeon Family musical collective, the two have maintained a musical chemistry that’s hard to come by.
On Michael — Killer Mike’s sixth studio album and his first solo album in 11 years — Andre is featured on a track called “Scientists & Engineers,” which has quickly proven to be a fan favorite. But according to radio personality Charlamagne Tha God, Mike and Andre have several other collaborations in the vault.
Earlier this week, Mike stopped by The Breakfast Club for an interview with Charlamagne, where the host recalled hearing a really special track of theirs at some point in the past, that has since remained unreleased.
“I’m not even joking, this is one of the greatest Hip Hop records, just musical records I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Charlamagne. “It’s phenomenal. I can’t even describe what y’all are doing on this record.”
Mike replied, noting that the pair has an even longer collaboration in the vault — on which, Mike raps for five minutes and Andre raps for seven.
“When you handsome and all the girls like you, you get to rap longer,” explained Mike.
According to Mike, the collaboration may see the light of day as earlier as next year, provided that Michael reaches No. 1.
You can check out the full interview above.
Michael is out now via Loma Vista. Find more information here.
Killer Mike has been a prominent figure in the hip-hop industry for over two decades. However, he almost chose a very different path. Recently, Mike opened up about a significant turning point in his career. In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, he revealed that he had once considered a different career. During his fourth-grade year, his teacher suggested that he should become a pilot instead of a rapper. She believed Mike was too intelligent for the music industry. Intrigued by the idea, Killer Mike enrolled in flight school. He did so alongside Slim from the R&B group 112. However, their venture into aviation did not materialize as expected, and Killer Mike eventually returned to his true passion for rap.
Despite facing obstacles and self-doubt along the way, Killer Mike persevered in his rap career. He recently reflected on the impact of his first record deal with Columbia Records. His debut album, Monster, sold over 500,000 copies in the United States. However, it received a lukewarm reception compared to the tremendous success of his contemporaries. 50 Cent, for example, sold almost 10 million copies of his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Killer Mike admitted that the experience left him feeling damaged and apprehensive. However, it also led him to realize that he felt more comfortable and authentic operating within independent circles.
Killer Mike Releases “MICHAEL”
Killer Mike of Run The Jewels performs on the Main Stage East on Day 1 of Leeds Festival on August 26, 2022 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Matthew Baker/Getty Images)
Killer Mike’s resilience and determination to pursue his passion for rap despite setbacks are evident in his new album, MICHAEL. The project was released today. It features the highly acclaimed single “Scientists & Engineers.” That single includes a captivating verse from the André 3000, alongside contributions from Future and Eryn Allen Kane. Through his music, Killer Mike continues to showcase his artistic growth and unwavering commitment to his craft. It also shows that an artist can be on top of their game even as many years into their career as Mike is.
Killer Mike’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists. Despite the initial detour into flight school and the challenges he faced early in his career, he stayed true to himself. By sharing his experiences, he encourages others not to let setbacks define them and to remain dedicated. Mike’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of staying true to one’s passions in the face of adversity. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Killer Mike is a respected member of the music duo Run The Jewels. However, he has recently been focused on his solo career. His highly anticipated solo album, titled MICHAEL, has finally been released. At the start of the project, Killer Mike’s collaborator Cuz Lightyear took on the official role of A&R. For his role, he received a salary, which is a common practice in the music industry. However, what sets this situation apart is that Mike personally funded Cuz Lightyear’s salary out of his own pocket.
As the project progressed, Killer Mike brought No ID on board to elevate the project from a mixtape to a full-fledged album. By this point, Mike had already invested more than $250,000 of his own money. As the album continued to develop, the total cost escalated to over $500,000. Typically, such a substantial financial commitment would pose challenges with a record label. However, at that time, Killer Mike was not signed to any label. Eventually, Mike secured a deal with Loma Vista Records. Fortunately, the advance payment from this deal reimbursed Mike for the money he had personally invested in making the album, alleviating the financial burden he had carried.
Killer Mike Stays “High And Holy”
On the latest single from MICHAEL, Killer Mike enlisted the talents of Atlanta legends. “Scientists & Engineers” features contributions fromAndre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane. This track served as the fifth single off of Mike’s new album. Like the previous singles, it continued the theme of gospel-inspired hip-hop. That sound is prevalent throughout the entire album. However, that’s exactly what makes it feel so powerful. There is so much soul and heart in every track.
It is next to impossible to pick standout tracks from the album. It is no exaggeration to say there are no skippable tracks. However, some of the tracks, like “High & Holy,” have some standout lyrics. “Men have died for dollars / Men have killed for pennies,” Mike raps on the track. “But too few have made a difference so they life is finished.” What do you think of MICHAEL? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Killer Mike leads a Dungeon Family reunion on his new single “Scientists & Engineers” which reunites Mike with OutKast’s Andre 3000 and DF affiliate Future. Over a gospel and funk-inflected instrumental straight from the late-90s Atlanta breakout, Mike, André, and Future deliver some of their hardest verses in a long time, while Eryn Allen Kane sings the soul-stirring chorus. “Scientists & Engineers” is due to appear on Mike’s upcoming album Michael, his first solo project in over a decade.
The song almost didn’t make the album, though. As Mike recounted during the annual Black Music Moguls Brunch in Atlanta, André initially wanted to nix the collaboration, right up until Mike sent him the completed version with Kane’s chorus. That was when he fully bought in, saving the track from the proverbial cutting room floor.
Mike also revealed in another interview that he’d spent $500,000 recording Michael, only managing to recoup the costs with an advance from Loma Vista Records. The reason the album is so important to him is that it’s his first time telling his full story, as he told Vulture’s Craig Jenkins. “There was never a moment where people got a chance to see the whole of Michael. They saw bits and pieces in the music… I wanted people to know that the character in Run the Jewels is a whole human being and a man who feels like there’s something that needs to be said.”
Listen to “Scientists & Engineers” above. Michael is due June 16 via VLNS/Loma Vista.
