Killer Mike is a musician with Run the Jewels who made headlines after giving an emotional speech urging Atlanta protesters to refrain from vandalizing the city.<\/b>
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Killer Mike speaks onstage at the Los Angeles REVOLT Summit on Race last October.
Michael Render, also known as \u201cKiller Mike,\u201d is a Grammy award-winning rapper and activist. The Run the Jewels musician made headlines last Friday after giving an emotional speech urging Atlanta protesters to refrain from vandalizing the city.
Render called for peace during Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms\u2019 news conference while residents took to the streets over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died at the hands of a white Minneapolis officer. Scores of anti-police brutality riots erupted nationwide following a harrowing video of former officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd\u2019s neck for over eight minutes. Chauvin has since been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The city\u2019s peaceful demonstrations took a turn for the worst when protesters shattered the windows of CNN\u2019s Headquarters and set a cop car on fire.
Render, the son of an Atlanta cop, empathized with the protesters at first, citing hundreds of years of American policies labeling black people as less than. He then urged them to take their pains and frustrations to the polls.
\u201cIt is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy,\u201d he expressed. \u201cIt is your duty to fortify your own house, so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization.\u201d
You can watch his full speech here:
VideoVideo related to killer mike: 5 fast facts you need to know2020-06-01T19:21:17-04:00
The roughly eight-minute speech went viral on Twitter with more than 130,000 tweets. LeBron James also shared the speech, calling it a \u201cmandatory listen.\u201d
Here\u2019s what you need to know about \u201cKiller Mike\u201d Rendon:
GettyRun the Jewels rappers Killer Mike (left) and EI-P (right) perform onstage at the Staples Center in March 2018.
Render was born on April 20, 1975 in the Adamsville neighborhood of Atlanta. In 1995, he met Antwan Patton, aka Outkast\u2019s Big Boi, while briefly attending Morehouse College.
The aspiring rapper made his first musical debut trading rhymes with Big Boi on \u201cSnappin\u2019 and Trappin\u201d in a guest verse on Outkast\u2019s 2000 quadruple-platinum LP Stankonia. A year later, he landed his first Grammy for his performance on \u201cThe Whole World,\u201d the single from Outkast\u2019s 2001 greatest hits collection. Render saw more success in 2003 with his first debut album as \u201cKiller Mike,\u201d reaching gold status through the Recording Industry Association of America.
It wasn\u2019t until 2013 though, that the rapper connected with his current RTJ counterpart, rapper and producer EI-P. Render and EI-P joined forces to create what is now the popular hip hop subgroup, Run the Jewels.
The rappers recently announced the details of their upcoming Run the Jewels 4 album. The release date is slated for June 5 via Jewel Runners\/BMG. The new album will feature guest appearances from Rage Against the Machine\u2019s Zack de La Rocha, Pharrell,2 Chainz, Queens of the Stone Age\u2019s Josh Homme and Mavis Staples.
GettyMartell HOME LIVE host Killer Mike interviews Deja Vu Ferguson, Javier Ninja and Big Freedia in April 2019 about celebrating audacious ideas and what it means to leave a lasting legacon.
Render\u2019s emotional commentary on hot-button topics is nothing new. Over the years, the rapper has emerged as an outspoken activist on subjects surrounding social equality, police brutality and systemic racism.
Render has also given lectures on race relations at universities across the country, including Northwestern University, New York University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Atlanta native gained national attention on Nov.24,2014 when he addressed the grand jury\u2019s decision on the Michael Brown shooting before a show in St. Louis.
In a similar tone to Friday\u2019s dialogue, Render opened the set with a heartfelt speech that later went viral after a fan uploaded the video online.
VideoVideo related to killer mike: 5 fast facts you need to know2020-06-01T19:21:17-04:00
He offered his thoughts and prayers to the people peacefully protesting, as well as \u201cthe people who could not hold their anger in, because riots are only the language of the unheard.\u201d
GettyKiller Mike introduces Democratic party White House hopeful Bernie Sanders at a rally in South Carolina in February 2020.
In June 2015, Render made his campaign announcement as a write-in candidate through an Instagram post to his more than 110,000 followers, using the slogan \u201cIf I win, We Win.\u201d
In Atlanta Georgia there will be special election tomorrow for District 55. Former state representative Tyrone Brooks no longer sits in the seat. I would like as many people as possible to go to the polls and write in Michael Render. Why because if I win we win. Thank you now go vote ????????
A post shared by Killer Mike (@killermike) on Jun 15,2015 at 1:13pm PDT
Five hours later he posted a follow up video saying he didn\u2019t have the necessary paperwork and couldn\u2019t stand as a write-in. Render said his purpose was to raise awareness of the special election and demonstrate that political outsiders can run against established politicians.
His announcement \u2014 while short-lived \u2014 received some love on both ends, including from fellow Atlanta rap comrade Big Boi, who shared the news on his Facebook page.
GettyKiller Mike performs at the Spotify House at SXSW in 2015.
Render opened a barbershop with his wife Shana in November 2011 called \u201cGraffitis SWAG\u201d (Shave, Wash, And Groom).
A lifelong dream, he intended to use the space to \u201clift up men in the community who are out of work and help move them toward sustainable, lifelong careers,\u201d while giving his employees an \u201copportunity for real economic elevation.\u201d The Atlanta shop\u2019s interior is littered with artwork honoring historic black leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Have u been to @theswagshopedgewood yet? Has @dopeindreamland given u a full #ShaveWashAndGroom service. If not mannnnnnnnnnnn u slipping! Look at the look on @shodesusandmero face! We number one coolest shop in the world cuz of the dope ass clients we serve! See y\u2019all at 365 Edgewood Ave and State Farm Arena! Art by ????: @artrevolts
A post shared by Killer Mike (@killermike) on Feb 1,2020 at 8:30am PST
As of 2012, Graffitis Swag employed six barbers and cultivated a community gathering space. The barber shop not only hosted events, like the season premiere for The Boondocks, but also served as the setting for several music videos.
Killer Mike visits New York City\u2019s Build to Discuss studio to discuss his series \u201cTrigger Warning with Killer Mike\u201d in January 2019.
Render is the host of his own Netflix docu-series, \u201cTrigger Warning with Killer Mike.\u201d The six-episode series launched in January 2019 and has an 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Trigger Warning, pitched as a funny and provocative experience, explores \u201ctaboo\u201d topics surrounding social change, including drugs, gangs, religion and poverty, through amusing yet educational social experiments.
According to a statement from Render, the show is \u201cabout examining cultural taboos and giving viewers the space to examine the \u2018what ifs\u2019 and \u2018why nots \u2019 that limit how some people move and operate in the world. In six episodes, we explore the human condition using nontraditional approaches.\u201d
VideoVideo related to killer mike: 5 fast facts you need to know2020-06-01T19:21:17-04:00
In one episode of Trigger Warning, Render dismantles the myth of \u201cWhite Jesus\u201d by creating a new religion that worships naps and gathers in none other than Atlanta\u2019s raunchiest strip club.
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