Killer Mike facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Killer Mike
Killer Mike in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Michael Santiago Render
Also known as	Mike Bigga Jerome Jewel
Born	(1975-04-20) April 20, 1975 (age 50) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip-hop, gospel
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter activist
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Loma Vista Mass Appeal Grind Time Fontana SMC Grand Hustle Atlantic Williams Street Fool's Gold Purple Ribbon Columbia

Michael Santiago Render (born April 20, 1975), known professionally as Killer Mike, is an American rapper, singer, and activist. He first appeared on Outkast's album Stankonia in 2000. He also featured on their Grammy Award-winning song "The Whole World" in 2001.

He signed with Big Boi's Purple Ribbon Records and Columbia Records to release his first album, Monster, in 2003. This album was highly praised and reached number ten on the Billboard 200 chart. After leaving the label, he released two more albums: I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind (2006) and I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II (2008).

Later, he signed with T.I.'s Grand Hustle for his fourth album, Pledge (2011). He then joined Williams Street for his fifth album, R.A.P. Music (2012). His sixth album, Michael (2023), also received great reviews and won three awards at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.

After R.A.P. Music, which was produced by rapper El-P, he and Michael Render formed the duo Run the Jewels in 2013. They signed with Fool's Gold Records and released their first album in June of that year. It was very popular with critics. Their next three albums—Run the Jewels 2 (2014), Run the Jewels 3 (2016), and RTJ4 (2020)—also received strong praise. The last one reached the same chart position as his first solo album on the Billboard 200. The duo also appeared with Big Boi on Danger Mouse's 2017 song "Chase Me", which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Outside of music, Michael Render is known as a social and political activist. He focuses on topics like social inequality and fairness in society. He talks about these issues in his music and has given talks at colleges. He has also written for publications like Billboard. He was a strong supporter of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Render has appeared in movies such as Idlewild, Baby Driver, and ATL. His six-episode show, Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, explored social issues affecting Black Americans and premiered on Netflix in January 2019. His weekly interview show for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Love & Respect (2021–present), won an Emmy Award in 2022.

Early Life and Beginnings

Michael Render was born in the Adamsville neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, on April 20, 1975. His father was a policeman and his mother was a florist. Because his parents were young when he was born, his grandparents helped raise him in the Collier Heights neighborhood of Atlanta. He went to Douglass High School.

Music Career

Early Music Journey (1995-2005)

In 1995, Michael Render briefly attended Atlanta's Morehouse College. There, he met producers The Beat Bullies and soon after, rapper Big Boi from Outkast. His first music appearance was on Outkast's song "Snappin' & Trappin'" from their 2000 album Stankonia. This was followed by their 2001 song "The Whole World", which won a Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. He was also featured on other songs that year, including Jay-Z's "Poppin' Tags".

In 2003, Render released his first solo album, Monster. The album's main song, "Akshon (Yeah!)", featured both Outkast members. A different version of the song was used in the Madden NFL 2004 video game. The album's second song was "A.D.I.D.A.S", featuring Big Boi and Sleepy Brown. It reached number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This is still Render's only song as a lead artist to enter that chart.

After his own album, he appeared on "Flip Flop Rock" and "Bust" from OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album. He also featured on "Southern Takeover" with Pastor Troy on Chamillionaire's album The Sound of Revenge. Render appeared with T.I. on the song "Never Scared" by Bone Crusher. This song reached number 26 on the Hot 100, becoming Mike's second top 40 hit. The song was also used in the Madden NFL 2004 game and by the Atlanta Braves baseball team in 2003.

Render performing in May 2008

Solo Albums and Collaborations (2006-2012)

His second album, Ghetto Extraordinary, was delayed many times because of disagreements between Big Boi and Sony Music. It was first recorded in 2005 but was eventually released on his own as a mixtape in 2008.

Render's second official album, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind, came out on his own Grind Time Official label in 2006. This was followed by I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II in 2008.

T.I. announced that he and Render had discussed Mike joining his Grand Hustle label. Render confirmed he had signed in December 2008. He released his fourth album, PL3DGE, on Grand Hustle in 2011. His fifth album, R.A.P. Music, followed in 2012.

In 2013, Render shared that he was planning to release two albums in 2014: I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind IV and R.A.P. Music II. Both were set to be produced by El-P. While these albums weren't released as planned, 2013 and 2014 saw the release of two Run the Jewels albums, which were joint projects between Render and El-P.

Render also mentioned in 2013 that his next solo album would be called Elegant Elephant. He described it as a very important project for him.

Run the Jewels and Recent Success (2013-Present)

Render (left) and El-P (right) as Run the Jewels at Treefort Music Fest in 2014

Render met rapper and producer El-P in 2011 through Cartoon Network executive Jason DeMarco. The next year, El-P produced Mike's album R.A.P. Music and appeared on the song "Butane (Champion's Anthem)". That same year, Render was featured on El-P's album Cancer 4 Cure. When both R.A.P. Music and Cancer 4 Cure were released close together, the two rappers decided to tour as a team. The tour was so successful that they decided to record music together as a duo, calling themselves Run the Jewels.

Killer Mike in an interview with WHTA in 2024

Run the Jewels released their first album for free on June 26, 2013. The next year, on October 28, 2014, they released their second free album, Run the Jewels 2. On September 25, 2015, the duo released a special version of Run the Jewels 2 made entirely with cat sounds, called Meow the Jewels. A third album, Run the Jewels 3, came out on December 24, 2016. Their fourth album, RTJ4, was released on June 3, 2020.

On July 4, 2022, Mike released a solo song called "Run". This song later appeared on Michael, a solo album that Mike released on June 16, 2023.

On July 29, 2024, Mike announced his seventh studio album, Songs for Sinners & Saints. This album was released on August 2, 2024, with his gospel group, Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival.

Beyond Music

Acting Roles

Mike has appeared in films like Idlewild (2006) and ATL (2006). He has also done voice acting, playing a rapper/actor who becomes a U.S. President named Taqu'il in the Adult Swim cartoon Frisky Dingo from 2006 to 2008. Mike also voiced a Boost Mobile phone in an episode of Adult Swim's Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He appeared twice on the Adult Swim show The Eric Andre Show, once in 2012 and again in 2014. He also appeared as himself in Ozark (season 4, episode 8). On January 18, 2019, Netflix released Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, a show that Mike hosts.

Community Barbershop

Mike and his wife, Shana, opened a barbershop in Atlanta on November 1, 2011. They bought and updated an existing barbershop and named it Graffitis SWAG (shave, wash, and groom). Mike had wanted to open a barbershop for nine years. His wife encouraged him to do it when he had the time and money. He hopes to open 150 shops across the United States over time, especially in cities with large Black communities.

The barbershop is decorated with art honoring important Black leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr.. Mike said he hopes to "lift up men in the community who are out of work" and help them find "sustainable, lifelong careers." He also wants to give his employees "opportunity for real economic elevation." As of 2012, the shop had six barbers and planned to add more. Mike also said he hoped to get his own barber license.

The barbershop has been successful and is a gathering place for the community. It has hosted events and been the setting for music videos. A second location in Tampa, Florida was planned for 2014.

Supporting the Community with Greenwood Bank

In October 2020, Michael Render, Bounce TV founder Ryan Glover, and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young started Greenwood. This is an online bank created to serve Black and Latinx communities and anyone who wants to support Black-owned businesses. According to Glover, tens of thousands of people signed up for accounts within a day. By January 26, 2021, Greenwood reported 500,000 people were waiting for accounts. The bank was expected to open in early 2021 but delayed its opening due to very high demand.

Standing Up for What's Right

Mike is a strong social activist who focuses on topics like social equality and fairness. His beliefs are shown in his music and in interviews. As a public figure, Mike feels it's his duty to represent African-Americans. He has spoken out about fairness in policing, especially since his father was a police officer. His songs "Reagan" from R.A.P. Music and "Early" from Run the Jewels 2 talk about these issues.

After events in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, Mike shared his thoughts. He said he was surprised that many Americans seemed uncaring. He also spoke about how important it is for citizens to tell politicians when things are not right.

In an article published in Billboard magazine, Render wrote that there's no good reason for certain events to have happened, except for unfair policing and too much force.

Mike and El-P performed in St. Louis, Missouri on November 24, 2014. This was the same night a jury announced a decision in a major case. Mike started the show with a heartfelt speech, which later became very popular online.

Mike has also defended rap lyrics as a form of free speech. He gave a speech about free speech and how rap music should not be used as evidence in criminal cases. He has worked to protect artists' rights to express themselves.

Commenting on events in Baltimore in 2015, Render said he understood the frustrations that led to protests. However, he encouraged protesters to use their energy to organize for lasting change. In a Billboard article, Mike stated that protests are "the language of the unheard," but after the protests, people need to "organize, strategize, and mobilize."

He made similar points in an interview with the Harvard Political Review. He said that Baltimore was a chance to do something different, and if people didn't organize, the protests would not have a lasting impact.

Mike has given talks about fairness in society at several American universities, including Northwestern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His activism was featured in a 2019 episode of The Real World: Atlanta.

Getting Involved in Politics

In June 2015, Mike briefly ran as a candidate for Georgia's 55th district in the Georgia House of Representatives. He encouraged voters to write in his real name, Michael Render. He said his goal was to bring attention to the election and show that people from outside politics can run against established politicians.

Mike announced his support for Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in June 2015. This was after Sanders said he wanted to bring back parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After introducing Sanders at a rally in Atlanta on November 23, 2015, Mike interviewed the presidential candidate at his barbershop. Mike released this interview as a six-part video series the next month. In the following months, he continued to be a strong supporter of Sanders, giving speeches at rallies and speaking out in interviews and on social media. Sanders even introduced Run the Jewels before their performance at the 2016 Coachella music festival.

In February 2016, Mike faced some criticism for quoting someone about Hillary Clinton. After Sanders left the race, Mike chose not to support Clinton, mentioning her past record.

Mike has also encouraged people to invest in Black-owned banks. In July 2016, he asked people to move their money to the Black-owned Citizens Trust bank in Atlanta. He said, "We don't have to burn our city down. But what we can do is go to your banks tomorrow. You can go to your bank tomorrow. And you can say, 'Until you as a corporation start to speak on our behalf, I want all my money. And I'm taking all my money to Citizens Trust."

In June 2017, at Glastonbury festival, Mike supported Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election.

On May 29, 2020, Mike spoke at a press conference with Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in response to events in the news and the protests that followed.

In 2020, Mike supported both Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the 2020–2021 United States Senate special election in Georgia, and both of them won. He again supported Warnock in the 2022 United States Senate election in Georgia.

Personal Life

Mike married his wife, Shana, in 2006. They have four children. Mike has two sisters, LaShunda and Lovie.

Music Albums

Studio albums

• Monster (2003)
• I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind (2006)
• I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II (2008)
• Pledge (2011)
• R.A.P. Music (2012)
• Michael (2023)
• Songs for Sinners & Saints (2024, as Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival)

Movies and TV Shows

Awards and Recognition

Grammy Awards

Billboard Awards

In 2020, Render received the first Billboard Change Maker Award. This award recognizes an artist or group who uses their music and fame to speak up for important issues.

See also

In Spanish: Killer Mike para niños