Killer Mike is greatest recognized for his music. For the previous ten years, he has seen vital success alongside El-P as Run The Jewels. This yr, Killer Mike is releasing his new album, Michael, his first solo challenge in over a decade. We lately appeared again at his final solo album, R.A.P. Music, for its eleventh anniversary. Although his success may be attributed to his abilities as a rapper, Killer Mike has expanded his repertoire. He has ventured exterior of music into different companies.
The Atlanta rapper typically emphasizes the significance of Black possession in his numerous enterprise ventures. He has appeared as himself in a lot of films and TV reveals resembling ATL, Child Driver, and Ozark. Killer Mike additionally has his personal docuseries on Netflix referred to as Set off Warning with Killer Mike. On the present, he investigates social points inside Black communities.
Killer Mike & Politics
Other than music and different types of leisure, Killer Mike can also be very politically energetic and outspoken, combating for causes he believes in. He has spoken out towards problems with racism and police brutality. Moreover, he has given lectures at numerous universities, bringing a course on race and hip hop to Morehouse Faculty. Killer Mike additionally campaigned for Bernie Sanders through the 2016 Presidential election, endorsing numerous different political figures of their elections. Most lately, Killer Mike endorsed Raphael Warnock for Senator within the 2022 election in Georgia.
Killer Mike’s politics and beliefs seem in his lyrics on his solo albums and, most notably, within the Run The Jewels albums. The RTJ4 album in 2020 was a direct response to protests following the loss of life of George Floyd. He was additionally vocal concerning the proposed invoice to make use of rap lyrics as proof in courtroom, teaming up with JAY-Z and lots of different rappers to dam the invoice from being handed. Killer Mike’s success as a rapper has allowed him to discover different companies and assist give again to the group that raised him.
Killer Mike’s Companies
Outdoors of his rap profession, Killer Mike has given again to his hometown of Atlanta, beginning numerous companies and emphasizing the significance of Black possession and financial empowerment. He additionally stresses the significance of Black and generational wealth along with his activism and social justice work. Listed here are Killer Mike’s enterprise ventures exterior of music.
SWAG Barber Store
In 2011, Killer Mike and his spouse Shana opened a barbershop referred to as the “SWAG” store, an acronym for “Shave, Wash, and Groom.” In a brief documentary, Killer Mike instructed Noisey that other than being a rapper, his dream was proudly owning a barbershop. The SWAG Store has finished so properly that Killer Mike and his spouse expanded their barbershop enterprise into a number of areas in Atlanta. They’ve retailers in Edgewood, Southside, and a barber store contained in the State Farm Area the place the Atlanta Hawks play. At one level, the SWAG Store was deliberate to broaden into cities exterior of Georgia, together with Tampa and New Orleans. Other than reducing hair, Killer Mike’s barber retailers have turn into locations for social gatherings for Atlanta residents.
Greenwood Financial institution
In 2020, Killer Mike’s subsequent enterprise enterprise was Greenwood Financial institution, an internet financial institution. The financial institution’s targets are geared in direction of “Black and Latinx communities and anybody else who desires to assist Black-owned companies.” The digital banking system helps individuals who have been denied the chance to construct credit score to take action, and it has its personal set of advantages. Previous Greenwood Financial institution, Killer Mike partnered with Black-owned financial institution Citizen’s Belief in 2016 and inspired folks to hitch.
Alongside Ryan Glover and Andrew Younger, Killer Mike launched Greenwood Financial institution and obtained a excessive demand from folks on the ready checklist who needed to make use of its providers. Following the George Floyd protests, Greenwood Financial institution grew in recognition. The financial institution is called after the Greenwood Neighborhood in Tulsa, often known as “Black Wall Road” earlier than it was destroyed in 1921. Greenwood Financial institution has seen a lot success since its preliminary launch.
Bankhead Seafood
Bankhead Seafood was as soon as a staple restaurant in Atlanta and operated for 50 years earlier than closing its doorways in 2018. Alongside fellow Atlanta rapper T.I., Killer Mike’s newest enterprise enterprise plans to deliver again Bankhead Seafood. This time, the restaurant will run on a bigger scale. They plan to stay to the restaurant’s unique foundations of being a staple for Atlanta residents. Parking will likely be expanded, as will the scale of the particular restaurant. The place will develop in seating capability and will likely be a two-story institution. The meals and placement will stay the identical, however costs will enhance. Nonetheless, the neighborhood appears to favor the restaurant’s reopening. Bankhead Seafood has but to reopen as its constructing has been delayed quite a few instances however is at present set to open later this yr.
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