KK II LL LL EE RR K I L L E R The acclaimed rapper is taking his talents to TV, and he’s not afraid to tackle big questions about race, money, politics and, yes, Jesus. BY T Y L E R H U C K A B E E
H
ow many life acts
rap group of the decade so
way,” Killer Mike says.
in what he calls “a very
can one guy get?
far, with three eponymous
“Trigger Warning gave us
Christian household” and
At this point, you
albums of striking creativity
the opportunity.”
has been exposed to the
could be forgiven
and vitality.
for thinking Killer Mike had
But even that doesn’t
teachings of the Church all
as he tackles issues like
his life. He says he’s grateful
reached his personal and
represent the full measure
gang culture, imperialism,
for what he learned, but
creative zenith at something
of Killer Mike (real name:
consumerism and racism,
he’s also been doing a lot
like three previous points in
Michael Render), whose
but he comes at them from
of reflecting on some of the
his life. First there was his
new Netflix show, Trigger
surprising angles. Maybe
American Church’s issues,
illustrious solo rap career
Warning, takes his wit
his most provocative
which he sums up in one
in the early ’00s, where he
and intellect across the
thoughts are about a topic
phrase: White Jesus.
collaborated with the likes
country in search of difficult
near and dear to his heart:
of OutKast and Jay-Z. Then
conversations about
Christianity.
in 2013, his career went to
complicated topics.
“White Jesus is not good for the African-American community,” he says.
WHITE JESUS
He calls it “the greatest
been random conversations
“My frustration is simple,”
hindrance that black people
in everything from
Killer Mike says. “It’s with
have.”
barbershops to bars that
White Jesus. It’s personal
Jewels and have become
I’ve wanted to see on
for me.”
maybe the most essential
television but in a different
a whole new stratosphere
“These things have just
with El-P, who he met on a Cartoon Network gig. The pair formed Run the
MAR-APR
The show follows Mike
Killer Mike was raised
048
“As an African-American, there’s pain and trauma attached to Him because
2019
