Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
2 weeks ago
United States Killer Mike, born Michael Santiago Render, is an American rapper, singer, and activist who uses his platform to champion social justice, economic empowerment, and community development.
Killer Mike partnered with the 'Who Are You' (WAY) campaign, aiming to challenge and inspire individuals.
Wasserman Music represents Killer Mike for various music-related inquiries, including performances and brand partnerships.
Killer Mike's Run The Jewels collaborated with Lemonnade, a sister brand to Cookies, on a cannabis product.
Killer Mike partnered with the Atlanta Hawks to announce the team's 2023-2024 season in a video.
Killer Mike promoted Square through a partnership, celebrating local small businesses at his SWAG Shop for Square's Neighbor Day.
Killer Mike co-founded Greenwood, a Black-owned digital bank, alongside Andrew Young and Ryan Glover, targeting Black and Latinx communities.
Concord is a music company that includes Killer Mike in its artist roster, acknowledging his Grammy Award achievements.
Reservoir inked a global publishing deal with Killer Mike, covering his Grammy-winning work.
Michael Santiago Render, known professionally as Killer Mike, was born on April 20, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised partly by his grandparents, he attended Douglass High School. His musical journey began after briefly attending Morehouse College in 1995, where he connected with producers The Beat Bullies and subsequently Big Boi of Outkast. This connection led to his recording debut on Outkast’s 2000 album ‘Stankonia’ and a Grammy-winning feature on their 2001 single ‘The Whole World’. In 2003, he released his debut solo album, ‘Monster’, which achieved critical acclaim and peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200, featuring the single ‘A.D.I.D.A.S.’ which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the next decade, Mike continued to release several albums independently and through Grand Hustle, including the ‘Pledge’ series and ‘R.A.P. Music’ (2012), the latter produced entirely by El-P.
His collaboration with El-P evolved into the critically acclaimed duo Run the Jewels in 2013, releasing their self-titled debut followed by ‘Run the Jewels 2’ (2014), ‘Run the Jewels 3’ (2016), and ‘RTJ4′ (2020), all widely praised for their innovative sound and outspoken lyrics. Beyond music, Killer Mike is a prominent social and political activist, addressing issues such as social inequality, police brutality, and systemic racism. His activism extends to lecturing at universities, writing for publications like Billboard, and actively supporting Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. In 2019, Netflix launched his docu-series ‘Trigger Warning with Killer Mike’, investigating social issues affecting Black Americans. His commitment to community empowerment is also evident in his business ventures, including Graffitis SWAG barbershops and the Greenwood online bank, co-founded to serve Black and Latinx communities.
In 2023, Mike released ‘Michael’, a highly autobiographical solo album that earned him three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song for ‘Scientists & Engineers’. This was followed by ‘Songs for Sinners & Saints’ in 2024 with his gospel group, Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, further exploring his spiritual journey and childhood influences. He has received recognition such as the first Billboard Change Maker Award in 2020 and an Emmy Award in 2022 for his PBS interview program ‘Love & Respect’. His acting credits include roles in films like ‘Idlewild’ (2006) and ‘Baby Driver’ (2017), and television series such as ‘The Eric Andre Show’ and ‘Ozark’.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
