Over the weekend, hip hop icon and cultural flagebearer Killer Mike triumphantly returned to the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Honored at this year's BET Awards, Mike took home the hardware for Album of The Year for his 2023 masterclass, Michael. The win added another in the many accolades Killer Mike has tallied for his work, however, this win proved especially significant.
Earlier this year, Killer Mike, born Michael Render, also took home Grammy Awards for all three of the category nominations he had notched for the 2023 LP. On the same night in which Killer Mike reigned triumphant onstage, winning Rap Album of the Year - he would also be arrested and taken away in handcuffs from the Peacock Theatre within an hour of walking offstage.
Involved in what amounted to a misdemeanor battery charge for an altercation that resulted with an "overzealous security guard" at the venue - plenty of speculation swirled online following the incident and the image of Killer Mike being lead away by police from the black-tie event.
Some months later, Killer Mike is speaking on that fateful night and has recounted his headspace in those moments on a poignant new track, "Humble Me". Further illuminating the events of that evening and the subsequent events in the wake, Mike explains the ordeal only galvanized his faith and reaffirmed what he has spent his career reminding people - Killer Mike just can't be stopped.
“I was in the studio the very next day. I'm as inspired as ever and I'm just following the music at this point,” states Mike. “All my heroes have been cuffed and mishandled in some way. I just thanked God in that moment of being Daniel in the lion’s den." Killer Mike also explained how the messiness of the altercation segued into much needed resolution for his son, Pony Boy, who at the time was in dire need of a kidney transplant.
"I came out of the jailhouse in the pouring rain to my wife waiting for me, lit a joint, celebrated a bit and then woke up and got the news about my son's kidney." Mike continued, "I believe that humility and worship granted me God's grace in the face of that test, and I believe my son receiving his kidney was a blessing from God.”
Punctuating what has been a victorious start to the summer for Killer Mike, in the same week the MC found that he would not face charge from the DA for the incident at the Peacock Theatre back in February only to then score big and the BET Awards in the same theatre while getting ready to embark on an expansive international Down By Law tour, backed by his choir The Mighty Midnight Revival - Killer Mike continues to fearlessly blaze his own trail.
Adding to the significance of "Humble Me", Killer Mike has shared that the single will begin the rollout for an epilogue to his Michael LP. The companion piece will feature a new presentation of tracks which navigate the MC's take on his continued successes and his infamous Grammy night dispute.
Killer Mike begins the Down By Law tour this week. See dates and cities below. Get tickets - HERE
KILLER MIKE TOUR DATES
July 3 - Montreal, QC - Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
July 5 - Quebec City, QC Festival D'Ete
July 6 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Blues Fest
July 7 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
July 9 - Halifax, ON - Halifax Jazz Fest
July 12 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Fest
July 26-28 - Nelsonville, OH - Nelson- ville Music Fest
July 27 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Fest
July 29 - New York, NY - Blue Note
July 30 - New York, NY - Blue Note
July 31 - New York, NY - Blue Note
August 2 - Detroit, MI - The Majestic Theatre
August 3 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
August 5 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
August 7 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
August 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Ogden Amphitheatre
August 9 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival
August 10 - Seattle, WA - Thing Festival
August 19 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
August 22 - Dublin, IE - National Stadium
August 23 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy Glasgow
August 26 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town
August 27 - Manchester, UK - Albert Hall
August 29 - Paris, FR - Bataclan
August 30 - Cologne, DE - Arlswerk Victoria
September 29 - St. Louis, MO - Evolution Fest
October 15 - Los Angeles, CA - The Novo
