André 3000, El-P, 6LACK, 2 Chainz och Curren$y gästar Killer Mikes nya album “MICHAEL”

Under våren har Killer Mike släppt ett flertal personliga och känsloladdade singlar inför det nya albumet “MICHAEL”, med gäster som André 3000, El-P, 6LACK, Young Thug, Ty Dolla Sign, Mozzy, 2Chainz, Curren$y med flera. På skivan är han både mer personlig och politisk än tidigare, samt öppnar upp om saknaden efter sin mamma på låten “MOTHERLESS”. I en intervju med Billboard säger han:

“I miss my mama. I miss her so much. I wish I could call her and tell her how much people love this record. I wish I could tell her having me listen to Curtis Mayfield influenced the first song on this record and the vibe of this record. I wish I could tell her how much her encouragement means to me. And I said all of this while she was alive. I told her she was dope. I told her, ‘Aw Ma, I love listening to Curtis Mayfield, The Isleys and Willie Nelson with you,’ but I didn’t understand how to let her know until she was gone the deep reverence I have for her. I revere her and I wish I had the opportunity to share that with her. She’s the only human being I hold that kind of reverence for. And that’s how that song makes me feel every time I hear it.”

Inför albumreleasen berättar den 48-årige Atlanta-rapparen att han vill kommunicera och förmedla budskap till lyssnaren:

“I’m rapping differently. Like KRS-One taught me, it’s about style. You gotta master styles… I’ve grown and I’ve evolved stylistically. I didn’t want to give you a replay of Killer Mike from Run the Jewels just over different beats. I needed to push. I needed to feel personal. I needed to feel like a conversation with you.”

André 3000 gästar på låten ”SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” och lägger sällan verser på andra rappares låtar numera. Senast var 2021 på låten ”Life of the Party” på Kanye Wests album ”Donda (Deluxe)”. I den första versen på ”SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” hörs André rappa:

”Communication comin’ in
Too much that I can’t communicate with all of them
I do wish I had scientist or engineer friends
Let’s go, get out of here, petrol is cheaper than it’s ever been
And then, who’s to say when all would end?
All I know is whеn the portrait painted bettеr have your portion of the rent
A dollar more and you will get upgraded
When you’ve think you’ve made it, you are then
Just tolerated, overrated
Hope I’m eighty when I get my second wind
Small potatoes all I ate before potato chips would cut my corner lips
Operator, operator, I would pray that you connect me to a sip
Of sangria, Zambia, camera cameo, hand me a handful of hips
A stamina stampede of happily happenings, dabblin’ into oblivion, neon, beyond the ambiance
Be honest, you promised that you will live
Do summers ever forget?
Pajamas, feel like a kid, cucumber will make her drip
Do jump on it, hit a split, hookahs don’t really do shit
Duke Ellington in this bitch, rebelling is like an itch”.