Killer Mike

Killer Mike
Killer Mike
	Killer Mike performing in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Michael Santiago Render
Also known as	Mike Bigga; Jerome Jewel;
Born	April 20, 1975 (age 49)
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper; songwriter; actor; activist;
Years active	1995—present
Labels	Mass Appeal; Grind Time; Fontana; SMC; Grand Hustle; Atlantic; Williams Street; Fool's Gold; Purple Ribbon; Columbia;
Member of	Run the Jewels; Dungeon Family; Purple Ribbon All-Stars;

Michael Santiago Render (born April 20, 1975),^[1] better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American rapper, activist, and occasional actor. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the founder of Grind Time Official Records.

Career

Mike was first heard on "Snappin' and Trappin'", a song from the hip hop duo OutKast's album Stankonia (2000). He later appeared on the Grammy-winning song "The Whole World", a single from OutKast's greatest hits album Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast.

In December 2008, Mike signed to T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records. In 2012, he released R.A.P. Music, produced by rapper and producer El-P. In 2013, the two formed a duo called Run the Jewels. The two signed to Fool's Gold Records and released Run the Jewels in June of that year.

Politics

Killer Mike is a member of the Democratic Party. He supports Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.^[2] After introducing Sanders at a rally held in Atlanta November 23, 2015,^[3] Mike spent time recording an interview with the presidential candidate. Mike released his interview with Bernie Sanders as a six-part video series the following month.^[4]^[5]