Killer Mike – PL3DGE (2011) [SMC] // Grade: A

You really cannot front on Killer Mike. Dude keeps it real, keeps it trill, and has fun. These days that’s uncommon amongst rappers. And Mike stands out in the company of Southern rappers, as well as rappers in general. For Mike it’s not just about putting out a recorded artifact with a few singles that’ll get him paid. And while I can’t say exactly what his motivations are–if you read this man, hit me up because I’d be honored to do an interview–it’s not tough to glean what they very well might be. Mike is a dude who cares about his people, from his family, to his hood, to his region, to his fellow Americans. Unlike a lot of today’s celebrities who shirk their responsibility to fans in exchange for a selfish carefree indulgence in a life of luxury (lookin at you Kanye, Wayne, and Diddy), Killer Mike doesn’t forget where he came from, doesn’t stumble as he carries us all on his back.

The record starts off with a warbly horn sample that sounds like it might have come from a VCR at some point. The opening track “So Glorious” is a proclamation of who Mike is: a real hustler. He can talk about getting money without being ignorant, he can make moves without stepping on everyone around him, and he can rap damn good. Is he the best rapper out there? No, but he is more than competent enough. Dude gets on the beat and acts like an adult. No inexperienced flow, no doo doo lazy ca ca, it’s all considered. He does a great job of selecting beats, and the sound ranges from trap leaning minor key ridin’ tunes, to uplifting bangers, and slow windin’ soul vibes. Of course there’s a song in 3/4 (Follow your Dreams), and over the course of the record his perspective keeps the lyrics interesting. He’s constantly vacillating between rap staple bravado, “wait, what did he just say,” rewinds, and uplifting motivation. For instance, on the intense socio-critical “That’s Life 2″ Mike lets rappers know: “Think about it what’s a rapper standin next to Warren Buffet/hahaha there you rappers are properly enlightened.” I don’t give a fuck how hard you are, or how much rap money you got, (aside from maybe Jay, and 50) you ain’t really got shit, cause Warren Buffet is the epitome of ballin. He’s donated more than most rappers ever make, and the same kind of responsibility that drives Buffet to help those around him is what is driving Mike.

You can’t go long without Mike reminding you of your role in a system that you didn’t create, and he encourages you to start thinking about how the system exploits you. It’s easy to make the connection here to Punk rock, or whatever else I’m not gonna talk about, but surprisingly enough, the less obvious connection is the beginning of hip hop. Hip hop was the residue of some people who spoke out against a system that was killing them. The only difference between 1970′s South Bronx inhabitants, and 2011 United States inhabitants, is that we’ve been fucked at a much slower pace. It’s taken 20 or 30 or 40 years, but we as citizens find ourselves in a state similar to that of the South Bronx. We’re losing the most important parts of our infrastructure, and government has—in large part—turned its back on us and gotten into bed with financial institutions. In a country where loyalty is rarely reserved for the greater good we have a serious need for voices that encourage more than the ascension of the individual to a pillar of consumption. Mike is a breath of fresh air because he’s not encouraging us to attempt to wade to the top of a sea of bullshit, he’s encouraging us to open our eyes, step out into life, and be empowered by his music.

- Zachg