Fans of truthful, hard-hitting Rap music are familiar with Killer Mike. The man they also call Mike Bigga is a Grammy Award-winning disciple of the Dungeon Family (OutKast/Goodie Mob). The Adamsville, Georgia native first appeared on OutKast’s Stankonia album in 2000, and after several acclaimed guest appearances, released his 2003 debut Monster through Columbia Records.
The album was a Top 10 debut, and propelled Mike into national stardom with hits like “A.D.I.D.A.S.” However, it has always been Mike’s lyrical depth and emotion that have made him an enduring Rap artist. Three years before Nas made “Hip Hop is Dead,” Killer Mike made “Rap Is Dead.” Both on records and in interviews, the Grind Time leader has been outspoken on issues of class, race, gender, history, politics and drugs.
After breaking from OutKast, Mike found success as an independent artist. Creating Grind Time, Mike established careers for Pill and S.L. Jones, in releasing two acclaimed volumes of I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind. The second, released in 2008, was HipHopDX’s album of the year. Despite releasing it through his own Grind Time/SMC Recordings imprint, Mike received assistance from Ice Cube, Chamillionaire and Messy Marv to balance his fledgling Grind Time outfit with highly-respected veterans. Earlier this year, Mike offered the album as a free download to DX readers.
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Last year, Mike (as Mike Bigga) confirmed that in addition to his independent output, he’s returning to the major label machine. Signing with T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records, Mike Bigga will play a veteran’s role on the Atlantic-distributed label that also is home to B.o.B., 8Ball & MJG and Young Dro.
With SMC Recordings, Killer Mike will also be releasing a third volume of I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind, and continues to market his ’09 release, Underground Atlanta.
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A Grind Time associate of Mike’s, Pill has become one of the biggest young emcees out of Atlanta. Having been working with the Grind Time for over five years, the artist formerly known as Gangsta Pill earned a deal to Warner Brothers/Asylum Records last year for his connection to the youth, and sincere depictions of street life.
Pill’s debut is expected some time this year, as he remains working with the likes of Mike, Freddie Gibbs and DXnext alum Yelawolf.
