Run The Jewels, particularly Killer Mike, has been an outspoken proponent of both the #BlackLivesMatter movement and also social justice in general.
Recently speaking with the BBC surrounding the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson, the Hip Hop duo explained how they believe protesting works when it comes affecting change.
“I’m an American because of a riot,” Mike said when asked about protesting. “So, when people say ‘riots don’t work,’ well, Ferguson was over 60% a black community. They had less than 60% representation in politics. Post-riots, they have two new black city council members. They have actual advocates in the community now. The police chief retired. So, if it was argued that riots worked in Ferguson, abso-fucking-lutely they did.”
El-P reiterated that sentiment and also spoke more specifically about the Ferguson, Missouri verdict and the aftermath.
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“We had the weird, tragic, and serendipitous experience of being the only band, when the verdict was coming down in St. Louis, to be attempting to get into St. Louis,” he said. “Everyone else was driving as fast as they could to get out of [the city]. Every word that you’re saying all of a sudden means 100 times more than it meant the night before. To see my friend talk, I was crying onstage. It was very powerful.”
Watch the full Run The Jewels interview segment below:
For additional Run The Jewels coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
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