Killer Mike found himself a trending Twitter topic over the weekend after a controversial interview he did with the National Rifle Association went viral. Now, the Run The Jewels MC has issued an apology on Instagram.
The veteran rapper wasn’t necessarily sorry for doing the interview. Instead, he took issue with NRATV’s timing to post part of his interview ahead of the March For Our Lives rally. In the interview, Mike voices his support for the Second Amendment while taking issue with the recent school walkout protests. something he clarifies in several Instagram videos he posted on Sunday (March 25).
“I took a move out of one of my heroes’ book, Dr. Martin Luther King … and I sat with people who I might not always agree with,” he begins. “I did an interview about black gun ownership in this era. That interview was used a week later by NRATV to disparage a very noble campaign that I actually support.”
He continues, “I wanna say first I’m sorry guys. I’m sorry that an interview that I did about a minority, black people in this country, and gun rights was used as a weapon against you guys. That was unfair to you and it was wrong. It disparaged the very noble work you’re doing. The work you’re doing is self-motivated, self-initiated and it’s noble. I think you should be doing this.”
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Later, Mike reiterates he’s an ally and advocate to all of those students who took place in the March For Our Lives rallies across the globe but blamed the “adults” and NRA TV for the uproar.
“Now, as your ally — and I am your ally, young people — I wanna say that many of the people that I organize with were at that march … I’m a friend and advocate to you all,” he says. “The young people, especially who are self-motivated, self-organized, I am an ally and advocate for you always. I’m simply saying this to say that my interview with said organization, who we all don’t agree with, was supposed to be something that continued the conversation or that helped the conversation happen that I felt needed to happen. And that conversation is about African-American gun ownership. ”
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He added, “To the young people that worked tirelessly to organize, I’m sorry adults chose to do this. I’m sorry NRATV did that. I’m sorry adults on the left and the right are choosing to use me as a lightning rod.”
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Support For Killer Mike
Several of Mike’s peers stepped up to show their support for the situation, including his Run The Jewels cohort El-P.
“I don’t drop friends from my life because I disagree with them or the way they went about getting a message out, even [if] it goes wrong,” he wrote on Twitter. “Not when I know their heart and know for a fact that they care more and try harder to help people on a daily basis than most do in a lifetime. more than me, more than most. That’s Mike. We know this guy. He fucking cares.”
He continued, “despite our many differences (and I promise you they are vast and often hotly debated), I’ve been around the block and I know a good person when I see one … no I can not and will not ever turn my back on this man. He wouldn’t turn his on me or you.”
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Mike responded to El-P’s tweet with one of his own and apologized to RTJ cohort for his “bull in a china store like tendencies.”
“I am so humbled to be your friend, brother & group member,” Mike wrote.”I am so grateful to have an ally always. I apologize for my bull in a china store like tendencies! I drive u nuts but i promise u I love ya brother & will always do what’s right. Thank u for your underserved suffering
Hip Hop artists like Chuck D and R.A. The Rugged Man also came to Mike’s defense in a show of solidarity.
Check out those tweets below.
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