Michael

by Killer Mike

Overview

Michael is Killer Mike's first solo album in over a decade, after the politically charged R.A.P. Music led to the formation of Run the Jewels with producer/rapper El-P, altering the trajectory of Mike's music career and eventually returning him to the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 with 2020's RTJ4. The 2023 effort is both an autobiographical reflection on his life's journey to this point as well as a musical homecoming, largely drawing from gospel, funk, soul, and '90s Dirty South rap. Haunting choral vocals and church organs call out beneath the booming beats and nimble bass guitars on songs like the confessional "Shed Tears" and empowering, Last Poets-sampling "Nrich." Much of the album finds Mike navigating through his numerous identities (hip-hop lifer, loyal churchgoer, family figure, social justice activist, property owner, businessman, wealthy celebrity), acknowledging his contradictions with the album's cover, a childhood portrait bearing both a halo and devil horns. "Talk'N That Shit!," co-produced by Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul, addresses those who accuse Mike of having "gone to sleep" and turning his back on his previous positions. While he brags about being a landlord on "Spaceship Views," he expresses empathy for the less advantaged on several other songs, most notably "Something for Junkies," in which he acknowledges the humanity of substance abusers. In particular, he refers to conversations with an aunt addicted to crack, who says that she knows he loves her because he treats her like a human being. Mike mourns the loss of his mother and grandmother on the vulnerable, apologetic "Motherless." "Don't Let the Devil," the record's only song featuring co-production and a guest verse by El-P, finds the two in boast-heavy Run the Jewels mode as they criticize the church system. One of the album's most attention-grabbing tracks, "Scientists & Engineers," boasts a weightless yet robotic intro guest verse by Andre 3000, followed by second-generation Dungeon Family recruit Future, then finally a lush choir backing Mike's breathless triple-time rapping. Though Michael can get overbearing at times, the production is generally stellar, and it's easily the rapper's most honest and emotional work. ~ Paul Simpson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/15/2023
Label:	Loma Vista
UPC:	0888072474581

Tracks

1. Down by Law
2. Shed Tears
3. Run
4. NRich
5. Talk'N That Shit!
6. Slummer
7. Scientists & Engineers
8. Two Days
9. Spaceship Views
10. Exit 9
11. Something for Junkies
12. Motherless
13. Don't Let the Devil
14. High and Holy
15. Yes!
16. Maynard Vignette
17. Get Some Money

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Killer Mike   Primary Artist,Vocals
CeeLo Green   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Jacquees   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
JID   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
6LACK   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Dave Chappelle   Primary Artist,Vocals
Young Thug   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
T.I.   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Curren$y   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
El-P   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Future   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Thankugoodsir   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Ty Dolla $ign   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Eryn Allen Kane   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Mozzy   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
2 Chainz   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Lena Byrd Miles   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Young Nudy   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Kaash Paige   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Blxst   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
André 3000   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Jagged Edge   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Fabo   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Warryn Campbell   Organ,Keyboards
DJ Paul   Vocals
Rico Wade   Vocals
Dammo Farmer   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Agape Jerry   Guitar
Foushee   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jason McGee   Choir/Chorus
Jason McGee & the Choir   Choir/Chorus
Marquita Finnie   Vocals
DJ Cutmaster Swiff   Turntables
Run the Jewels   Vocals
Rayana Jay   Vocals

Technical Credits

Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Warryn Campbell   Composer,Choir Arrangement
Twinkie Clark   Composer
Roger S.   Composer
Roger Williams   Composer,Composer
Louis Farrakhan   Composer
Nathaniel Phillips   Composer
Milton Biggham   Composer
Michael Render   Composer
Cal-A   Additional Production,Musical Producer
Eliot Dubock   Composer
Jacquees   Composer
Matthew Burdette   Composer
Julie Rhodes   Musical Producer
Dennis Brown   Composer
Julian Cruz   Producer,Recording Producer
Twhy Xclusive   Producer,Recording Producer
808-Ray   Producer
Rayshon Cobbs Jr.   Composer
Jeffery Williams   Composer
6LACK   Composer
Clifford Harris   Composer
Tim Moore   Composer
Brian Casey   Composer
Bryan Jones   Composer
DJ Paul   Producer,Recording Producer
Dave Chappelle   Composer,Musician
André 3000   Producer,Recording Producer
Cory Mo   Producer,Recording Producer,Composer
Harold Lilly   Composer
Andre Lyon   Composer
Corey Moore   Composer
Dammo Farmer   Composer
Sydney Wolfe   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Marshall Boxley   Composer
Willie Cooper   Composer
Jaime Meline   Composer
Thomas Callaway   Composer
Brandon Sewell "Tec Beatz"   Composer
Torbitt Schwartz   Composer
Paul Nichols   Composer
Alex Levesque   Composer
Cory Washington   Composer
Honorable C.N.O.T.E.   Producer,Recording Producer
Dion Wilson   Composer
Beat Butcha   Producer,Recording Producer
Paul Beauregard   Composer
Cool & Dre   Producer,Recording Producer
Curren$y   Composer
El-P   Producer,Recording Producer
Don Cannon   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Audio Anthem   Producer
Brandon Blatz   Mixing Assistant
Kingsley Nwadije   Composer
Travagant   Producer,Recording Producer
Project Pa$$ion   Engineer
Kelso the Don   Engineer
Bainz   Engineer
Jason Cannon   Composer
Paul H. Nichols   Composer
SKUFL   Producer,Recording Producer
Jeffrey Lamar Williams   Composer
Tristan Robertson   Composer
Lefabian Williams   Composer
Migui Maloles   Mixing
James Blake   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Marcello Valenzano   Composer
DJ Cutmaster Swiff   DJ
Carlton Mays Jr.   Composer
Ken Oriole   Recording
A. "Bainz" Bains   Engineer
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Eryn Allen Kane   Composer
No I.D.   Producer,Recording Producer
Renegade   Engineer
Little Shalimar   Producer,Recording Producer
Will Anspach   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Recording Producer
Tauheed Epps   Composer
Timothy Patterson   Composer
Ricardo Valentine   Composer
Minister Louis Farrakhan   Composer
Bruce Smith   Composer
Charlie Coffeen   Assistant Engineer
Destin Route   Composer
Tec Beatz   Producer,Recording Producer
Cyrus Taghipour   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
James Kelso   Engineer
Renegade El Rey   Engineer,Recording
Justin Rhodes   Composer
Widnick Prevalon   Composer
Will Yanez   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Rob Bisel   Assistant Engineer
Rodriguez Broadnax   Composer
MenaceTheDJ   Producer,Recording Producer
Jose Julian De La Cruz   Composer
Daoud Anthony   Producer
Obi Nwadije   Producer,Recording Producer
Nicolas de Porcel   Mastering Engineer
D'kyla Woolen   Composer
Andre Benjamin   Composer
J. Rhodes   Musical Producer