Michael 'Killer Mike' Render

EXCLUSIVE
  • Grammy Award-Winning Rapper and Songwriter
  • Entrepreneur
  • Activist and Advocate for Social Justice, Equity, and Community Engagement

Michael Render, known by his stage name “Killer Mike,” is a Grammy-winning rapper, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for social justice. With a robust career, Render has left an indelible mark on the music industry as one-half of the acclaimed duo Run the Jewels while rising to prominence in activism and community engagement. Render is the host of multiple series, including the Emmy Award winning PBS show Love & Respect with Killer Mike, Facebook’s Roll’N with Killer Mike, and Netflix’s Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, while also turning in regular speaking appearances on Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Real Time with Bill Maher. Render’s outspoken commentary on racial and social issues, coupled with his commitment to fostering positive change, has solidified him as a respected voice in contemporary culture. A dynamic force in the intersection of art and advocacy, Render's influence extends beyond the stage.

As an entrepreneur, Killer Mike has ventured into various business endeavors, leveraging his platform to amplify marginalized voices and contribute to the empowerment of underserved communities. With a commitment to challenging the status quo, Killer Mike continues to inspire and motivate audiences, encouraging them to be agents of change in a world hungry for innovation and justice. He has been invited to speak by institutions encompassing the Cleveland Public Library, Webster University, Tulane University, and many more.

 


Michael 'Killer Mike' Render headshot
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Past Hosts Include:
  • Cleveland Public Library
  • Webster University
  • University of Wisconsin Madison
  • Georgia State
  • UC Riverside
  • USF
  • Florida State University
  • Tulane
  • IUPUI
  • UGA
Killer Mike: Free Speech Lets Me Know My Enemy | Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Michael 'Killer Mike' Render
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Hope Happens Here: Expanding Our Collective Impact

MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER's expertise in music, entrepreneurship, and social justice ensures a keynote that resonates with diverse audiences, leaving a lasting impression on your audience as he has our nation. With a career spanning music, business, and activism, Render's journey offers a bluepri ...

MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER's expertise in music, entrepreneurship, and social justice ensures a keynote that resonates with diverse audiences, leaving a lasting impression on your audience as he has our nation. With a career spanning music, business, and activism, Render's journey offers a blueprint for success, encouraging your team to embrace creativity and make a meaningful impact. In this engaging conversation, Render shares insights from his remarkable career, leaving a lasting impact on your audience.

Social Activism & Community Engagement

Dive deep into the intersection of culture, business, and activism, as MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER shares his top tools to break boundaries and drive positive change. Render’s impactful body of work serves as a catalyst for change, motivating audiences to be agents for a better future. Render ignit ...

Dive deep into the intersection of culture, business, and activism, as MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER shares his top tools to break boundaries and drive positive change. Render’s impactful body of work serves as a catalyst for change, motivating audiences to be agents for a better future. Render ignites discussions that resonate with your organization, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Transform your corporate gathering into an unforgettable experience with MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER as your keynote speaker. Render's powerful narratives, drawn from his extensive career and community engagement, will inspire your team to break boundaries and drive positive change. ...

Transform your corporate gathering into an unforgettable experience with MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER as your keynote speaker. Render's powerful narratives, drawn from his extensive career and community engagement, will inspire your team to break boundaries and drive positive change.

Campus Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Unleash the power of unfiltered wisdom with MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER as your college keynote speaker. From Grammy-winning rapper to acclaimed activist, Killer Mike brings a unique blend of artistry and advocacy, inspiring students to challenge norms and make a lasting impact. ...

Unleash the power of unfiltered wisdom with MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER as your college keynote speaker. From Grammy-winning rapper to acclaimed activist, Killer Mike brings a unique blend of artistry and advocacy, inspiring students to challenge norms and make a lasting impact.

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Speaker News

Michael “Killer Mike” Render empowers financial wellness in marginalized communities

Beyond the mic, MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER has been a driving force in empowering economic resilience, advocating for financial literacy, and fostering entrepreneurship within marginalized communities. Render paired up with ANDREW YOUNG, a former member of Congress, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Mayor of Atlanta, to run Greenwood, a successful Black-owned bank that works to combat systemic racism. Through both direct initiatives like Greenwood and outspoken advocacy, “Killer Mike” is not just making beats – he's making strides towards economic empowerment, proving that financial wellness is a key instrument in the symphony of social progress.

Watch Michael “Killer Mike” Render in conversation at the National Portrait Gallery >>

Watch Michael “Killer Mike” Render speak with Purpose Built Communities >>

Michael “Killer Mike” Render is a powerful commencement speaker

Students are embracing both the wisdom and wordplay of MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER as a commencement speaker. As powerful as his beats and lyrics, Render's inspiring message encourages graduates to carve their unique path, challenge systemic norms, and embrace the responsibility of creating positive change. In unforgettable commencement addresses, Render inspires graduating classes to amplify their voices, pursue their passions, and contribute to a world where resilience, creativity, and justice intersect. As Render says in his legendary Adult Swim commencement, “The first goal is knowing who you are. The second is not rushing…grow the person you are, the most important person.”

Watch Michael “Killer Mike” Render give a commencement speech on Adult Swim >>

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Ideas for the Meeting Planner
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Biography

Atlanta’s favorite son Killer Mike gets recognized as many things - a rapper, an advocate for the disenfranchised, an entrepreneur, a Bernie Sanders whisperer, and for his widely lauded advocacy work on political and social causes - which yielded him Billboard’s inaugural 2020 Change Maker Award. Most recently his critically lauded 2023 album MICHAEL earned him three Grammy Awards (Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song & Performance for “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS”) for its complex portrait of Black southern masculinity. The honors marked his first awards from the Academy since taking home the Grammy for Best Rap Performance Duo or Group for his 2001 collaboration with Outkast, “The Whole World.”

While Killer Mike has been an active solo artist for over 20 years, releasing numerous studio projects while also collaborating with some of the biggest names in hip-hop (including Outkast, Jay-Z, Big Boi, T.I., Black Thought, and more), he is also widely renowned as half of the popular hip-hop super duo, Run The Jewels, with whom he has released four studio albums alongside his partner in rhyme EL-P. Their most recent, 2020’s RTJ4, soared to the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 and was met with widespread critical acclaim, landing at #1 on NME’s "The Best 50 Albums of 2020" list. Named the 2020 Spin Magazine Artist of the Year, Run The Jewels have won eleven Libera Awards, including the 2021 A2IM Humanitarian Award, took home four Clio Awards, including two Gold-winning Music Marketing campaigns, and received a 2018 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song.

In addition to his success as a musician, Killer Mike has gained wide recognition beyond the industry. He has acted in several films, including Baby Driver, Idlewild, and ATL and showed up TV cameos on Ozark and Billions. He also provided voiceover for the 2021 Netflix film America: The Motion Picture and is the host of multiple series including the Emmy Award winning PBS show Love & Respect with Killer Mike, Facebook’s Roll’N with Killer Mike, and Netflix’s Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, while also turning in regular speaking appearances on Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Real Time with Bill Maher.