MICHAEL – Killer Mike

Year	Album	Artist	Stars	Score	Genre
2023	Michael	Killer Mike	★★★½	73	Hip-Hop

After spending the better part of a decade working with EL-P as part of Run The Jewels, it’s appropriate that Killer Mike’s comeback solo record is simply titled MICHAEL. 

On MICHAEL, Killer Mike takes us back to his roots, not just with personal stories of growing up and his family, but spiritually and musically too. Gospel and soul elements mix with modern southern hip-hop drums, bass and guitar melodies that bring us back to Atlanta. Collaborators who worked with him in the early 2000s like Andre 3000, CeeLo Green and Jagged Edge are back, as are more recent Atlanta stars like Young Thug, 2 Chainz and Future. 

While I still feel that Run The Jewels showcases Killer Mike’s punchy political lyrics, humor, swagger and energy best, working as part of a duo can limit an artist’s ability to to deliver a more personal message. This is a welcome return to the past, and with his added experience and maturity, he’s unlocked something that feels both fresh and familiar. 

“Scientists & Engineers” is probably the big hitter here, with solid features and electronic elements co-mingling with groovy bass and soulful harmonies, but “Run,” “Down By The Lawn,” “Exit 9” and “Don’t Let The Devil” are all as solid as they come. There are some moments that don’t pack as much of a punch as others, but it’s a well rounded hip-hop record by one of the best voices in the genre.