Killer Mike - “TALK’N THAT SHIT!"

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 10; Popularity Index: 10

Pairs Well With…Bun B, DOOM, Run the Jewels

Killer Mike is taking the headliner role at SXSW 2023, breaking from El-P and Run the Jewels for the first time since 2012’s R.A.P. Music, an indicator that there’s hopefully a new solo effort on the horizon in 2023. Steeped in Atlanta hip-hop modes from the 90s to today, Mike’s trap beats in 2022 singles “RUN” and “TALK’N THAT SHIT!” connect classic hip hop and modern pop-oriented grooves with expert-level ease. That comes from both his writing and delivery, a rapper that has perfected his form and hasn’t missed in the past, and won’t in the future. Killer Mike headlines SPIN showcase at the Stubb’s main stage on Thursday night in what should be a packed, looking-to-what’s-next set. (Kevin McStravick)

2013 Review: Killer Mike’s 2012 album R.A.P. Music is one of those perfect pairings of producer and rapper. El-P’s nasty grimy beats serve as the perfect backdrop to Killer Mike’s sharp biting flow. The album has doesn’t have a weak track, each perfectly captures Mike’s analytic worldview. No targets are off limits when he raps and his live shows capture him at his best, connecting with the community. For all the vitriol Mike raps with, he comes across as a down to Earth artist that truly loves hip hop, he joins Saturday’s stacked main stage lineup.