This year as we celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop, rapper and Atlanta native Killer Mike joins the conversation, sharing the first song that made him fall in love with Hip-Hop and the influence Atlanta has had on Black culture.
LISTEN NOW: Killer Mike on the first song that made him fall in love with Hip-Hop
“One of the first songs that made me fall in love with Hip-Hop is ‘King Of Rock,’" Killer Mike shared, going on to recite the first few bars of the Run-D.M.C. track. “I heard that, my life changed.”
As Mike has made his own mark not just as a rapper, but as an actor, and activist, he also talked about the way the city of Atlanta has impacted across all areas of Black culture.
LISTEN NOW: Killer Mike on the influence Atlanta has had on Hip-Hop and Black culture.
“When they say Atlanta influences everything it’s true,” Killer Mike expressed. “If you’re talking about Black culture in America, you talking about Atlanta, Georgia, and I’m not just talking about the last 25 years."
“We know what Atlanta did for Hip-Hop — Lil Jon, Outkast, LaFace Records, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, the hits go on. The hits started in ’92 with Jermaine and go forward, so you can count however much time that is,” he adds.
“For me, Atlanta and Black culture have affected this country,” Mike continued. “For every one Harlem renaissance… there had to be one or two here doing the same thing. Lena Horne got sent to Booker T. Washington High School, we graduated with Dr. [Martin Luther] King [Jr.] So, I don’t think you can talk any Black culture -- Rock n’ Roll, Blues, and Gospel -- without talking about Atlanta… We’ve been on the major scene and we ain’t never left.”
WATCH NOW: Killer Mike on the influence Atlanta has had on Hip-Hop and Black culture
Listen to Hip-Hop Made: Atlanta and more on the free Audacy app
Stay tuned as Audacy continues to celebrate the birth and trailblazing influence of Hip-Hop. Check out audacy.com/hiphopmade all through 2023 for more, and listen to your favorite music on Audacy's Hip Hop Made suite of stations, as well as Conscious Hip Hop, Hip Hop Uncut, Women of Hip Hop, and more -- plus check out our talent-hosted Ed Lover's Timeless Throwbacks and Greg Street's Dirty South Hip Hop.
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