“A great publisher is a major key to success,” the Atlanta rapper said in a statement about the deal, which also impacts the discography of Run the Jewels, his duo with El-P.
Killer Mike is playing the long game.
The rapper, activist, and actor has entered a publishing deal for his catalog, which includes his Run The Jewels’ releases and future works.
“A great publisher is a major key to success, and I’m excited to embark on this phase of my career with the dynamic team at Reservoir,” Killer Mike said in a statement via Billboard.
“Killer Mike has been a fixture of hip-hop for decades now, and both his past successes and upcoming music continue to push boundaries and address deeply meaningful topics,” said Faith Newman, Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development at Reservoir Media. “Artists and visionaries of his caliber do not come around often, and we are grateful to be the publishing home for such a trailblazing creator.”
Born Michael Render, the rapper’s star began ascending in music because of his early association with fellow ATLiens OutKast. He was featured on the iconic hip-hop duo’s seminal 2000 album Stankonia, and later contributed a verse to OutKast’s Grammy-winning 2001 single “The Whole World.”
Killer Mike eventually formed an influential rap duo of his own. After El-P produced Mike’s 2012 solo album R.A.P. Music, the two formally joined forces to create Run the Jewels. Their self-titled debut album hit in 2013. Run The Jewels 3 became their first album to reach the summit Billboard’s Top Albums Chart. They last released Run the Jewels 4 in 2020, which also cracked the top 10.
Killer Mike has established a presence outside of music, too, with acting credits in such films as ATL (2006) and Baby Driver (2017).
The 46-year-old also hosts the Netflix docuseries Trigger Warning with Killer Mike “examining cultural taboos” and “taking on the economy, gang culture, religion, education, and more.” The show premiered in 2019, and Mike’s devotion to elevating his community extended far beyond the screen when he gave a galvanizing speech after the murder of George Floyd.
Mike’s call to action earned him Billboard’s inaugural Change Maker Award in October 2020.
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