Killer Mike Talks Race Relations, Nina Simone, Public Acceptance of Rap on "The Tavis Smiley Show"

Killer Mike was a guest on yesterday's episode of "The Tavis Smiley Show", where he discussed a number of topics such as Nina Simone's legacy, race relations in America, the public's acceptance of rap, and more. You can watch the first part of his interview, which was conducted in two parts, below. (The second part airs tonight.)

At one point, Mike discussed attempts to diagnose rap as a corrosive influence on the black community, and a cause of violence. "To blame it on a culture that children created to have peace in their community is something that’s almost evil and maniacal," he said. "It’s why I have a real problem with [Bill] O’Reilly, because I don’t think he believes these things, and I think he sells this fear to White America and that fear becomes something compounded and evil and allows people to turn their head when children are murdered."

Mike also pointed out that rap doesn't seem to have corrupted its white listeners. "You can't argue that hip-hop rots away the moral character of kids or rots their brain and still see middle class white kids going to college who are listening to hip-hop," he said. "Going on to become healthy adults listening to hip-hop. You have to ask yourself, what are these black kids missing? What are we not giving them?" 

On the subject of race relations, he said:

We are smart enough as individuals and as a collective to overcome racism. I truly believe that. But with that said, I want to see the day that someone who truly loves poor and working class people holds the Oval Office. I wish to see the day that the salt of the Earth human being is the person who’s first on the ballot and the statehouses. 

Mike also said being shouted out by Ice Cube was "the best compliment I ever got." 

Read our feature on Run the Jewels, Last Rappers Standing.

Watch Killer Mike and El-P on Pitchfork.tv's "Over/Under":

via Jeremy Gordon