Killer Mike gave a passionate speech on the BET Awards on Sunday night time whereas accepting the award for album of the 12 months, referencing his latest authorized points and inspiring viewers to get politically concerned.
He began out by giving the customary checklist of thank-yous, together with his spouse, Shana, and children, plus his supervisor Will Bronson (“he’s a white man, however he’s down with us”). Then he turned to the Feb. 4 incident earlier on the Grammy Awards, the place he was detained on the ceremony following a scuffle with a safety guard exterior Crypto.com Enviornment. Final week, it was introduced that he is not going to face costs for the incident after prosecutors within the Los Angeles Metropolis Legal professional’s Workplace have elected to not file.
“Technically, I used to be not imagined to be right here,” Killer Mike, actual identify Michael Santiago Render, mentioned onstage Sunday night time. “I used to be put in handcuffs, and I used to be marched out of this constructing. However I wanna let you know, have a look at God as a result of I’m again, child, I’m again.” (The Grammys and BET Awards each happened in Downtown Los Angeles.)
He went on: “I wanna inform Black folks that it’s due to BET I’m again, not ’reason behind no white individual. … A Black man runs this enterprise, a Black firm places this present on, and so they obtained my Black ass again in right here. Thanks.”
“I’m moved and compelled to say this on this second, lots of people gonna say, who was he?” he continued. “Who’s he? Why did he get it? I’m a illustration of one of many most interesting issues God has ever made. And that’s one-half of the Black household. Black women and men, I’m you. Whether or not you’re younger, whether or not you’re outdated, whether or not you want me, whether or not you don’t like me, I’m completely you, and this win is completely ours.”
He then urged viewers not solely to vote on the polls in November but additionally to get politically concerned.
“They’re gonna let you know who we vote for is vital and it’s,” he mentioned “Who we vote for on the massive stage is vital, but it surely’s extra vital that you recognize who your metropolis council individual is, who your prosecutor is, and in the event you don’t just like the people who find themselves operating, run your Black ass to the polls and run your self.”
Killer Mike beat out the likes of Chris Brown, Gunna, 21 Savage, Usher, Drake, Victoria Monét and Nicki Minaj for album of the 12 months. He gained for Michael.
Additionally on Sunday, he launched a brand new single, “Humble Me,” by which he references the Grammys arrest.
Taraji P. Henson is internet hosting the 2024 BET Awards, the place Usher will probably be offered with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The present is airing reside on BET from Downtown Los Angeles.
See an inventory of 2024 BET Awards winners.
