Killer Mike and El-P were scheduled to perform in St. Louis on their Run The Jewels 2 Tour last night, and the performance set time landed at some point after a grand jury in nearby Ferguson, Mo. had declined to indict white police officer Darren Wilson for the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. It was perhaps fitting that two such politically vocal and socially angry MCs were in the city closest to the unrest and protests that erupted in Ferguson last night, and Mike was not going to leave the issue unaddressed.

"I would like to say, Rest In Peace to Michael Brown, who will never get to see the next phase of his life,” he told the assembled fans, noting that they usually start their sets by coming out to Queen's "We Are The Champions," but did away with it last night. “I would like to give all thoughts and prayers to all those out there peacefully protesting.” He then echoed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by adding, "I also give thoughts and prayers for the people who could not hold that anger in, because riots are only the language of the unheard."

The rest of the video gets increasingly emotional as Mike explains the personal aspect of the decision. "Tonight I got kicked on my ass when I listened to that prosecutor,” he said. “You motherfuckers got me today. I knew it was coming. I have a 20 year old son, I have a 12 year old son and I’m so afraid for them."

"But with that said, these motherfuckers will not own tomorrow," he said, gaining steam. "We will not live with your fear, we will not accept your cages. We're not gonna keep playing that race card, 'cause we know. We know you don't value my skin, and we knew you do value his," he continued, referencing El-P, "but you know what? We're friends, and nothing's gonna devalue that."

The full video is well worth watching, above. Shoutout to Killer Mike.

[The Washington Post]

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