Mike Bigga’s Open Letter Denying Involvement In Assault

According to recent news reports, Grammy Award-winning artist and youth/community activist Michael Render, who performs as Mike Bigga (formerly Killer Mike), has been named in a lawsuit regarding an alleged dispute. Render has not seen the reported lawsuit, but he has responded with the following statement: As a community activist and youth advocate, I am extremely […]

According to recent news reports, Grammy Award-winning artist and youth/community activist Michael Render, who performs as Mike Bigga (formerly Killer Mike), has been named in a lawsuit regarding an alleged dispute. Render has not seen the reported lawsuit, but he has responded with the following statement: As a community activist and youth advocate, I am extremely concerned about recent allegations that I was involved in an alleged dispute. These allegations are 100 percent false. In support of my assertion, I have a Facebook e-mail from the alleged victim that vindicates me of any wrongdoing in the alleged incident, which states, “we cool and I know u had nothing to do with this cuz.” Since my days as a student at Frederick Douglass High School and Morehouse College in Atlanta, I have worked endlessly as a youth advocate and community activist for people who hold the least amount of power – well before my career in rap. Everything I stand for is about being positive and productive, and I strongly believe in setting the right example for young people in the community. (That’s one of the primary reasons I changed my stage name from Killer Mike to Mike Bigga. Although “Killer” only referred to my lyrical skills on the mic, I had serious concerns about the negative connotations associated with the word and the impact it would have on youth.) I’ve had a strong presence in state and local politics for many years, working with Congressman John Lewis, former Atlanta Mayor and Ambassador Andrew Young, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Rev. Joseph Lowery, and many others, to promote a positive platform with youth and to discourage negativity and violence.  Within the hip-hop community, I am revered as a scholar and positive diplomat for my music, but the respect extends beyond the hip-hop community. Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, and other notables are huge supporters and advocates of my platform. As a high school student, I was a founding member of and youth advisor for the Atlanta/Fulton Commission on Children and Youth, which became the Jean Childs Young Institute for Youth Leadership, and I served as national spokesperson for Black Teens for Advancement. Since becoming a rapper, I’ve used any fame and celebrity as an opportunity to help my community and to help Atlanta. Rapping is my job and I love it, but being a positive force for change is my passion. I frequently lecture children and teens about leading positive, productive lives though academics and the arts. I serve as a guest lecturer at Morehouse College. And I sponsor an annual back-to-school giveaway, providing school supplies, clothing and haircuts for 200-300 at-risk students. Speaking at Harper-Archer Middle School:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–ZAIu8RER0 Speaking at Atlanta Technical College:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxKVKMcPOXU&p=286F67BE1A55CE2A&playnext=1&index=100 While I don’t want these false allegations to tarnish my legacy as a rapper, I’m far more concerned with the impact this will have on the youth I frequently mentor and counsel. My commitment to our community can be heard in my lyrics with songs like “God in the Building” and “Pressure.” Although my music is hardcore, it has a positive and productive message, comparable to Chuck D and Ice Cube in the 90s. Additionally, I write about issues facing our community in a weekly blog at XXLmag.com. My most recent blog, concerning mothers and addiction, is located at: http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=97198. Thanks for listening and for your support. Gone!