Three-time Grammy-winning rapper and activist Michael Santiago Render, better known as Killer Mike, will be a featured panelist in an upcoming discussion on the future of free expression, hosted by the University of Richmond.
Co-moderated by UR liberal arts professor Erik Nielson, Mad Skillz and journalist Bonnie Newman Davis, the panel will explore the current state of free expression in the U.S. and what the future holds, with a focus on issues such as ideological divides, censorship, and the criminalization of hip-hop culture. According to Nielson, the event aims to tackle the challenges of fostering meaningful dialogue in today’s polarized climate.
“It’s really about taking a hard look at the state of free speech and free expression today,” Nielson told the Richmond Times Dispatch. “One of the things that I’ve been increasingly concerned about is how much people are retreating into ideological silos, avoiding conversations with those who hold opposing views. When people stop engaging with perspectives they disagree with, we lose the ability to have healthy, productive discussions about the most pressing issues of our time. There’s a growing disconnect, and it’s something we have to address if we want to move forward as a society.”
Nielson has worked closely with Killer Mike for over a decade, particularly on examining the way rap music has been criminalized. Their collaboration is part of a broader academic focus at UR, where courses on hip-hop and its cultural impact are becoming more common. “Rap music has long been a target for criminalization, and it reflects larger societal issues around race, identity, and power,” Nielson added.
Killer Mike, who first gained prominence with his feature on Outkast’s Stankonia and later with his solo albums, has become a prominent voice in both music and activism. Beyond his music career, which includes the critically acclaimed Run the Jewels albums, he is known for his outspokenness on issues like systemic racism, social inequality, and police brutality. His latest solo album, Michael (2023), won three Grammy Awards and further cemented his place as a leader in both the music industry and social movements.
In addition to Killer Mike, the panel will feature author Mike Curato, whose graphic novel Flamer is frequently banned for being considered sexually explicit, ACLU attorney Emerson Sykes, and George Washington University law professor Mary Anne Franks. The discussion will also cover the increasing number of book bans across the U.S., a trend Nielson sees as particularly troubling.
“Book bans are just another example of the dangers of limiting free expression,” Nielson said. “Curato’s work is often targeted, and the way books are being removed from schools and libraries is part of a larger cultural and political shift toward restricting what people can read and think about. Universities, in particular, should be the places where these debates happen—where different viewpoints are encouraged, not silenced. That’s what I’m hoping this panel will help model: the importance of talking, listening, and engaging with difficult ideas, especially in the lead-up to another contentious election.”
The panel discussion will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Modlin Center for the Arts, Camp Concert Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required HERE
Photo by Dan Medhurst
