Killer Mike emphasized the importance of free speech during his keynote speech at the 2023 Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Gala in New York City on Thursday. In doing so, he explained that fighting for freedom of expression is an endless fight. He also argued that freedom of speech is currently at risk in the United States.
“I need us here to know tonight that there is no grand final winning of freedom of speech,” Killer Mike told the audience. “There’s no end of the race where we all hold up trophies. It is a constant and protracted struggle to make sure the rights to become a more perfect union are always striven for.”
Killer Mike At A Bernie Sanders Rally
He continued: “If we allow ourselves to express to one another our deepest and sometimes our darkest thinkings, we will eventually hear one another. Burn off the fat of prejudice, of racial injustice, of misogyny, of phobias, and we will get to a place where we make a better, a more perfect union. Right now, in this country, your freedom of speech is at risk. The government has no right to limit your freedom of speech, your freedom of religion, your freedom to assemble.”
The speech comes as Mike prepares to release his forthcoming solo album Michael. It will be his first album as a solo artist in over a decade. In the time since his 2012 project, R.A.P. Music, he's been focusing on his work with El-P for Run The Jewels. The two recently released the single, “Don’t Let the Devil." They also collaborated with No I.D. and Little Shalimar on the production of the song. Michael will release on June 16, 2023. Be on the lookout for more news regarding the album in the coming weeks and check out Killer Mike's FIRE Gala speech below.
Killer Mike At The FIRE Gala
[Via]