Conversate with Killer Mike

“The Empty Cup,” Always the Student ft. Courtney "Bear" Sills | Conversate with Killer Mike ep. 45

In this episode of Conversate with Killer Mike, Cutmaster Swiff, and Ashley sit down with Bear, a behind the scenes force who helped shape Atlanta’s music industry from the ground up. From cutting hair in local barbershops to working alongside icons like OutKast, Bad Boy, and some of the biggest names in hip hop, Bear’s story is a masterclass in relationships, timing, and staying solid in a business that rarely rewards it. Bear breaks down how the barbershop became a gateway into the industry, why integrity and character matter more than talent, and what it really took to build artists like 112 from the ground up. The conversation moves through Atlanta’s rise, the reality of New York’s grind, and the lessons learned from being in rooms with legends like Biggie, Puff, and Eminem. They also get personal, diving into fatherhood, discipline, martial arts, and how Bear Strong Inc. is giving back to the next generation through health, wellness, and community work. This is a conversation about legacy, humility, and what it means to play your role at the highest level without needing the spotlight. For more information on Bear Strong, Inc, please visit www.BearStrongnp.org/ Follow Bear Strong, Inc on Instagram @bearstrongnpo Conversate with Killer Mike is a Third Story Media production.biz: ConversatewithKillerMike@rightclick.gg Subscribe to Conversate with Killer Mike on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=KillerMikeGTO Conversate with Killer Mike on IG: https://www.instagram.com/conversatewithkillermike/ Conversate with Killer Mike on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@conversatewithkillermike Subscribe to Killer Mike on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=KillerMikeGTO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Untold Story of 2 Live Crew ft. Mr. Mixx | Conversate with Killer Mike ep. 44

Killer Mike, Bear, and Cutmaster Swiff sit down with Mr. Mixx, the architect behind the Miami bass sound and a founding force of 2 Live Crew, for one of the most important conversations about Southern hip hop you will hear. Mr. Mixx breaks down how a kid from California went from the military to building a sound that would define Miami and influence the entire South. He explains how the 808 became the foundation of bass music, how early hip hop wasn’t being archived, and why Miami’s role in shaping the culture has been overlooked for decades. From learning to DJ in the barracks to pressing records independently and moving crowds with raw energy, this is the real origin story of a movement. The episode goes deep into the rise of 2 Live Crew, their relationship with Luther Campbell, and the internal dynamics that shaped the group. Mr. Mixx speaks candidly about producing nearly all of their records, the business decisions that caused tension, and how the group navigated fame, controversy, and industry politics. They also revisit the First Amendment battles that changed music forever and exposed the hypocrisy in how America treats art, censorship, and Black expression. Mike connects the dots between Miami, Atlanta, New York, and the West Coast, highlighting how regional sounds collided to create modern hip hop. The conversation also dives into performance energy, the rush of live shows, and the spiritual exchange between artist and crowd . Mr. Mixx closes with a hard truth about today’s music industry, calling out streaming economics, the loss of artist ownership, and why younger creators are disconnected from the history that built the culture. This is not nostalgia. This is history from the source. Conversate with Killer Mike is a Third Story Media production. biz: ConversatewithKillerMike@rightclick.gg Subscribe to Conversate with Killer Mike on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=KillerMikeGTO Conversate with Killer Mike on IG: https://www.instagram.com/conversatewithkillermike/ Conversate with Killer Mike on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@conversatewithkillermike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Atlanta Didn’t Follow the Game… We Built It ft. Devyne Stephens | Conversate with Killer Mikeep. 43

Killer Mike, Cutmaster Swiff, and Bear sit down with Atlanta legend Devyne Stephens for a deep conversation on the real foundation of the city’s music culture. From skating rinks and dance crews to talent shows that shaped the sound, Devyne breaks down how Atlanta built its identity long before the industry ever paid attention. Devyne shares stories from growing up in the projects, navigating street life, and making the decision to choose purpose over destruction. He opens up about discovering Akon, working with artists like Usher and Bobby Brown, and even helping shape the early style and influence of figures like Puff Daddy. The conversation dives into Atlanta’s relationship with New York, the business behind music, and why the city’s culture has always been rooted in independence and creativity. This episode goes beyond music. It’s about ownership, leadership, and the hard truth of why Black success often struggles to stay unified. Devyne challenges the next generation to learn from failure, build real infrastructure, and stop repeating the same mistakes. It’s a powerful conversation on legacy, business, and what it truly means to give back to the culture that raised you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Farming Is the New Freedom ft. tenisio seanima | Conversate with Killer Mike ep. 42

In this episode of Conversate with Killer Mike, Killer Mike, Cutmaster Swiff, and Bear sit down with Atlanta farmer and food systems advocate tenisio seanima to break down the real power of land, food, and independence. tenisio shares his journey from radio DJ to leading urban agriculture in Atlanta, and why farming is one of the most powerful forms of activism in the Black community. The conversation moves from food deserts and “greenwashing” to soil health, generational knowledge, and how controlling what you eat connects directly to longevity and economic freedom. They get into practical game too. Intermittent fasting, grocery store hacks, growing your own food, and how families can take back control of their health with simple changes. The episode also dives into deeper cultural conversations around land ownership, lost traditions, and why reconnecting to the soil might be the key to rebuilding community power. This is a real conversation about food, freedom, and the future. The bread company mentioned in this episode is Dave's Killer Bread. For more information on tenisio seanima. Please visit: https://www.cleanincorporated.org/ Conversate with Killer Mike is a Third Story Media production. biz: ConversatewithKillerMike@rightclick.gg Subscribe to Conversate with Killer Mike on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=KillerMikeGTO Conversate with Killer Mike on IG: https://www.instagram.com/conversatewithkillermike/ Conversate with Killer Mike on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@conversatewithkillermike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Breaking Cycles of Violence and Choosing Discipline ft.Art Powell | Conversate with Killer Mike ep41

Killer Mike, Cutmaster Swiff, and Bear sit down with Atlanta’s own Art Powell, an anti violence specialist, life skills coach, and CEO of Egret Consultants whose work is rooted in lived experience. After spending time incarcerated, Art has dedicated his life to helping young men avoid the same path, focusing on accountability, discipline, and real change in the community. The conversation goes deep into prison, personal transformation, and what it really takes to break cycles of violence. Art speaks on training the mind and body, choosing growth over excuses, and why suffering on purpose can lead to a better life. This episode is about redemption, responsibility, and doing the work to become something greater.Conversate with Killer Mike is a Third Story Media production.biz: ConversatewithKillerMike@rightclick.ggSubscribe to Conversate with Killer Mike on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=KillerMikeGTOConversate with Killer Mike on IG: https://www.instagram.com/conversatewithkillermike/Conversate with Killer Mike on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@conversatewithkillermike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]