Killer Mike makes faith the center of his story on 'Michael'

Killer Mike at the top of the mountain On his first solo album in a decade, a career skeptic is born again Enlarge this image toggle caption Jonathan Mannion/Courtesy of the artist Jonathan Mannion/Courtesy of the artist "I've never really had a religious experience, in a religious place," the Atlanta rapper Killer Mike says to begin the title track of his 2012 album, R.A.P. After comparing his music to various holy hallmarks — gospel music, church, calling it "player Pentecostal" — he offers his career up on the altar as a sacrifice despite his sin: "So I pray to the Lord He spare me, and I make it by and by / And I help souls stay out of Hell with what I testify / And maybe when I grab that microphone and never lie / That'll merit that He spare me, I won't have to feel that fire." To this point, Mike's musical relationship to his faith could be summed up by one facetious line on RTJ4: "Not a holy man, but I'm moral in my perverseness." But even with God moving in him, His reach and Mike's patience seemed to have clear limits, causing a buildup of fury he would redirect at anyone he had a gripe with: rap rivals, of course, but also moguls on the Forbes list, the "sucker s***" on TV, dirty cops and the Reagan administration.