With age a person is expected to show a heightened sense of maturity and a willingness to rid themselves of childlike tendencies. In order to grow in the business aspect, it is necessary to shed certain skins that have held a person back more than benefited them.
For rapper Killer Mike, disposing of the ‘Killer’ title has been made in order to open up the opportunity for future business endeavors. No longer going by that alias, the rapper is now to be known as Mike Bigga.
In an interview with AllHipHop, Bigga elaborated on the decision to do away with the name and adds that he has actually wanted to do it for some time now.
“I love how smart the hip-hop fans are and they say ‘Man, this guy is dope. Why he so slept on.’ Then, it always is a comment under there that be like ‘I don’t suppose the name Killer Mike be holding him back? You can’t get corporate sponsorship with that.”
With two critically acclaimed mixtapes, the I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind series, fans can only wonder why Mike’s name never comes up when there is talk of rappers that are on top of the rap world.
Being heavily recognized and respected for his work in the underground circuit, the rapper feels that he is bigger than he once was and has built a stronger status with his raw style. Ever since leaving the ranks of Purple Ribbon, Mike has established himself as a powerful lyricist that has the ability to stand on his own two. Now partnering his Grind Time Official with T.I.’s Grand Hustle label, the rapper seems ready to make the transition.
The desire for mainstream appeal has led other artists to ditch their original title. Uncle Murda has changed his alias to simply being Uncle M as the word Murder seems to carry negative connotations that can’t possibly be good for business. It won’t be seen in shelves at the local Target or Wal-Mart.
Name changes, however, do not mean that the music will be changed as Uncle M has assured fans that the same grittiness will be at the listener’s disposal, it will just be in a more suitable package. The same feeling must resonate from Bigga or Killer Mike for those that haven’t soaked in the new title yet.
