Michael Santiago Render, better known by his stage name Killer Mike, has been captivating audiences with his lightning-fast flow since the early 2000s. From sharing the stage with fellow Atlanta hip hop superstars Outkast to forming his own dynamic duo, Run The Jewels (RTJ), with fellow hip-hop artist and producer El-P, Killer Mike has won over the hearts and minds of fans nationwide. But there’s more to this rap legend than just his music. He’s also a vocal activist, using his platform to address systemic racism and improve the conditions of impoverished communities in the US.
Fans got a glimpse of Killer Mike’s other side when they tuned in to the four-part Vice TV series Tumbleweeds with Killer Mike: Rolling Through America. In this show, the rapper visits four iconic cities that have embraced cannabis culture with open arms: Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago. Along the way, he indulges in local food, checks out art, and explores the city’s streetwear scene. Joining him on these adventures are local comedians, activists, artists, and entrepreneurs. And of course, he uses the Weedmaps app to find cannabis products and dispensaries.
While most of the stores he visits are large multi-state operators (MSOs) like Cookies, Curaleaf, Rise, and STIIIZY, Killer Mike also pays homage to the smaller players in the industry. In San Francisco, he and his guest Ngiao Bealum stop by Fig & Thistle Apothecary, a boutique dispensary owned by women, with a pizza restaurant right next door. Throughout the show, viewers will learn interesting facts about local cannabis laws, history, and more. The conversations between Killer Mike and his guests are a perfect blend of insight and humor, covering topics like cannabis reform, the state of cannabis culture, and the plant’s medicinal benefits.
While Killer Mike is a seasoned stoner, his guests have varying levels of experience with cannabis. In the first episode, “Rollin Thru Vegas,” viewers will get to know RTJ’s very own Ooh LaLa strain, produced by Cookies and their sister company, Lemonnade. This hybrid strain, a cross between Wedding Cake and London Poundcake, delivers a head high that heightens the senses and a light body buzz.
But it’s not just about the weed. The food featured in Tumbleweeds is enough to make anyone want to hop on a plane to Chicago or New York City. And if you didn’t already have Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in Las Vegas or the WNDR Museum in Chicago on your bucket list, you will after watching this show.
Tune in to Tumbleweeds for a different side of Killer Mike, but stay for the food, the sights, and, of course, the weed.