Killer Mike and 2 Chainz appeared before Atlanta City Council on Monday to ask its members to reject a proposed ordinance they explained is likely to directly impact businesses owned by people of color.
According to WGCL, the ordinance aims to allow the city to close any establishment considered a “nuisance” after two reports of “violent crime or conduct” within a two-year span. It would also address businesses that previously managed to avoid closures by allegedly exploiting loopholes, such as changing property ownership.
“I’m Tauheed Epps, but my professional name is 2 Chainz, I actually own a couple businesses in the city, Escobar and Escobar Seafood,” said the Dope Don’t Sell Itself artist, as seen in the below video shared by CBS46 reporter Patrick Quinn. “I’m very blessed and I also like to be a blessing to others, and that’s what my businesses have allowed me to do. I brought up a real dear friend to me, Michael Render, I would like to yield it to him so he can really talk about the bigger picture here.”
Killer Mike opened by noting that “as Atlanta grows, corporations are going to be coming into here,” and “somebody is gonna have a nightlife.” He said that can be “the owners of Hard Rock [Cafe] or the owners of Hooters or the owners of a W Hotel, or it’s gonna be the little people that went to Frederick Douglas...and Southwest DeKalb, and schools like that.”
The Run the Jewels member cautioned the ordinance “will wipe out” opportunities that will then be “turned over to corporations” despite the fact that “this is one of the only cities where entertainers and athletes have gone on to form a business class.”
“Do the right thing and send this back to committee,” Mike said. See his remarks in full starting at the 24-second mark above.
Reporter Crystal Bui also tweeted from the meeting, writing alongside a photo, “Young Thug’s father also up in front of @atlcouncil speaking, saying the ordinance criminalizes businesses that have nothing to do with crimes committed. He asked if a crime happens by city hall, was it city hall that caused it?”
Mayor Andre Dickens introduced the nuisance ordinance in April, claiming it would reduce violence in and around nightclubs throughout the city. While speaking to the Public Safety Committee of the Atlanta City Council earlier this year, Killer Mike argued that moving forward with this proposal would lead to city officials unfairly targeting small clubs.
The R.A.P. Music artist spoke further on the matter with TMZ on Tuesday:
