Killer Mike Talks New Role Alongside Ethan Hawke on ‘The Lowdown’

Killer Mike is ready to grow his resume as an actor. Mike stars as Cyrus on FX's The Lowdown, a neo-noir series created by Sterlin Harjo (of Reservation Dogs fame). Ethan Hawke stars as Lee Raybon, a grizzled journalist who gets in too deep after he publishes an exposé on the elite and powerful Washberg family of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cyrus runs the crime newspaper that publishes Lee’s work. 

In a conversation with GQ, Mike shared how he landed the part and opened up about stretching out as an actor.

“Ethan [Hawke] and I had done Bill Maher together,” he explained. “And he had also brought me in for a bit role on The Good Lord Bird. I was interested in getting on screen more, as I've done a couple of things. Sterlin [Harjo] was a fan of Killer Mike, on and off the mic, and Ethan also is an encourager and a friend. And they gave me a call and said, Would you be interested? I had one conversation with Sterlin, and they gave me an opportunity of a lifetime. I truly enjoyed growing my discipline, being on screen as an actor from a writer and director like Sterlin, and from a f**king master thespian like Ethan.”

The Lowdown shoots on location in Tulsa, and Mike shared what it means to be there and to understand the history.

“Being in North Tulsa was absolutely amazing because, for me, as a Black person, I always heard stories about Greenwood, the Black population in Tulsa,” he said. “So it was good to be on the street meeting people, and for them to be so welcoming. Tulsa has a small-town vibe, but it's a city. You can get a great steak there, and you can get some great soul food by way of Kevin Johnson's restaurant Fixins. People say hello, stop, and ask to help. When we were shooting in North Tulsa, people were just patient and calm and watched the shoot. Then, after the shoot, they came over. There's a certain kindness that's felt in Tulsa that I really appreciate.”

The Lowdown also stars Keith David, Kyle McLachlan, Tim Blake Nelson and Jeanne Tripplehorn. Killer Mike (born Michael Render) said that he was star-struck getting to work with David.

“I was f**king fanning out with Keith David there,” he shared. “I was fanning the f**k out every single day. I was taking pictures that you couldn't post because you don't know who's gonna be on the show.”