Killer Mike has had an impressive 18 months. He seemingly recorded and toured non-stop with his indie rap group, Run the Jewels. He partnered with Bernie Sanders to promote the Vermont senator’s presidential campaign, which led to a series of high-profile TV appearances. But his most impressive accomplishment took place yesterday, when his hometown of Atlanta officially named a new $11.6 million, 400-foot-long tunnel-boring machine after the rapper.
The new tunnel boring machine, "Driller Mike" named for Atlanta's own @KillerMike is officially on! pic.twitter.com/gziU7FT7ns
— City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) September 21, 2016
“Driller Mike,” as the drill will be called, will be used to dig a five-mile tunnel to expand Atlanta’s underground water supply from three-day’s worth to thirty. The Associated Press reports the $300 million dollar project will connect the former Bellwood Quarry to the Chattahoochee River and Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.
The Grammy-winner, whose real name Michael Render, was chosen for the honor after he finished in the top spot of an online poll, beating out other Georgia-specific submissions like Scarlett and The Peach Beast.
“I laughed hysterically,” Killer Mike told the Associated Press yesterday. “It was the funniest thing in the world to me. I didn’t take it seriously, because I’m a rapper. Cities don’t associate themselves with rappers. But I’m a business owner, a dad, an active member of politics in Atlanta, so I was honestly honored that people in Atlanta saw fit to name something after me.”
Mike added that, as great as it is to have a big-ass, expensive drill named after himself, he hopes to eventually receive another recognition from the city.
“Before I die, I want a street named after me, maybe Michael Render Way,”he said. ”But this is a great midlife goal. This is truly an honor.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKoZV6VBr4T/
We here at the Fresh Toast would be remiss in not pointing out that in celebrating the drill-naming in his Instagram feed (see above), Mike gave a shout-out to “420.” Oh, happy day, indeed.
