Killer Mike stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to close out the week with Robert Glasper and Eryn Allen Kane in a tear-streaked performance of “Motherless.”
“My mama dead, My grandmama dead, to keep it honest, I get depressed and be feelin’ scared,” the Atlanta rapper recited as his opening lyrics. The moving performance was dedicated to Druzella Denise Clonts a.k.a. OG Mama Niecy and Kim Yvette Glasper, the late mothers of Killer Mike and Glasper.
Killer Mike, Glasper and Kane wore all white while the stage was set up to be a memorial with candles and photographs.
“When I tell the story of my mother the tales told include one when I walked in on her attempting to take her own life it gets to the heart of how deeply sensitive an artist and human she was,” Killer Mike previously said in a statement when he unveiled the song on Mother’s Day. “She survived, was diagnosed bi-polar and depressed; she fought that until the day she died.”
“She lived a beautifully rich outlaw of a life and I am honored to show her as the total beautiful badass she was,” he added. “These aren’t meant to be sad videos or eulogies. This is a celebration of a bad ass black girl from the westside of Atlanta. She’s been affectionately called OG Mama Niecy by the many people she helped stay on their path.”
Michael, released in June, marked the Run the Jewels rapper’s first solo album in 11 years. The LP also featured appearances by Andre 3000, Young Thug, CeeLo Green, 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla Sign, Future, Dave Chappelle, Jagged Edge and his RTJ mate El-P.