THE ANGELS –
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rapper and activist Killer Mike was arrested Sunday at the Grammys after winning three trophies, including his first in more than two decades.
In a video published by the specialized website The Hollywood Reporter, Mike appeared handcuffed and escorted by the Los Angeles police at the Crypto.com Arena after experiencing several moments of joy at the Grammy Premiere, where he won three awards. in quick succession.
Officer Mike Lopez, a police spokesman, said Mike’s arrest was due to an altercation inside the arena around 4 p.m. He was charged with a misdemeanor.
The rapper, whose real name is Michael Render, was released on his own recognizance at 8:37 p.m. and is due in court on February 29 in Los Angeles.
A representative for Mike did not respond to a written request for comment.
“At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer,” Mike said backstage. “At 40 years old I began to live with regrets and the things I have done. At 45, I started rapping about it. At 48 years old, I stand here as a man full of empathy and sympathy for the things I have done.”
Mike’s first win was for best rap performance for “Scientists & Engineers,” which also won best rap song. The single features Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane.
Mike later won best rap album for “Michael.”
Before Sunday, Mike had won his last Grammy in 2003 for best rap performance by a duo or group for “The Whole World.”
As he collected his third award, the Atlanta rapper shouted, “That was a sweep! “Atlanta, it’s a sweep!”
As a member of Run the Jewels, Mike, along with producer El-P, produced four critically acclaimed albums. He has also been an activist who has spoken out against racial inequality and became a strong supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 US presidential campaign.
The Grammy winner hosted Netflix’s “Trigger Warning with Killer Mike,” a 2019 documentary series about issues affecting the Black community. He also made an emotional call to calm a protest against police brutality that turned violent in Atlanta.