The Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike, real name Michael Render, is expected to appear in court on February 29, 2024, in Los Angeles for fighting at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
This follows an arrest by Los Angeles police on Sunday after getting involved in a fight, but he was later released at around 8:40 PM after agreeing to appear in court at the scheduled date.
In a video circulating on social media X, the 48-year-old rapper and activist is seen being escorted in handcuffs by Los Angeles police at Crypto.com Arena after some joyous moments with him at the Grammys’ premiere ceremony, where he won three Grammy awards in more than two decades since 2003, when he won for “The Whole World” and for best rap performance by a duo or group.
The Los Angeles Police Spokesperson, Mike Lopez, said that Mike being detained originated from a fight inside the arena at around 4:00 p.m. and was retained on charges of minor wrongdoing.
While on backstage, Mike said that he regretted his misdeeds in the past and said that it is good to be truthful about one’s age and start doing what they love by bettering their lives.
“The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you’re doing. At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer. At 40, I started to live with my regrets and the things I’d done. At 45, I started to rap about it. At 48, I stand here as a man full of empathy and sympathy for the things I’ve done,” Mike said.
Killer Mike won three awards, which are Best Rap Album “Michael,” Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance “Scientists and Engineers.” While collecting his last award, he shouted out, “Sweep! Atlanta, it’s a sweep,” due to the excitement of winning awards after 20 years.
Other Grammy Award winners are Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” for Best Pop Vocal Album, Miley Cyrus “Flowers” for Best Pop Solo Performance, Lainey Wilson “Bell Bottom Country” for Best Country Album, Victoria Monét for Best New Artist, Karol G “Mãnana Será Bonito” for Best Musica Urbana Album, Tyla “Water” for Best African Music Performance, The Beatles “I’m Only Sleeping” for Best Video, Paramore “That Is Why” for Best Rock Album, Boygenius, “Not Strong Enough” for Best Rock Performance, SZA “Snooze” for Best R & B Song, Billie Eilish, and Finneas “What Was I Made For?” for Song of the Year (Songwriter’s Award), among others.
Killer Mike is also known as a social and political activist, focusing on subjects including social inequality, police brutality, and systemic racism. In addition to discussing cognate topics in his music, he has lectured about similar issues at colleges and universities, written about such matters for publications including Billboard, and has been the subject of interviews regarding police misconduct and race relations.
He was a visible and vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, refusing to support Hillary Clinton. The rapper has also appeared in films like Idlewild, Baby Driver, ATL, and America.
His six-episode docu-series, Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, investigated social issues that affect black Americans and premiered on Netflix in January 2019. He also made an emotional plea to calm a protest against police brutality that turned violent in Atlanta.
