The Grammy Awards on Sunday took an unforeseen twist as rapper and activist Killer Mike found himself in police custody after clinching three prestigious Grammy awards, marking his first Grammy win in over two decades.
Video footage shared by The Hollywood Reporter captured the rapper being escorted in handcuffs by Los Angeles police at the Crypto.com Arena. This surprising turn of events unfolded after Killer Mike experienced moments of pure joy during the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony on Sunday, where he swiftly secured three Grammy awards.
While the police spokesperson refrained from providing a name or specific details, the confirmation of the detention emphasized that it involved a Black male, adding an unexpected layer to the post-Grammy narrative.
A representative for Mike did not immediately respond to emails or text messages requesting a comment.
“The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you’re doing,” the 48-year-old Mike said backstage. He won for best rap performance, rap song and rap album.
“At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer,” he said. “At 40, I started to live with the regrets and the things I’ve 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’s first win came after he won for best rap performance for “Scientists & Engineers,” which also took home best rap song. The single features Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane.
He won best rap album for “Michael.”
Before Sunday, Mike’s last Grammy came in 2003 when he won for “The Whole World” won for best rap performance by a duo or group.
When he collected third award, the Atlanta-based rapper shouted out “Sweep! Atlanta, it’s a sweep!”
“For all the people out there, that think you get too old to rap, bulls—,” he said during the pre-telecast.
He doesn’t care, he said using an expletive, “if you’re 78 rapping about how many gals you got in the nursing home, make sure we keep hip-hop alive.”
Not only a musical force with Run the Jewels, Mike, partnered with producer El-P, delivered four albums hailed by critics. Beyond the beats, he emerged as a prominent social-political activist, using his voice to address issues of inequality for Black people and race relations. Notably, Mike passionately supported Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.
Adding to his diverse portfolio, the Grammy-winning artist took the helm of Netflix’s “Trigger Warning with Killer Mike,” a 2019 documentary series delving into crucial matters affecting the Black community. His commitment extended beyond the screen, as he emotionally appealed for calm during a protest against police brutality in Atlanta that unfortunately escalated into violence.
Credit: AP
