US rapper Killer Mike hit a little snag at the Grammy Awards when he got briefly detained by the Los Angeles police due to a scuffle inside the venue on Sunday. The 48-year-old, who goes by Michael Render, shrugged it off, calling it “a speed bump” on a night where he clinched three major rap categories.
Downplaying the arrest, Killer Mike shared his post-release thoughts with an Atlanta-based radio show, emphasizing the positive vibe of the night. “We hit a speed bump, and then we head back to the party, man. We partied all night. Ain’t nothing had happened, man. But we winners. That’s it,” he nonchalantly remarked.
Pointing fingers at “overzealous security” for the incident, Killer Mike stayed focused on the celebratory aspect. Videos captured him being led out of the Crypto.com arena by police, while onlookers chanted “free Mike.”
The arrest went down just before the prime-time Grammys, where Killer Mike, also a political activist, snagged victories in all three nominated categories. His track “Scientists & Engineers” bagged Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, and his album “Michael” scored him the Best Rap Album award.
In a spirited acceptance speech, Killer Mike stressed the importance of persistence and dreams coming true. “You cannot tell me that you get too old, you can’t tell me it’s too late, you can’t tell me dreams don’t come true!” he passionately exclaimed.
This marked Killer Mike’s inaugural solo Grammy wins, having previously snagged a Grammy in 2003 for a collaboration with Outkast. Recognized for his activism on issues affecting Black Americans, including police brutality and systemic racism, Killer Mike has been a staunch supporter of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.
While Taylor Swift dominated the Grammys with her fourth Best Album win, Killer Mike’s night became a testament to overcoming hurdles and achieving success in the face of adversity.
