Killer Mike was arrested at the Grammy Awards on Sunday immediately after the rapper won three Grammy awards including his first in more than two decades.
Mike was escorted in handcuffs by Los Angeles police at Crypto.com Arena after some joyous moments for him at the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony on Sunday, where he won his awards in quick succession.
Police spokesperson Officer Mike Lopez said Mike being detained stemmed from an altercation inside the arena around 4 p.m.
Video from the incident was quickly circulated on social media —
Killer Mike swept the #Grammys with three awards, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance before being seen getting arrested 🤔 pic.twitter.com/YnAsF58WfB
— ATL Uncensored (@ATLUncensored) February 5, 2024
An official tells someone on his team that it’s possible he may be released later tonight from the arena. Unclear if he’s being booked here and what he’s charged with. Trying to find out. #Grammys pic.twitter.com/undjtECFu1
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) February 5, 2024
The rapper, whose real name is Michael Render, was released on his own recognizance at 8:37 p.m. and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 29 in Los Angeles. He was booked on a misdemeanor.
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 his third award, the Atlanta-based rapper shouted out, “Sweep! Atlanta, it’s a sweep!”
As a member of Run the Jewels, Mike, along with producer El-P, pumped out four critically acclaimed albums. He made noise outside of music as a social-political activist who was a vocal supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.
The Grammy-winner hosted Netflix’s “Trigger Warning with Killer Mike,” a 2019 documentary series about issues that affect the Black community. He also made an emotional plea to calm an anti-police riot in Atlanta.
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article