Rap artist Killer Mike was arrested Sunday and escorted out of the 2024 Grammy Awards event. Earlier in the evening, he won three trophies at the pre-show Premiere Ceremony, including accolades for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album.
The Los Angeles Police Department referenced the event with an X post, noting how 48-year-old Michael Render was detained and handcuffed Sunday afternoon in connection with a physical altercation. He was later placed under arrest and charged with misdemeanor battery and is “in the process of being released.”
The Hollywood Reporter also posted a video on X showing Render, who uses the stage name Killer Mike, being escorted away from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where the Grammys were taking place. The rap artist was led away in handcuffs. A person can be heard shouting, “Free Mike!” as police escort the rapper from the scene.
Breaking: Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in https://t.co/aF2yiyTHol arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Scientists & Engineers,” Best Rap Album for Michael) “Free Mike” someone shouts as he walks past. pic.twitter.com/4epfmzqMt8
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) February 5, 2024
Per TMZ, the arrest had to do with Render allegedly becoming physically aggressive with a security officer. He stands accused of knocking the guard down when that individual did not move out of Render’s way quickly enough.
The 48-year-old rapper discussed his past before the arrest, per ABC7 News.
“The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you’re doing,” Render said backstage.
“At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer,” he continued. “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.”
Render won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for his track “Scientists & Engineers,” which features fellow recording artists Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane.
He also won Best Rap Album for “Michael.”
It’s been more than two decades since Killer Mike took home a Grammy. His last win was for “The Whole World,” a collaboration with Outkast, in 2003.
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Besides music, Render is known for his political activism, focusing on social inequality, police brutality, and systemic racism. He has incorporated these themes into his music and has also spent time lecturing at colleges.
The rap artist was a vocal supporter of democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.