Killer Mike has been arrested and booked for “misdemeanor battery” after an alleged physical altercation backstage at the 2024 Grammy awards, just after he won three awards including his first in more than two decades.
The 48-year-old rapper, real name Michael Render, was in the process of being released by the Los Angeles police department, an LAPD spokesperson confirmed on Sunday night.
“On Sunday, 4 February, just after 4pm, a male adult was detained and handcuffed for a physical altercation that occurred at the 700 block of Chick Hearn Court,” a statement said.
“The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division. The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released.”
In footage captured by the Hollywood Reporter at the annual music awards, the 48-year-old rapper was handcuffed and escorted out by Los Angeles police at Crypto Arena. It came just after some joyous moments for him at the Grammy premiere ceremony, where he won three awards in quick succession: best rap album for his album Michael, and best rap song and best rap performance for his track Scientists and Engineers featuring Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane.
Render was celebrating just before he was detained. “The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you’re doing,” he said backstage.
“At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer,” he added. “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.”
When he collected his 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, bullshit,” 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”.
A representative for the rapper has yet to respond to requests for comment. Members of his team at the Grammys declined to comment when approached by the Hollywood Reporter. (The Guardian)