Killer Mike simply made large headlines when he was arrested and detained on the Grammys, however talking out on this incident hasn’t been the one time he’s made the information up to now month. He additionally spoke up concerning the authorities giving the marijuana trade to Black individuals.
Killer Mike was detained and subsequently launched by the Los Angeles Police Division on the heels of his three wins on the 2024 Grammy Awards this previous Sunday.
Mike, aka Michael Render, was handcuffed and escorted out by the police. Naturally, viral social media movies and protection by The Hollywood Reporter got here out proper after the incident occurred.
On the Grammys, Mike received for finest rap tune, finest rap efficiency for “Scientists & Engineers,” and finest rap album for Michael. The one options Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane.
Throughout his win, he gave a gracious speech about accepting his awards. “We’re extremely proud and are basking on this second,” he says.
The LAPD initially solely shared that Mike was arrested and booked for “misdemeanor battery” on the awards present, however then, extra data began to return to gentle. In line with Killer Mike, an “overzealous” safety guard compelled him into the altercation that occurred after his wins.
“I do wish to word that final night time, my staff and I fielded various calls from involved followers and colleagues desirous to know if I used to be OK. As you’ll be able to think about, there was lots occurring, and there was some confusion round which door my staff and I ought to enter,” he says in an official assertion. “We skilled an overzealous safety guard, however my staff and I’ve the utmost confidence that I’ll finally be cleared of all wrongdoing.”
A supply in Killer Mike’s staff provides: “We hit a pace bump in that Mike was detained and charged with a misdemeanor after gathering his awards. On the best way into the venue, there was appreciable confusion round the place to go. He encountered an overzealous safety guard and continued shifting in direction of his vacation spot. The scenario has been overblown, however we’re assured that the info of the case, when laid naked, will present that Mike didn’t commit the alleged offense, and he will probably be exonerated.”
The safety guard claims she was injured by Mike at her assigned door entrance when she requested for his tickets and directed him to a safety checkpoint. He then allegedly pushed previous her, injuring her and inflicting her to name for assist and alert the authorities. She signed a citizen’s arrest for misdemeanor battery, acquired medical remedy, and was photographed by legislation enforcement.
The Friday earlier than the grammys, Killer Mike was already within the highlight for his feedback on HBO’s Actual Time With Invoice Maher. At all times an outspoken activist for each Black rights and hashish, Killer Mike was not shy together with his statements. He claimed that if Black of us had management over the U.S. hashish trade, racial fairness could be higher.
Mike says, “With Native Individuals, we gave them the on line casino trade. What about, you realize, supermarkets?”
“Might Black individuals have the marijuana trade?” he provides. “Give us marijuana. Multibillion-dollar trade. It’s nonetheless recent, it’s nonetheless rising.”
These feedback are usually not shocking given Killer Mike’s radical but legitimate view that, whereas individuals of colour largely contributed to the world of authorized hashish, they’re nonetheless disproportionately being incarcerated whereas white individuals are getting wealthy and operating million-dollar corporations.
Prior to now, he has spoken out towards inequality for Black individuals, and he avidly supported Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential marketing campaign. He additionally hosted the Netflix present Set off Warning with Killer Mike in 2019, a documentary collection about points going through Black individuals. He has additionally spoken concerning the Black group at rallies and protests.
With this historical past of activism and talking up for Black of us, it’s no shock that he’s scrutinizing the hashish trade immediately. Because the latest years spotlight, hashish is changing into an increasing number of normalized, with most U.S. states not less than legalizing medical hashish, and CBD and THC each taking a extra front-and-center position in group discourse. And it’s definitely true that if extra individuals of colour had been in positions of energy within the trade, there could be extra fairness.
Paradoxically, his first Grammy win since 2003, when he received finest rap efficiency by a duo or a gaggle for “The Entire World” is just not tainted by an incident that paints him as a felony. On the time, he referred to as out, “Sweep! Atlanta, it’s a sweep!” This was for his work with Run the Jewels, a gaggle he carried out in alongside producer El-P.
It was a sweep as soon as once more, however not one with out the very battle that he speaks out towards day by day in his activism. Hopefully, he and his family and friends will nonetheless be capable of benefit from the win.