Killer Mike, the acclaimed rapper, found himself in legal trouble following an alleged backstage altercation at the 2024 Grammy Awards, occurring shortly after he celebrated winning three awards, marking his first Grammy wins in over two decades.
The 48-year-old artist, whose legal name is Michael Render, was in the process of being released, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on Sunday night.
The LAPD released a statement detailing the incident: “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. 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.”
Render’s arrest was captured by the Hollywood Reporter during the Grammy event held at Crypto Arena, overshadowing his earlier achievements of the evening. He had won best rap album for “Michael,” and best rap song and best rap performance for “Scientists and Engineers” featuring Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane.
Reflecting on his journey and the significance of his age in his career, Render shared his thoughts backstage, stating, “The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you’re doing.”
He opened up about his past, saying, “At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug d**ler. 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.”
Upon receiving his third award, the Atlanta-based rapper proudly proclaimed, “Sweep! Atlanta, it’s a sweep!”
He also addressed ageism in hip-hop during the pre-telecast, declaring, “For all the people out there that think you get too old to rap, bulls**t.” He further emphasized the importance of keeping the spirit of hip-hop alive, regardless of age, with a humorous take: “if you’re 78 rapping about how many gals you got in the nursing home, make sure we keep hip-hop alive.”
