On February 4, 2024, American rapper Killer Mike was arrested on an alleged misdemeanor in Los Angeles during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. During the pre-show ceremony, which gave some of the awards ahead of the main telecast of the Grammys beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT, Chris Gardner, a Hollywood Reporter posted a video posted on X/Twitter showing Killer Mike being escorted by police in handcuffs around 4:22 p.m. PT.
Killer Mike’s night at the Grammys took an unexpected turn with news of his arrest alleging of an altercation with a security guard, as he won three awards which were Best Rap Album for his album “Michael”, alongside two additional awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
This Grammys marked Killer Mike’s first Grammy Award wins since 2003 winning against Drake & 21 Savage, Nas, and Travis Scott for Best Rap Album. It completes a decade-long arc of Mike pursuing reinvention, and validation. Killer Mike’s Album surpassed Drake and 21 Savage’s “Her Loss”; Metro Boomin’s “Heroes & Villains”; Nas’ “King’s Disease III” and Travis Scott’s “Utopia” in best rap album.
“Let me tell you something, man. I talked about this album being a return to the religious and moral principles I was raised with. And I just got to say, man, you’ll find yourself in a position where it’s just you and God,” said Mike in an interview done by GQ.
Eventually, he was released by the Los Angeles Police Department, as the rapper’s lawyer confirmed to Variety on Sunday evening. In an official statement regarding the incident, Mike’s team spoke about how the situation has been “overblown,” but that they are confident in proving Mike to be innocent of the alleged offense.
“I was just by myself, and I was just thankful I took time to thank God and to say, I appreciate the blessings you’ve given me. I spent time talking. I’m invoking the spirit of my grandmother and my mother and just saying, Look, I’ve done it. And after a few hours, man, I got out and I went partying and had fun,” said Mike in the GQ interview.
