On stage with Tyler, the Creator, the rapper reflected on his detainment in Sweden
After being charged with assault in Sweden in July, A$AP Rocky spent a month detained in a Stockholm jail, finally being freed on August 2. Now, the rapper has spoken out about his arrest in his first show since being released.
Performing at California’s Real Street Festival, Rocky told cheering crowds: “I’m so happy to be here right now, y’all don’t even understand.”
The 30-year-old musician was arrested at the beginning of July after a video emerged of him and his crew punching and kicking a man. Further footage released by Rocky shows two men following the crew despite being asked numerous times to leave them alone. In the caption, Rocky explained that the men “followed us for four blocks, and they were slapping girls butts who passed”.
Yesterday, crowds in California began to chant “Fuck Sweden” after the rapper brought out Tyler, the Creator to perform their collaborative track “Who Dat Boy”. Asking for the mosh pits to stop, Rocky began his speech while Tyler remained on stage, saying “hold up this is sentimental right now”, before describing his arrest as a “scary, humbling experience”.
“Hip hop never looked so strong together,” Rocky continued, “we’re a big, strong community.” Following Rocky’s speech, Tyler performed “EARFQUAKE” from his latest album IGOR.
Addressing his upcoming verdict – which is due on Wednesday (August 14) – the rapper told the crowd: “I know y’all was praying for me, I’m going to need y’all to keep praying for me. Hopefully we ain’t got to go back to jail or nothing like that, nothing crazy. I don’t got (sic) nothing against Swedish people because it was Swedish people rioting – they were protesting outside the jails.”
A number of high profile artists, including Nicki Minaj and Naomi Campbell, voiced their support for Rocky while he was in jail, while a #JusticeForRocky petition calling for his release amassed over half a million signatures. The petition claimed the rapper was being held in “inhumane conditions” in jail, with TMZ revealing that Rocky was “sleeping on a yoga mat with no blankets”, eating just an apple a day.
Donald Trump also demanded for Rocky’s release, even speaking with Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven about the case, though his interference was criticised by Swedish officials who asserted political figures shouldn’t influence judicial systems. He also tweeted a dreadful pun following the musician’s release.
Although Rocky will be anxiously awaiting his verdict on Wednesday, for the time being, it’s good to see the rapper out of jail and back on the stage.