This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 24, 2019, Harlem-based rapper Asap Rocky was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden, following an altercation with two pedestrians. Although the pedestrians were not charged, Asap Rocky and two companions were detained for nearly three weeks as prosecutors built a case against him.
According to Swedish law, a person can seek reimbursement for lost income if the defendant is found innocent. Asap Rocky's legal team has requested bail, citing the potential harm to his career and finances if he remains incarcerated for the six weeks advised by prosecutors.
Asap Rocky had to cancel 12 shows and has eight more scheduled for September. His lawyers estimate he earns hundreds of thousands of dollars per show. If found innocent, the state would be liable for the compensation.
Asap Rocky's mother expressed her concerns in an interview with TMZ, stating that she believes Sweden is targeting her son. While she declined to explicitly accuse the country of racial bias, she noted that the situation 'looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.'
Asap Rocky's mother has spoken to him only once since his arrest in early July, but he sounded strong at the time. The court has until July 25 to charge him with a crime.
