Killer Mike Reflects on His Grammys Night Arrest: 'I Could Have Succumbed to Anger... but I'm Just Grateful'

"God showed me within 24 hours that there's something more important than even the accolades you've worked for," the Atlanta rapper said Thursday

Killer Mike is counting his blessings in the face of what might leave many others bitter.

The 48-year-old Atlanta rapper — whose real name is Michael Render — was arrested on Sunday at the 2024 Grammy Awards and booked on a misdemeanor after an alleged physical altercation with a security guard.

It was an incident that happened not long after Mike nearly swept the Grammys' four rap categories, winning three trophies including best rap album (for his LP, Michael) during the show's pre-telecast ceremony. And though his celebrations were cut short, with the music maker handcuffed and escorted out of Crypto.com Arena by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, he told GQ in an interview published Thursday that he used his time while detained in conversation with his higher power.

"I was just by myself, and I was just thankful," Mike said, in his first in-depth chat since Sunday. "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 I was glad that I had used those three hours to be thankful to God and to be calm and to meditate."

Related: Killer Mike Breaks Silence After Being Handcuffed and Questioned by Police at 2024 Grammys: ‘I Will Ultimately Be Cleared’ 

After a few hours, Mike was released on his own recognizance. "I got out and I went partied and had fun," he told the outlet.

The next morning, Mike got news that his son, Pony Boy — one of four kids he shares with wife Shana — was approved for a kidney transplant after being on the list for three years.

"I can just truly tell you that, God is real," Mike said. "And the same way Christ gave us an example of being by himself, of being tempted by Satan, I understand that a lot better now because I could have succumbed to anger or evil and talked s---. But I'm just grateful."

"I'm grateful, not only that I won, but I'm grateful that God showed me within 24 hours that there's something more important than even the accolades you've worked for," he added. "And that's my family and my child and I'm just thankful. I thank Him."

Mike is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles court on Feb. 29 for a hearing related to his arrest. A source previously told PEOPLE that his team is "confident that the facts of the case, when laid bare, will show that Mike did not commit the alleged offense, and he will be exonerated."

A public information officer from the Los Angeles Police Department told PEOPLE on Sunday that just after 4 p.m., Mike was detained for his involvement in a physical altercation. "At this time the individual is being questioned by the police and the investigation is ongoing," the representative said.

After the incident, Mike spoke out to PEOPLE in a statement. "As you can imagine, there was a lot going and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter,' he said. "We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the upmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing. Until that time, keep listening to Michael, and keep going after your dreams."

He went on to say that he and his team received "a number of calls from concerned fans and colleagues wanting to know if I was OK." Noted Mike: "I greatly appreciate the concern and support, but I am better than OK."

Related: Grammys 2024: See the Complete List of Winners on Music's Biggest Night

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Killer Mike has been in the industry for over two decades, after making his recording debut on Outkast's 2000 album Stankonia. He won his first Grammy in 2003 for best rap performance by a duo or group for "The Whole World" with Outkast.

“It feels absolutely grand,” he told the press after winning Grammy No. 2, 3 and 4 on Sunday. “If it feels like some people are reaching the finish line first, don’t worry. Just keep running your race. The only thing stopping you is your imagination. It’s our responsibility to be grand in every action.”

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