A$AP Rocky expressed how thrilled he was to be playing his first show after being released from a Swedish jail on August 2.
The rapper performed at the Real Street festival in Anaheim, California, on Sunday night and was joined by Tyler the Creator, YG, as well as his A$AP Mob crew member A$AP Ferg.
At one point during the set, Rocky addressed the crowd to talk about his jail experience, which lasted one month.
“Y’all know how happy I am to be here right now. I wanna say this though,” said the 30-year-old, after the crowd began to chant “f–k Sweden.” “When I was away — hold the mosh please, this a sentimental moment — What I experienced was crazy. … It was a scary, humbling experience, but I’m here right now. God is good.”
“People who ain’t even f–k with me praying for me felt sympathy. That uplifted me when my spirits was low,” he continued. “I can’t thank y’all enough, man. Hip-hop never looked so strong together. We a big strong community.”
Although released by Swedish judges and allowed to return to the United States, Rocky is still facing assault charges, along with his co-defendants Bladimir Emilio Corniel and David Tyrone Rispers.
The verdict is supposed to be read on August 14, and if convicted the rapper faces two years in prison.
The three men were accused of beating up 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari in Stockholm in late June, and at least two videos surfaced. One showed Rocky dragging the alleged victim to the ground, but the other one showed Jafari being the aggressor.
Rocky’s arrest soon sparked major outcry, and some of his fellow rappers said they wouldn’t play in the European country until he was freed.
Plus, Donald Trump said he contacted Sweden’s Prime Minister to help get the rapper released, but Trump was accused of merely trying to pander to black folks by assisting.
The Congressional Black Caucus also called for the “Tony Tone” performer’s release, and they held a press conference in July.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who represents New York’s 13th Congressional District, which includes Harlem where Rocky was raised, also demanded he be freed. And all of that was in addition to an online petition that was created that had 600,000 signatures in July.
“Great Performance by Rocky Tonight 🙏🏻,” someone wrote on Instagram after the show.
