ASAP Rocky Revisits His 2019 Detention in Sweden and the Impact of Donald Trump’s Comments
ASAP Rocky recently opened up about his 2019 detention in Sweden and how former President Donald Trump’s public statements actually made his situation worse. The Don’t Be Dumb rapper discussed these experiences during an interview with Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1, which premiered on Wednesday, January 21.
Describing Daily Life Behind Bars
Around the 22-minute mark of the interview, Rocky shared what daily life was like while being locked up. He described being confined to a small cell where the bathroom lights would shut off quickly. He said he was held for 23 to 24 hours a day, with only about 30 minutes outside on a rooftop that offered no real recreation. He described the environment as “just dudes, just everybody either working out in circles, smoking or talking.”
The Turning Point: Trump’s Voice on Television
Rocky recalled one particular night when he woke up to the sound of Trump’s voice coming from the television. He later saw coverage of his case everywhere—from Al Jazeera to Swedish national broadcasts—realizing how massive the situation had become internationally.
He described the emotional rollercoaster of that attention, especially while being behind bars in a foreign country. “I was honored and then I was so low,” Rocky said. “But when I saw my peers, different rappers, different singers, different entertainers, different people—just black, white, Latin, everybody, Indian, Asian, all agreeing, like, ‘Yo, that ain’t right. Free that man. Free him.’ Honestly, Ebro, that sh*t uplifted my spirit so crazy that even when I got out, I was still on a high from that.”
Translation and Confusion Inside the System
Rocky relied on other inmates to translate what was being said about him on television since he struggled to understand the Swedish legal system. He kept asking himself why he was still being held when he felt he had done nothing wrong.
Trump’s Involvement Backfires
According to Rocky, Trump’s involvement backfired. “When Trump said what he said, he made it worse,” he explained. The reaction from authorities was essentially, “‘Oh, word. Alright, we keeping him longer!’”
Rocky also revealed that he had to stop Kanye West from coming to Sweden with Kim Kardashian and President Trump as part of the efforts surrounding his case.
Behind the Scenes: Financial Motives and Negotiations
A national negotiator was eventually sent to Sweden, and Rocky explained that financial concerns played a major role in the length of his detention. Because he was stopped just two days into a concert tour, releasing him would have required reimbursing the remainder of the tour.
“So they didn’t want to pay X amount of millions,” Rocky said. “I still ended up being guilty even though they let me go, that was the catch.”
Facing Possible Extended Sentence
While awaiting release, Rocky heard rumors about possibly being freed soon—until Trump made another public statement. Fellow inmates then warned him: “Yo, they sayin’ they going to give you eight months, kid.”
With persistence and a bit of luck, Rocky was eventually released. “With the grace of God, I got out. I ain’t really let that make me jaded,” he said.
Giving Back: Charity Efforts Post-Detention
After his release, Rocky held a charity concert supporting refugees and African communities on the outskirts, demonstrating his commitment to giving back.
Consistent Perspective Over the Years
Rocky’s views on Trump’s involvement have remained consistent. In his 2021 documentary Stockholm Syndrome, he said, “That’s the narrative they pushin’: That he got me out. And he didn’t free me. If anything, he made it a little worse.”
For those interested, you can watch ASAP Rocky’s full Apple Music 1 interview above.
https://www.complex.com/music/a/alex-ocho/asap-rocky-donald-trump-sweden-jail-2019