Updated at 8:00 p.m. on July 18, 2019

Confined for 23 hours a day with only 15 to 20 minutes time out of the cell, Harlem-born hip-hop star and fashion icon A$AP Rocky (born Rakim Mayers), and two companions, have been jailed in Sweden for over two weeks following an altercation in the city of Stockholm. The U.S. Congressman serving Rocky's home district in New York City, Adriano Espaillat, is working to change that.

"Three young men, doing the right thing, successful, we're very proud of them, and they got bamboozled and thrown in jail," Espaillat told Cheddar Thursday. "That's why I'm fighting to get them out of jail."

On the final leg of their European tour, Rakim Mayers, and two other performers, Bladimir Corniel and David Rispers, were arrested and detained "for a suspected attack on an unknown person" on July 3, according to the Associated Press. In a video posted on the rapper's Instagram, two men are shown following the crew for multiple blocks, with one ultimately striking A$AP's security guard with headphones. Rocky can be heard repeatedly telling the two males to back away.

Swedish prisons are reportedly known for being a model for criminal justice, but Rep. Espaillat suggests his constituent's continued detainment and treatment might have more to do with the color of his skin.

"Race is always a factor, and continues to matter across the planet. In this case, it may have had something to do with it," the Congressman said.

"Sweden's gonna come out of this with a black-eye. I think that they really have not measured the kind of harm that it's done to their image," he added. "As a country that has always promoted itself for niceties, and having the haven of democracy there."

On Friday, a State Department official will travel to Stockholm to potentially rectify the situation. Kim Kardashian West announced over Twitter that President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Jared Kusher, and other members of the White House are working to free the three imprisoned in Stockholm.

At a press conference on Wednesday with the Congressional Black Caucus, Espaillat called on the State Department to do more, going as far as to call out Pompeo to "speak up."

Espaillat's message to a jailed A$AP: "We're fighting for you, stay strong, we'll get you out of there soon enough."

The "Long Live A$AP" rapper is known for his lyrics discussing a range of cultural topics from criminal justice, drugs, and race.

Share:
More In Culture
The Deep End: Animals
As humans, we share this beautiful planet with more than eight million other species. In this episode of "The Deep End," we are looking at a few that we interact with most intimately. They provide us comfort, do our yard work, and one even predates us by 66 million years.
The Deep End: The Great Outdoors
On this episode of "The Deep End," we're venturing outside. Whether it's spending time in a national park, turning streets into public spaces to relax in, or having an outside date near the beach, there's plenty to do in the great outdoors.
The Deep End: Food
In this episode of "The Deep End," Cheddar News is taking a closer look at something that we are all intimately familiar with: food. Whether it's a sign of cultural identity, the foundation of many businesses, or simply as a means of nourishing our bodies, food is an essential part of what it means to be human.
The Deep End: Entertainment
From Broadway to NFT art to TikTok, the world is getting more creative. On this episode of "The Deep End," Cheddar News explores the world of entertainment.
The Deep End: Social Justice
In this episode of "The Deep End," Cheddar News explores the social justice movements defining the start of a new decade. From systemic racism and climate change to police brutality and women's rights, these are just a few of the harsh realities America has reckoned with amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We're taking a closer look at where the nation stands today.
The Deep End: Taboo Topics
On this episode of "The Deep End," Cheddar News takes a closer look at taboo topics. Some people call them vices, while other people call them hobbies. But what we do know is the line between what is accepted and what is illicit is getting blurred more and more each day.
2022 Golden Globe Nominations
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the nominees for the 79th Annual Golden Globe awards. The ceremony is set to take place on January 9, 2022. Gerrad Hall, senior awards editor at Entertainment Weekly, joins Cheddar News to discuss the nominations.
Load More