Soulja Boy has been arrested on suspicion of weapons charges in Los Angeles.
The rapper, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was stopped by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the early hours of Sunday morning (August 3).
Officers in the Melrose neighbourhood conducted a traffic stop and found that the artist was allegedly in possession of a firearm, the LAPD told CBS News.
The 35-year-old was then arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm while being a felon.
Soulja Boy is best known for his work as a rapper and producer, and most recognised for his hit song ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’, which was shared in 2007 and got momentum following a dance craze at the time.
Representatives for the rapper have not yet shared a statement about his arrest, nor responded to requests for comments from CBS and BBC News.
News of Way’s arrest comes after he was made to pay out $4.25million (£3.2million) this spring to a woman who accused him of abuse and sexual battery. As reported by the BBC, the woman remains unnamed, and sued the rapper, saying that he raped and beat her numerous times and sometimes “kept her as a prisoner” after she was hired as his assistant.
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Soulja Boy denied the claims, and said that their relationship was always consensual. A jury in April found him liable for gender violence, assault and sexual battery.
In other Soulja Boy news, back in February the rapper made headlines when he threatened to sue Bhad Bhabie because she accused him and Tyga of sleeping with Travis Barker‘s daughter, Alabama. In July, he also filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Tasha K and reality TV star William the Baddest, who claimed an “alleged intimate moment” happened between the Atlanta rapper and a man.
In March 2023, he and Lil Yachty were among celebrities who faced charges after being accused of promoting crypto assets, without disclosing that they were paid to do so. Other names included Austin Mahone, Shaffer Smith (Ne-Yo), and Aliaune Thiam (Akon). Other famous faces include Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, and Michele Mason (Kendra Lust), and nearly all of those accused settled the charges by agreeing to pay a total of more than $400,000 (£329,000), without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings.
At the start of the year, the rapper made headlines again when he defended his choice to perform at Donald Trump‘s recent inauguration ball.
Way performed at the Crypto Ball in Washington DC, an event described as a “celebratory setting intended to honour America’s first ‘crypto president’”. Responding to backlash, the rapper said: “It wasn’t even a Trump event – Trump wasn’t even there… Y’all want me not to answer the phone on the motherfucking president?”
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