Soulja Boy, the American rapper, was apprehended on suspicion of weapons violations in Los Angeles early Sunday morning, according to reports emanating from the United States.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed to CBS News that DeAndre Cortez Way, the artist’s legal name, was taken into custody at approximately 2:35 a.m. local time in the Melrose district of the city.
Law enforcement officials initiated a traffic stop and allegedly discovered that Way, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was in possession of a firearm.
The rapper and producer, prominently recognized for his 2007 hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” was arrested under suspicion of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
The 35-year-old musician garnered a significant following following the success of the aforementioned track, which was associated with a prevalent dance trend at the time.
CBS News, the BBC’s affiliate in the United States, has reached out to representatives of the rapper for comment.
In a separate legal matter, Soulja Boy was ordered in April of this year to pay $4.25 million to a woman who accused him of sexual battery and abuse.
The anonymous plaintiff alleged that the artist subjected her to repeated acts of rape and battery, and at times, held her against her will after she was hired as his assistant.
While Way denied the allegations of abuse, asserting that their relationship was consensual, a jury in a civil trial found him liable for sexual battery, assault, and gender-based violence.