US rapper and entrepreneur Soulja Boy is once again facing legal scrutiny, after being arrested early Sunday morning in Los Angeles on suspicion of firearm possession—an offence made more serious by his status as a convicted felon.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the 35-year-old artist, born DeAndre Cortez Way, was taken into custody around 2:35am in the Melrose area after police conducted a routine traffic stop. Officers reportedly discovered a firearm in the vehicle, with Way identified as a passenger.
The arrest adds another chapter to the rapper’s growing list of legal entanglements and comes just months after a civil court ordered him to pay $4.25 million in damages to a former employee who accused him of sexual battery, physical abuse, and false imprisonment.
The woman, who worked as Soulja Boy’s assistant, alleged repeated sexual assaults and violence during her time with him. While Way denied the claims, maintaining their relationship was consensual, a jury found him liable for sexual battery, assault, and gender-based violence.
The two incidents—separated by only a few months—raise fresh questions about the rapper’s ongoing entanglement with the law and the impact it may have on his public image and professional prospects.
Soulja Boy, who rose to fame in 2007 with the chart-topping hit “Crank That,” has long cultivated a persona of brash independence and business savvy in the entertainment industry. But the recent legal setbacks have cast a shadow over his career resurgence and online ventures.
As of now, his legal team has not commented on the new arrest, and it remains unclear what charges may be formally filed.
Observers say the latest incident could have serious consequences for Way, who as a convicted felon is prohibited from possessing firearms under U.S. law. If charged and convicted, he could face substantial prison time.
