Soulja Boy was released from custody Tuesday after Los Angeles prosecutors declined to file charges stemming from his arrest over the weekend.
The rapper, whose legal name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was taken into custody early Sunday after LAPD officers stopped a vehicle near Melrose Avenue. Authorities allege the 35-year-old artist was in possession of a firearm, which is prohibited due to a prior felony conviction. However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said it would not pursue the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
“A case was declined due to insufficient evidence,” a spokesperson for the office said Tuesday. Jail records show the rapper was released shortly before 2 p.m. No further details about the reason for the traffic stop have been disclosed. The arrest occurred near Way’s SODMG clothing store.
The incident adds to a pattern of legal troubles for the “Crank That” rapper. In April, a Los Angeles jury ordered him to pay $4 million in damages to a former girlfriend who accused him of abuse, including assault and sexual battery. Way was also convicted in 2014 for carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle following a separate arrest in the San Fernando Valley.
Neither Soulja Boy nor his representatives have issued a public statement in response to the latest arrest.
Way rose to prominence in 2007 with “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and sparked a viral dance craze. He was among the first hip-hop artists to use platforms like YouTube and MySpace to promote music independently, helping shift how artists engaged with fans and built careers online.
Since then, he has expanded his brand into fashion, gaming, and tech ventures. Despite recurring controversies, Soulja Boy remains a polarizing yet influential figure in hip-hop, known for his early role in shaping the genre’s digital era.
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