Rap star DeAndre Cortez Way rose to fame nearly two decades ago under the name Soulja Boy and garnered national attention with his hit single "Crank That."

However, Way gained attention of an unwelcome sort this past weekend when he was arrested in California on felony weapons charges. 

Arrest took place five blocks away from clothing store that Way owns

According to the Los Angeles Times, the hip hop musician was taken into custody following a traffic stop at 2:50 a.m on Sunday morning.

Soulja Boy arrested near his Melrose clothing shop on suspicion of felony weapons possession https://t.co/WtzDGt4sqB

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 4, 2025

Way was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over near the intersection of Genesee Avenue and Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, which is roughly five blocks away from his clothing store.

The Times noted how a search of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department inmate database shows Way was booked into jail at 6:00 a.m.

Judge ordered that cars and jewelry belonging to Way be seized following lawsuit

Sunday's arrest is only the latest in a series of legal problems which have beset the 35-year-old artist over the past several years.

The Times reported in 2023 that a California judge approved a request to seize multiple vehicles and pieces of jewelry belonging to Way.

That move came after a jury awarded $471,800 to his ex-girlfriend Nia Riley, who had accused Way of holding a gun to her head and kicking her while she was pregnant, leading to a miscarriage.

"You gotta understand that you gotta be a man about it," Riley's father was quoted as saying of Way. "Just be a man about it and keep it moving. Because ... he’s a successful guy. Why? Why all of this, and why does it have to be violent?"

Jury awarded Way's former female assistant more than $4 million

What's more, Way was also successfully sued last year by a former female assistant who alleged that he had repeatedly abused her.

The Associated Press reported that jurors found Way to be liable for assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

They awarded her $4 million worth of compensatory damages as well as $250,000 in punitive damages, a fact which was met with praise from her attorney.

"Today’s verdict is just the beginning of justice for Soulja Boy’s victims, and other victims in the music industry," lawyer Neama Rahmani declared following the verdict.