An important update: famous rapper Nelly was arrested following a jackpot win at the Hollywood Casino in Missouri. The rapper was arrested for allegedly driving without insurance and possessing narcotics, namely Ecstasy. But his lawyer on Thursday stated that the rapper was targeted by an officer, which led to his subsequent arrest.

In a startling turn of events, Grammy-winning rapper Nelly was arrested early in the morning on Wednesday at the Hollywood Casino, located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, a suburb of Nelly's St. Louis hometown. The incident, which has since sparked a lot of attention, was described by Nelly's attorney as a case of an "overzealous, out of line officer" targeting the rapper after a jackpot win at the casino.

A sudden arrest after a slot jackpot win

According to Nelly's lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, the rapper had just hit a jackpot - probably on a slot machine - when he was approached by an officer from the gaming division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Before Nelly could collect his winnings, the officer informed him that a background check was necessary, a request that Rosenblum quickly identified as suspicious.

Despite Nelly's objections, the background check was performed and revealed an outstanding bench warrant from 2018 for driving without insurance. Nelly, whose real name is Cornell I. Haynes Jr., was then taken into custody, a move that Rosenblum claims was only made because of the rapper's celebrity status.

This was an incident where anyone else would have simply been handed a citation, argued Rosenblum. But because it was Nelly, he was paraded through the casino and taken into custody, added the lawyer.

Adding to the controversy, Rosenblum revealed that during the arrest, Nelly's belongings were searched without cause, leading to the discovery of four ecstasy pills. The Missouri Highway Patrol claimed that Nelly was booked for felony drug possession, but Rosenblum insisted that his client was not charged with the possession of drugs and that the case would likely lead to an inquiry into the conduct of the arresting officer.

A string of past legal troubles

Nelly's latest brush with the law is not his first. The rapper, known for hits like "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma," has faced several legal issues over the years.

Nelly was arrested in 2001 in St. Louis on charges that were also drug related after being found with marijuana (a small amount). Although the incident was minor, it marked the beginning of a series of legal challenges for the rapper.

Eight years later, in 2009, Nelly was involved in another drug-related incident when police doing a simple traffic stop in Texas discovered marijuana, methamphetamine, as well as a loaded firearm on his tour bus. While Nelly himself was not charged with drug possession, he was cited for having it on his bus.

But perhaps the most serious accusation against Nelly came in 2017, when he was arrested in Auburn, Washington, for alleged second-degree rape. The allegations were made by Monica Greene, a college student, who claimed she was assaulted on Nelly's tour bus. Although prosecutors eventually dropped the criminal case due to Greene's refusal to cooperate, Greene still pursued a civil case against Nelly, which was settled for an unknown amount.

Despite these past incidents, Nelly has continued to enjoy a successful music career. He is actually still on tour and recently served as the opening act for Janet Jackson's tour, which concluded on July 30 in Arizona. Along with this, Nelly's next concert is set for August 30 in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, followed by an appearance on the 1st of September at Wet Republic in Vegas.

A personal life in the spotlight

In addition to his legal and professional endeavors, Nelly's personal life has also been a subject of public interest. The rapper is married to Ashanti, who is Grammy-winning R&B singer in her own right, with whom he first began dating in 2003. Although the couple broke up after a decade together, they reunited in September of 2023 after another ten years apart. The couple is now expecting their first child, adding a new chapter to their relationship.

As the investigation into Nelly's arrest unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see how the case develops. For now, Nelly's legal team remains adamant that the rapper was unfairly targeted and that justice will prevail.

Nelly's arrest has once again thrust him into the public eye, but whether this latest incident will lead to further repercussions remains to be seen.