Rapper Jay Rock has been arrested in Los Angeles. The 39-year-old artist known for his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, was picked up by Los Angeles Police on Thursday.
The Grammy winner, whose legal name is Johnny Reed McKinzie, was initially approached by officers for trespassing and drinking in public around 6pm near the Nickerson Gardens public housing complex in the Watts area, according to KNBC. Rock grew up in the complex along with Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony Tiffith.
The arresting officers said Rock tried to run away from his car, but they were soon able to catch him. A search of the vehicle turned up a firearm, leading to Rock’s arrest on suspicion of felony weapons violation.
Rapper Jay Rock, 39, has been arrested in Los Angeles on a felony weapons charge; pictured in Los Angeles in December 2024
The rapper has worked with Kendrick Lamar; seen here on Super Bowl Sunday on February 9 Rock was booked into the Los Angeles County jail shortly after 8pm and held overnight.
In 2009, the Black Hippy founder was arrested in connection with a shooting in his Watts neighborhood, and detained due to outstanding warrants, but was later cleared in the incident.
In 2020, Rock teamed up with fellow artist Anderson.Paak for Lockdown. The single protested the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. He is also known for his 2015 album 90059.
In February 2016, the rapper nearly lost his life in a motorcycle crash and spent months recovering from a shattered pelvis and broken leg. ‘I was just doing what real dudes do. I was on my bike. Accidents happen,’ he told Billboard in June 2016. ‘By God’s grace, he protected me the whole way,’ adding, ‘It took me a couple weeks to get back out here ’cause you know, you can’t bring a strong one down.
The Grammy winner was initially approached by police for trespassing and drinking in public, according to KNBC in Los Angeles, but police say he ran away from officers. A search of his car resulted in them finding a gun
Rock was arrested around 6pm Thursday night and booked into the Los Angeles County jail a couple of hours later where he was held overnight; pictured in West Hollywood, CA in June 2023
Rock, whose legal name is Johnny Reed McKinzie, worked on the single Lockdown in 2020 with Anderson.Paak to protest the murder of George Floyd; pictured in Los Angeles in October 2022) The artist opened up about the accident on his 2018 album Redemption, with the SZA on the title track. In an interview with Billboard promoting the new album, the hitmaker admitted escaping street life wasn’t easy.
‘I was just speaking on my experience, my trials and tribulations in the hood when I started rapping. I was battling with it. I didn’t know if I wanted to rap or still be in the streets. I was straddling the fence.’ he explained. ‘The hood was always bringing me back and I was doing bulls**t. I just fell in love with the music, man. The music just took control. It really saved my life. I’m here now.’
