Rapper Nelly was arrested early Wednesday morning in Maryland Heights, a spokesperson for the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed to Variety.
Nelly, whose real name is Cornell I. Haynes Jr., was leaving the Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights near St. Louis at around 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday when he was stopped for ID verification by the Missouri Gaming Commision. He was subsequently arrested for a previous warrant he had under his name for failure to obtain car insurance.
Upon searching Nelly’s car, Missouri State Highway officers also discovered ecstasy pills, leading them to charge the entertainer for drug possession. Nelly was then transported to the Maryland Heights Police Department and was ultimately released.
Representatives for Nelly did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Nelly just recently completed a trek across the United States as the supporting act for Janet Jackson’s ninth concert tour. The summer leg was an extension of Jackson’s 2023 “Together Again” run — the highest selling jaunt of Jackson’s career. The last date Nelly played was on July 30 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
He has put somewhat of a pause on his solo music career, with his last solo full-length and original effort being 2021’s “Heartland,” which saw him collaborating with country acts such as Florida Georgia Line. Most recently, Nelly signed with WME for global representation after touring with T.I., Ja Rule and Ashanti, in addition to a short trek with Nashville singer Chase McDaniel, and following a string of music festival appearances.