Local rapper Young Nudy was arrested early Sunday morning after a performance in DeKalb County, officials said.
Young Nudy, whose real name is Quantavious Thomas, was booked into the DeKalb jail on aggravated assault and gang charges about 4 a.m.
Thomas was arrested with rapper 21 Savage on unrelated charges out of DeKalb, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official and several news organizations.
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According to a DeKalb police report sent to AJC.com, police obtained arrest warrants for Thomas on Friday. About 3 a.m. Sunday, officers spotted him leaving The Atrium event center near Pine Lake and Stone Mountain, the report stated. Thomas was part of a Super Bowl-related concert there Saturday night, according to a post on his Instagram account.
Police pulled him over and took him into custody.
W. Scott Smith, an attorney for the rapper, said in a statement that the warrants stemmed from an incident that happened two years ago. Smith said the Atlanta Police Department initially investigated and cleared Thomas, but the charges were picked up by DeKalb police.
“We believe that Young Nudy is innocent and this is a case of mistaken identity,” Smith said. “Young Nudy's legal team is working closely with law enforcement to ensure this case does not get blown out of proportion.”
The lawyer said that “Young Nudy is taking these charges very seriously. Had law enforcement contacted us directly we would have voluntarily surrendered, but Young Nudy was arrested shortly after a performance Saturday night.”
AJC.com first reported that 21 Savage, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was taken into custody by ICE early Sunday morning. Both rappers were arrested following a traffic stop during which two additional people were taken into custody by DeKalb police, the ICE official said. Their names have not been released.
Abraham-Joseph was held on allegations that he is actually from the United Kingdom and has been living in the U.S. illegally since 2006.
Bond has not been set for Thomas, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cynthia Williams told AJC.com.
Thomas has collaborated heavily with Abraham-Joseph. The duo are reportedly cousins.
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He is known for his “Slimeball” mixtapes, and his collaborations with fellow Atlanta rappers like Offset and Lil Yachty.
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