Image Credit: Jordin Althaus/WireImage.comWaka Flocka Flame is currently incarcerated in Henry County, Georgia, the county sherriff’s office confirms. The rapper, whose major-label debut album was released in October to positive reviews, was arrested yesterday and booked on charges including possession of marijuana (less than one ounce), possession of firearm by a convicted felon, possession of hydrocodone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, violation of probation for driving on a suspended license, and violating Georgia’s Criminal Street Gang and Terror Prevention Act. The charges stem from a police raid on his home last month.
A preliminary hearing for those charges today set Waka Flocka Flame’s bond at $31,950. His bond has not yet been paid, but even if it is, he must remain behind bars awaiting a probation hearing on Jan. 6 (this Thursday). A rep for Waka’s label declined to comment.
The timing of Waka’s latest legal mishap is unfortunate given the promising state of his career. In the last 18 months he’s gone from an underrated hanger-on to a legitimate solo artist cranking out some of the most undeniably energetic singles on rap radio (“Hard in da Paint,” “O Let’s Do It”). These charges won’t entirely vaporize the momentum Waka was building, but they won’t help, either.
Waka’s arrest is even more depressing because of the way it fits into a larger pattern. Earlier today, Waka’s mentor and labelmate Gucci Mane was sent to a psychiatric facility as part of a probation violation case. A few states away in Arkansas, their fellow rap star and sometime collaborator T.I. is serving his own federal prison term for probation violation. Who knows how much more amazing music these artists could be making if they didn’t keep (allegedly) breaking probation? As hip-hop fans, we all lose out when talented rappers screw up.
Last month, I spoke with Maurice “Mo Better” Rivera, program director at Memphis’ Hot 107.1 radio, about a related subject. “I can’t remember the last time Gucci, T.I., and Lil Wayne were all out of jail at the same time,” Rivera said regretfully then. “If they were all out of jail and you put them all on tour, it’d probably be the biggest tour out there, at least urban-wise. But you’ll never be able to pull that off.” Today Lil Wayne is the only completely free man remaining among that imaginary supergroup, and that’s just sad.
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Waka saw his buddies doing it with no hands and screamed, oh let’s do it. He wanted to go hard in the paint with his buddies. Now, it has landed him in jail. A shame.
WHAT????
Not really depressing… This guy blows.
waka flocka flame? Worst rap name ever.
wocka wocka!
um… Well i mite i luv the name waka flocka flame i know it off the top of my head
The only thing depressing about this item is that y’all consider this a depressing day for hip-hop fans, cause I personally don’t consider Waka or Gucci to ever recapture the shing they had a year or so ago. Their time has come & gone. “No Hands” was on the cusp of crossing over to pop radio, but I doubt it now.
shine, not shing
what the… “Who knows how much more amazing music these artists could be making…”??? at what point did Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame create amazing music?? is this what the industry has come to? these guys are considered amazing? disgusting…
Just another homey who got a break and played god with his future. Stupidity isn’t talent. If you walk on 2 legs, it’s your responsibility to act human.
So you’re telling me because these idiots can’t grow up and actually become a responsible member of society, we’re supposed to be depressed ?? I’m sorry, these guys are not, “hip hop” and never will be. Tell me something happened to Common, Murs or a member of the Roots and THEN I’ll agree something happened to hip hop. Just because they “rap” doesn’t mean they’re anywhere near hip hop status. On that note, where was your dedication to an actual good guy and true hip hop star, Eyedea ?? You waste time with this idiot and not someone who passed in his sleep ? Come on EW, get with it
WOW. R U SERIOUS. LET HIM GO IF HE WANTS TO SELL DRUGS OR BE GANG RELATED LET HIM BE
By Hip-Hop fans, the author means 13 year old white kids. Wacka and Gucci suck!
it sucks that waka is in jail. he does have a chance to be great
The high amount of people of color being jailed affects all of us living in America. It affected the tax payer, the student, white, black and the elderly. The police/government have been targeting rappers for years. Rappers usually are the ones’ in school that dont fit the mode of a ‘regular student’ because of his/her way of learning or behavior ‘different or needing a little more attention’ because of this many of them dropout. Sometimes they are a product of thier environment and sometimes its his/her genetic makeup. Some of these kids see no hope for themselves because they ‘think’ different so they get into drugs and criminal misconduct. The system (education) is designed for them to fail since they cant fit the norm. There should be programs to help these young kids out before they end up in jail. We as a society have seen this time and time again and we will continue until the system makes changes to the way the education system is and start setting ‘positive’ images of black males in the media but the latter will be hard to do since white rich people own the media and can careless about the trials of impoverished people.
shut the fuc up, when he hit the jackpot, leave the gun at home, get an entourage, and uh, the drugs, ? that wouldnt have been a big deal, driving on suspended? dude, thats what dumbazzes get violated for , get a driver, god dang i’m so disappointed
shudduhp .
I think both are cute but waka i luv u no matter what u do baby and all yall bicthes bag the hell away from my man!
NO stop calling him your mane 4/real do STOP PLEASE
woowowowowowowwowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowwowowow wakka ooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmggggggggggggg
GROW UP he don’t want you mane 4/REAL
ILY Waka Flocka Flame