United States rapper DeAndre Cortez Way, popularly known as Soulja Boy, has been released from custody after weapon charges against him were dropped by prosecutors.

A vehicle he was in was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation, but officers also found a firearm in his car.

The 35-year-old was then arrested on Sunday, August 4, on suspicion of possession of a firearm while being a felon, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

A few hours after his release on Tuesday, August 5, the rapper took to his social media to share a black backdrop that read, "First day out" in bold letters.

In April this year, a court ordered him to pay $4.25 million (£3.2m) to a woman who said he sexually abused her.

Way denied the abuse and claimed their relationship was by agreement, but a civil court jury found him responsible for sexual battery, assault, and gender violence.

In 2014, he was given probation for carrying a loaded gun in public but was later arrested for breaking the probation rules.

This took him to jail for nine solid months. Soulja Boy's Crank That song spent seven weeks at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot and was Grammy-nominated for best rap song in 2008.

He rose to fame through the aforementioned track that became linked to a widely popular dance craze.

Scaling down to Ghana, musician and socialite, Showboy, was sentenced to two weeks in jail following a violent clash with his former artiste, Kaytee, in Akim Oda.

The incident, which occurred on May 2, 2025, saw the two engaging in a physical altercation that left Showboy stabbed and Kaytee partially injured after Showboy bit off a portion of his ear.

The scuffle, which went viral on social media, happened after the two crossed paths during an event in Oda, where Showboy had been billed to perform.

Both artistes were remanded by the Oda High Court on May 5 after being arraigned for their roles in the mayhem.

Shortly after their sentencing, Showboy, seen in handcuffs, used the moment to caution the public against violence.

“Have you seen the cost of violence? You will learn it from here,” he stated in a video that has since circulated widely online.

He further urged young people to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, even though he maintained that he did not act wrongly in the altercation. “I am supposed to learn from this, but I won't learn any sense from this because I have not done anything wrong. But if someone offends you, don't take the law into your own hands,” he added.

The sentencing sparked conversations about the influence of public figures and the importance of conflict resolution, especially in the entertainment space.

Over the years in Ghana, several Ghanaian musicians have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, resulting in arrests, court cases, and even prison time.

Being a celebrity does not shield them from justice; hence, they face the law just like anyone else.

Below are six popular Ghanaian musicians who have served jail time for various offences.

Gemann

Nana Kwasi Agyemang, popularly known as Gemann, was once a celebrated musician and dancer in Ghana.

However, his life took a tragic turn in 1995 when he shot and killed a taxi driver during an altercation.

He was sentenced to death by hanging but later had his sentence commuted. After serving 14 years in prison, Gemann was granted a presidential pardon in 2009. Following his release, he turned his life around and is now a pastor.

Kwaw Kese

In 2014, rapper Kwaw Kese was arrested in Kumasi for publicly smoking a substance believed to be Indian hemp.

He spent time at the Kumasi Central Prison before being granted bail.

Eventually, the court sentenced him to one day in jail and imposed a fine of GH₵1,200, which he paid.

Though his jail time was brief, the incident was a major talking point in the media and marked a significant moment in his life.

Showboy

Sam Safo, known in music circles as Showboy, was sentenced to six years in prison in the United States for his role in a violent altercation in 2016.

During a fight in an apartment in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Showboy was caught on video stabbing the victim multiple times in the chest, armpit, and behind the ear and biting his face.

He was convicted of aggravated battery by the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.

After serving his sentence, Showboy was released in 2023 and deported to Ghana.

Medikal

Rapper Medikal, born Samuel Adu Frimpong, faced legal trouble in October 2021 after he posted a video on Snapchat showing a Ruger 9mm pistol while sitting in his car.

He was arrested and charged with the unlawful display of arms and ammunition. Medikal was remanded into prison custody for five days before being released.

Shatta Wale

In October 2021, dancehall artiste Shatta Wale was arrested for spreading false news about his own death, claiming he had been shot.

This claim, according to the police, was said to have been intended to cause fear and panic.

Shatta was held in custody for a week before being granted bail. Later, he pleaded guilty to publishing false information and was fined GH₵2,000.

Mona4Reall

Ghanaian socialite and musician Mona Montrage, popularly known as Mona4Reall, was arrested in the UK in November 2022 in connection with an $8 million romance scam.

She pleaded guilty in February 2024 to conspiring to receive stolen funds, with reports indicating that over $2 million in fraudulent proceeds had passed through her accounts.

On June 28, 2024, Mona4Reall was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, along with three years of supervised release. She completed her sentence and was released on May 22, 2025.