YONKERS, N.Y. -- Rapper Jadakiss was arrested for weapon possession early Saturday after a traffic stop -- his second arrest on gun charges since 2004, authorities said.
The rapper, whose real name is Jason Phillips, was one of four people inside a car stopped by Yonkers police at 4:25 a.m., said Detective Sgt. Joseph Pietropaolo. Phillips, 31, and the three other men were all charged with criminal possession of a weapon when a loaded handgun was found inside the vehicle, the detective said.
Jadakiss, a Yonkers native, released his first solo album, "Kiss the Game Goodbye," in 2001. His most recent album was "Kiss of Death," and he had a hit single "U Make Me Wanna" that featured Mariah Carey. He also performed with Jennifer Lopez on her hit "Jenny From the Block."
In July 2004, the rapper was arrested on charges of marijuana and gun possession in North Carolina when he was in Fayetteville for a club date. He reached a plea agreement the next year on the misdemeanor charges and paid a $900 fine.
Police recovered less than an ounce of marijuana and two loaded .45 caliber Ruger pistols from the rapper's recreational vehicle in the earlier incident.
Jadakiss sparked a controversy in 2004 with his song "Why," which contained lyrics asking "Why did Bush knock down the towers?" -- a reference to what he later called the president's failure to stop terrorism.
