Rapper Scarface was arrested immediately after being honored at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Moments after being presented with the 'I Am Hip Hop' award at the ceremony in Atlanta on Friday night, the veteran rapper was taken into custody at Fulton County Jail.
In what should have been a night of celebration for the Texas-born rapper, Scarface, whose real name is Brad Jordan, was presented with the I Am Hip-Hop Award at the ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, but was soon whisked away by cops and thrown into jail for not paying child support.
The singer was reportedly taken away from the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center minutes after accepting the coveted career achievement award from Ludacris.
The 44-year-old rapper from Houston, had traveled to Georgia to accept the award for his contribution to hip hop, despite reportedly not being allowed to leave the state.
R&B and hip-hop blog FreddyO gave a detailed account of the incident. “After Scarface exited the stage heading back to the celebrity trailers there were 10 sheriffs waiting to arrest him,” the site reported. “Scarface was so concerned about accepting his award and not disappointing his fans he risked being arrested.”
He added: "Snoop was back stage when Scarface was arrested and was upset that; the great moment ended on a sour note."
The 10th annual BET Hip-Hop Awards were taped on Friday ahead next week's broadcast - with Snoop Dogg returning to host for a third year.
Scarface is best known for his hit singles “Smile,” “My Block” and “I Seen a Man Die” in a career that has spanned 12 solo albums.
He initially gained fame in the late 1980s with the group Geto Boys through the song 'Mind Playing Tricks on Me.'
One of the few Houston acts to win acclaim outside Texas before 2000, he became a respected and influential figure in hip-hop with his gritty lyrics and street wisdom.
He has collaborated with some of rap's greatest from 2Pac to Jay Z.
