Soulja Boy is a free man once again after prosecutors decided not to move forward with gun charges stemming from his recent arrest in Los Angeles.
The “Crank That” rapper spent two nights behind bars before the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office ultimately declined to file charges, citing a lack of evidence. “A case was declined due to insufficient evidence,” a spokesperson confirmed in a statement.
Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Way, acknowledged his release with a simple message posted to his Instagram Stories: “First day out.”
He was initially detained during a traffic stop in Los Angeles, where he was riding as a passenger. Authorities have not disclosed the reason for the stop, who was behind the wheel, or what led police to search the vehicle in the first place.
This isn’t Soulja Boy’s first run-in with firearm-related charges. Back in 2014, he was convicted for carrying a loaded weapon. More recently, the 34-year-old artist has been entangled in multiple legal battles, including a 2025 civil trial in which a jury found him liable for rape, sexual battery, and emotional distress.
Following the verdict, Soulja Boy pushed back publicly against the court’s decision, citing both financial and reputational damage. “This trial has taken a lot of my money… as far as lawyer bills,” he told Courtroom News Service. “This whole trial’s been real costly.”
He also maintained his innocence, vowing to appeal the ruling. “I want to make it clear that I’m innocent,” he said. “I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed.”
The rapper also criticized the legal process that allowed his accuser to remain anonymous, claiming it created an unfair imbalance. “Keeping these individuals anonymous while I’m forced to face public scrutiny creates an unequal playing field,” he said. “I believe this entire process has been tainted by a system that is not designed to protect the rights of the accused.”
Soulja Boy’s legal team echoed that sentiment in their own statement, calling the outcome a miscarriage of justice. “We maintain that the evidence does not support the verdict,” his attorney said. “It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial. Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case.”