Los Angeles Police Department officials arrested Grammy-winning rapper Jaylock at Watts before 5:30pm on Thursday.
Video footage taken by Glock Topicz showed a famous artist holding his hand behind his back as several police officers tried to get him to a police vehicle. Jay Locke defended himself as police pulled him away in front of the gathered crowd. Officers told TMZ that they requested backup to control the large crowd and claimed the rapper was trespassing on the Nickerson Gardens Housing Project. Police said he tried to escape when he moved to restrain him, but was stopped shortly. His search for the car is said to have revealed a firearm. According to TMZ.
Police say Jay Lock was “trespassing” and when they tried to hold him he tried to escape. https://t.co/2kqylsorl1 pic.twitter.com/zalwzp0qkk
– Glock Topicz (@glock_topickz) March 14, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA – July 18: Jaylock will attend the TDE Pool Party at a private residence held in Los Angeles, CA on July 18, 2021. (Photo: Jerit Clark/Getty Images)
Bystanders supported the rapper as police surrounded him. Someone in the video cried out “The man didn’t do his siblings,” while others said “He wasn’t driving.”
Jay Locke was seen exchanging words with officers, but the conversation was not clear on the recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpr98fdbqbo
Jay Locke was charged with felony possession of a firearm and his car was locked up. It is not clear whether he is still in police custody or if he has been released.
The popular rapper has signed with Top Dog Entertainment and is a heavy hitter in the West Coast rap scene. He has long been best known as a member of the now-deprecated hip-hop groups Black Hippie, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and AB Soul. (Related: The federal government reportedly stormed Tekashi 6ix9ine’s mansion and forced a DNA test)
Jaylock won a Grammy Award in 2019 for his song “The Kings Dead.”
