Rapper Nelly arrested in Missouri

Acclaimed rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Nelly was arrested early Wednesday morning in Maryland Heights, Missouri, for alleged drug possession.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (KTVI) – Acclaimed rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Nelly was arrested early Wednesday morning in Maryland Heights, Missouri, for alleged drug possession.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's arrest report, the rapper behind smash hits "Country Grammar," "Ride Wit Me" and "Hot In Herre" was taken into custody around 4:45 a.m.

Nelly, aka Cornell I. Haynes Jr., 49, was arrested after police reported finding four ecstasy pills in his vehicle. He was also driving without insurance, according to the report.

Nelly was released from jail a short time after his arrest.

Nelly grew up in the St. Louis area and got his start in music there in the 1990s as part of the group St. Lunatics.

It's not the rapper's first run-in with the law. In 2015, he was arrested after drugs were allegedly found on his tour bus in Tennessee. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, which were eventually cleared from his criminal record after he completed a diversion program.

The following year he was hit with a tax lien. He owed more than $2 million to the IRS, TMZ reported at the time.