Holy shit, Birdman arrested in Kingsport

So I'm at work right now killing some time, and was reading about the recent arrest of Cash Money Records founder/CEO Bryan "Baby" Williams, better known by his rap name "Birdman." OK, rapper arrested for weed, nothing new here. However, I did what has become the pre-requisite double-take upon seeing the words "Kingsport Police Corporal" and "I-81" on HipHopGame.com. Huh? Hell naw. Get the fuck outta here. Sure enough I surf over to the Kingsport Times-News...


The rapper Birdman and his entourage left the Kingsport Justice Center and drove off in rented cars Wednesday morning following their arraignment on drug charges in Kingsport court. Their next court date is March 18, according to the Kingsport general sessions court clerk's office.

Bryan 'Baby' Williams, better known as Birdman, his brother Ronald 'Godfather' Williams, and his wife, Brittany Williams, were among 16 who posted $1,500 bond Wednesday morning and left in rented cars the morning after Kingsport police took them to the Kingsport city jail on charges of possession of over 1/2 ounce of marijuana. The arrests came after a traffic stop on Interstate 81 that put northbound traffic at a standstill for at least an hour.

The Cash Money Records reps were traveling in a Provost RV rented from Entertainment Coaches of America in Leesburg, Fla. Kingsport police corporal Tim Horne stopped it near the Colonial Heights exit after the driver, Keith Boswell, attempted a righthand lane change and forced a tractor trailer into the emergency lane to avoid being struck.

Boswell told Horne he was taking the group of Cash Money Records representatives from New Orleans to a BET shoot in New York City. Their plans were derailed when Horne obtained consent to search the vehicle after smelling burnt and raw marijuana inside the vehicle. During that search Kingsport police found about a pound of marijuana in a trash can in the kitchenette.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted in the investigation after police found a 9mm pistol in the waistband of the third person off the bus, Brandon Thursten. Police said a .223-caliber "short rifle" and a magazine and case for a .45-caliber pistol were also located during the investigation.

Police have contacted Entertainment Coaches of America about the seized rental, but the RV is expected to remain at the city's impound lot pending further investigation and the results of a more thorough search for drugs and other weapons. No further charges had been filed as of early Wednesday evening, according to Kingsport city spokesman Tim Whaley. He said police were still combing the RV for evidence, but so far no further evidence of drugs or weapons has been found. Whaley also said police have not made a determination about whether the group's cash will be seized.