Rakim Arrested En Route To Performance

Rap veteran Rakim left fans at a New York show waiting on Tuesday night (27APR04), after police arrested him on family court charges before he could even enter the venue.

Rakim was arrested by plain-clothed officers at Manhattan's ROSELAND BALLROOM - where rappers Ghostface, Talib Kweli, Slick Rick and ROYCE DA 5'9 were also performing - at around 11pm before being taken away in an unmarked car.

The star's manager ZACH KATZ fumes, "Rakim was falsely arrested. We have written evidence to prove it. We intend to sue all parties who have led this unwarranted attack on Rakim."

Security guards at Roseland allege that police had staked out the venue and were waiting for the rapper from as early as 6pm.

SLICK RICK announced to fans from the stage that the veteran emcee had ran afoul of the law.

A Suffolk County officer says, "He was arrested on family court charges. I cannot specify the exact nature of the charges."

Sources suspect the charges are related to child support, but Katz adds, "There are no unfulfilled obligations on Rakim's part towards anybody. We have documents that he has paid everything."