Rap star Busta Rhymes has been charged with assault after allegedly throwing a bottle of protein drink while at the gym in New York City, according to reports.

The New York Daily News reports that the 43 year old rapper was arrested at the Steel Gym in the well-heeled Chelsea neighbourhood of New York at around 8:30pm on Wednesday (August 5th) following the altercation with one of the gym’s staff.

Busta RhymesBusta Rhymes has allegedly been charged with assault following a fight at the gym

He is said to have thrown a 17 ounce container of Lean Body Protein at a member of staff, which struck him on the back of the head, after a dispute had escalated. The victim did not sustain any serious injury, but was reported to have refused medical attention when police showed up to arrest Rhymes.

The star, whose commercial peak was in the late ‘90s and early noughties with hits like ‘Turn It Up / Fire It Up’ and ‘Gimme Some More’, was then charged with assault in the second degree and it is believed that he’s still in custody pending bail at the time of writing.

More: Busta Rhymes sees the funny side in falling off stage at New York concert

The rapper’s lawyer, Scott Leemon, has told TMZ in response to the news that the allegations are “a bunch of ball” and that his client will easily beat the charges, which are just “another attempt to take advantage of Busta’s celebrity status.”

If true, it wouldn’t be the first time that Busta, whose real name is Trevor Tahiem Smith, has been on the wrong side of the law for assault. In 2006, he was arraigned for charges of third degree assault after allegedly attacking a man for spitting on his car. In 2008, he was sentenced to three years’ probation and 10 days of community service for reportedly assaulting his former driver.

A year after that, he was ordered to pay $75,000 in compensation to a concert goer for an assault that took place in 2003.

More: ‘Nas: The Time is Illmatic’ marks the 20th anniversary of one of rap’s greatest albums ever