Rapper 21 Savage in US immigration custody

February 4, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

ATLANTA

Grammy-nominated rapper 21 Savage was taken into federal immigration custody early Sunday, authorities said.

The artist, whose given name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested in a targeted operation in the Atlanta area involving local and federal law-enforcement officers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Bryan Cox said in an emailed statement. Abraham-Joseph is a British citizen who overstayed his visa and is also has a felony conviction, Cox said.

“We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings,” lawyer Dina LaPolt said without elaborating.

Abraham-Joseph is a role model to young people in the U.S., especially in Atlanta, LaPolt said.

Abraham-Joseph is nominated for two awards at next week’s Grammys, including record of the year for “Rockstar” alongside Post Malone. His second solo album “I Am I Was,” released in December, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Abraham-Joseph entered the U.S. legally in July 2005, but has been present in the country illegally since his visa expired in July 2006, Cox said. He was convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Cox said.

He has been placed in deportation proceedings in federal immigration court, Cox said.

‘Glass’ stays at No. 1; ‘Miss Bala’ opens in 3rd

LOS ANGELES

With the distraction of the Super Bowl, freezing weather affecting large portions of North America and only one big new release in theaters in “Miss Bala,” movie going audiences largely took the weekend off from the theaters in what is estimated to be the lowest-earning Super Bowl weekend in nearly two decades.

M. Night Shyamalan’s “Glass” kept a fragile hold on the No. 1 spot for the third time while “The Upside” stayed in a close second on this sleepy box office weekend. Studios on Sunday estimate that “Glass” has earned an additional $9.5 million in ticket sales, bringing its total earnings to $88.7 million.

STX’s “The Upside” added $8.9 million. “Miss Bala,” landed in third place with $6.7 million.

Rounding out the top five at the box office were: “Aquaman,” $4.8 million, fourth place; and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” $4.4 million, fifth place.

Associated Press