Lawyer says DUI charges dropped against rapper Nas

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A lawyer for Grammy award nominated rapper Nas refutes reports of the rapper’s DUI charges from a Sept. 10 arrest.

John C. Mayoue represents the New York native.

“Nas has not been charged with any offense whatsoever, including DUI,” said Mayoue. “The state’s own lab results were negative for any drugs, including marijuana.”

According to a police incident report made available to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nas, born Nasir Jones, was arrested on Sept. 10 and charged with DUI after the arresting officer observed the rapper was intoxicated.

During questioning, Nas admitted to having smoked marijuana at a friend’s house.

Sgt. Renee Swanson with Henry County police said Nas was arrested and charged. However, she could not confirm whether the charges had been dropped.

Thursday, TMZ.com reported that DUI charges against Nas had been dropped.  

The arresting officer observed Nas, born Nasir Jones, as he was participating in a license/safety check Sept. 10, according to a police report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The officer stopped the 36-year-old's black Cadillac Escalade and “immediately smelled the odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle,” the report said.

The officer put him through a series of evaluations of which he failed before being arrested. His SUV was impounded.

“He had a green tongue with raised taste buds and his pulse was raised to 116 beats per minute,” states the report, as well as "eyelid tremors in both eyes and body tremors."

“Green tongue” is used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Drug Evaluation and Classification Training Program as a possible indicator of marijuana use.

After being arrested, Nas was transported to the Henry County Jail for state blood tests. According to the incident report he was charged with DUI.

Nas is best known for his hits "If I Ruled the World," featuring Lauryn Hill, and "One Mic."