Tampa-based rap artist, Tampa Tony, was arrested yesterday (10/12) in Tampa, FL and charged with manufacturing, distributing, dispensing and possession of a controlled substance.

Rap artist Tampa Tony, whose real name is Antonio Alls, originally burst into the rap scene as a hip hop hype-man for MC Nas-D, before forming his own group in 1996 with Tony Mercedes called GHETTO Crew on Atlanta-based LaFace Records. Most recently, in 2003, Tampa Tony had a regional hit rap single in Florida titled "Keep Jookin."

Tampa Tony was currently working on his latest album called Jook City, which was to be released in the first quarter of next year on South Beat Records.

Along with his hip hop and rap musical career, Tampa Tony is probably best known for his invention of Da Splitta, popular in hip hop circles, which is a devise that is designed for splitting "blunts."