Thug Life Army

The singer, who has long battled substance abuse issues, was arrested at 2 p.m. in the Los Angeles suburb for possession of narcotics with intent to sell, reports E! News and TMZ, the latter of which stated that LAPD officers observed DeBarge participating in an alleged drug deal near the 101 Freeway. Police confirmed to the outlets that he was booked and released on a $30,000 bail and is due in court on April 9.

This isn’t the R&B singer’s first run-in with the law. Since 2001, he’s been arrested three times for drug possession. In the mid-’80s, he was also arrested for domestic violence and vandalism. In 2008, he was sentenced to two years in prison for a drug bust. Back in 2008, he was sentenced to two years in prison for a drug bust.

Following his release, he attempted to get his music career back on track. In 2010, he released a well-reviewed album, titled “Second Chances,” which was nominated for two Grammys including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. He had planned to go on tour in support of the record in 2011 but he checked into rehab and wound up canceling the tour.

El DeBarge comes from a musical family that includes three brothers, all of whom teamed to form the group DeBarge in the late 1970s. Their biggest R&B hits came courtesy of “Rhythm of the Night” and “Love Me in a Special Way.” His brother James was once married to Janet Jackson.