Busta Rhymes Arrested On Assault Charges

Hip-hop musician and actor Busta Rhymes has been arrested on misdemeanor assault charges after allegedly attacking a former employee during an argument over "payroll issues," police said.

Accompanied by his lawyer, the 34-year-old Brooklyn native, born Trevor Smith, walked into a lower Manhattan precinct on Wednesday night where he was arrested.

Police said the rapper is accused of kicking and punching the former employee during an argument outside Rhymes' Manhattan office the day after Christmas.

Following the alleged attack, police said the man, who has not been named, reported the incident and sought medical treatment for swelling and bruising to his face.

The rapper will be arraigned Thursday.

This is not the first incident of violence surrounding Rhymes, whose hits include "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," "Dangerous" and "Touch It." He has also appeared in films, including 2000's "Shaft" and "Finding Forrester."

In February, a bodyguard for the rap star was shot dead during a music video shoot. Israel Ramirez, 30, was shot once in the chest.

And in August, Rhymes was arrested and charged with kicking a 19-year-old man in the head.