A massive early morning raid on a Southwest Atlanta apartment complex on Wednesday is connected to the arrest of up-and-coming rapper Ralo, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Agents from the ATF, FBI and Department of Homeland Security executed no-knock warrants on Ralo’s heavily fortified apartment complex along Lucile Avenue.
Dozens of local and federal agents descended upon the quiet, unassuming apartment block around 11:00 a.m., following the arrest of the Muslim rapper who is signed to rap mogul Gucci Mane’s record label. Gucci is pictured above left with Ralo.
Ralo, who was born Terrell Davis, was arrested Sunday at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, where police found large quantities of marijuana. The rapper was charged with a drug conspiracy, but that charge was dropped and other felony charges have since been added.
Sources in the neighborhood tell WSB-TV’s Matt Johnson that they were awakened to the sounds of sirens, doors being kicked in and choppers flying overhead.
“It scared me. I jumped up and looked out the window and seen police everywhere,” neighbor Tony Daniels told Johnson. “There were sirens going on, helicopters flying and doors kicking in.”
Federal agents at the scene offered few details about the raids, but friends told Johnson they saw an agent remove one of Ralo’s Islamic flags.
The feds targeted multiple apartment units in the tidy complex, which Ralo reportedly owned.
One neighbor spoke kindly of Ralo, who helped organize activities for the children in the complex known as “Lil Pakistan”.
“He’s not what people think he is. He’s a good person,” Haroun Wakil said. “The people in the community love him. I’ve seen people change their lives just because of him,” said Wakil, who often worked with Ralo to organize community events.
Wakil added, “I want to see him get out because I love the man.”
Others in the neighborhood were too afraid to speak on camera because they say their homes and cars have been hit by stray bullets that have come from this complex.
In an interview with Vladtv.com, Ralo described his apartment complex as an “armed fortress,” where he felt safe enough to enjoy the comforts of home.
Rapper Future once said Ralo was the only rapper he knew with money who still lived in the ‘hood.
“Future [is] just surprised that I got the amount of money that I got,” Ralo told Vlad. “You know, I park my Lamborghini in the hood… Two, three million just sitting out there… It shocks him that I do that. It’s just that I’m comfortable there.”
Ralo told Vlad he owned 26 apartment units and 5 houses in the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood. He said he felt safer living in the gated apartment complex with armed security who are licensed to carry weapons.
“Everything’s legit. I got me a little Army base and I’m the general,” Ralo said.
