US rap star TI has been arrested and charged with weapons offences just hours before he was due to win two awards at a ceremony in Atlanta. The 27-year-old was arrested in a city car park on suspicion of collecting machine guns and silencers bought for him by his bodyguard. Taken into custody, TI was unable to collect his awards at the BET Hip-Hop gala or perform at the show. The rapper topped the US album chart earlier this year with TI vs TIP. According to court documents filed in Atlanta, following his arrest police found three firearms, one of them loaded, in the car driven by TI. A police search of his Atlanta home uncovered six weapons in a cupboard, five of them loaded. The musician's bodyguard said that he had bought nine weapons for him, and the rapper had given him cash to buy guns on four occasions.

TI - real name Clifford Harris - also faces a charge of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, as he has a criminal record.

His arrest follows an ongoing investigation which began earlier this month.

At the awards ceremony, other performers stepped in to cover for TI's absence, with Wyclef Jean covering his song You Know What It Is and comic Katt Williams impersonating him.

He led the nominations at the second BET awards, shortlisted in nine categories.

His award for CD of the Year was accepted by rapper Common, who jointly won the prize with TI.

"I salute my guy TI, who also won, wherever he is," said the Chicago musician.

Other winners included Kanye West, who took two gongs for best live performance and hip-hop video.

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