COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A 20-year-old South Side rapper who's friends with Chief Keef was arrested in Chicago on a warrant for crimes he allegedly committed in Champaign County.
But it wasn't Lil Reese's rapping that caught the attention of Chicago police. It was his sleeping.
Lil Reese, whose legal name is Tavares Taylor, was asleep in his car Sunday morning in the 4400 block of South Wells Street in Fuller Park, according to police documents.
Officers walked up to the car so they could talk to him, and a name check revealed a warrant for the rapper from Champaign County was issued Thursday, according to police documents. Chicago police documents state that Taylor, of the 5100 block of South Wabash Avenue, is a documented Black Disciples street gang member.
A search of Champaign County online court records reveals that Taylor was charged with criminal trespass along with mob action and battery with physical contact. The Champaign County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on the charges or give further details on Sunday.
Authorities in Champaign County allege he committed the criminal trespass on Feb. 1, 2012, according to court documents.
Lil Reese is signed to the high-profile label Def Jam Recordings, which has signed such artists as 2 Chainz, Kanye West and Rihanna, among others.
He was seen in court on Sunday by Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil, who acknowledged his warrant. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Court records also show that the rapper was arrested in Chicago on April 13 and charged with driving without a licence and driving without insurance in the city.
Taylor's troubles with the law have been splashed across newspapers and online since he rose to local fame.
The artist drew suspicion after 18-year-old rapper Lil JoJo, legal name Joseph Coleman, was shot dead in September 2012 in Englewood. Lil JoJo's death put the spotlight on Lil Reese and Chief Keef (given name Keith Cozart), who were feuding with Lil JoJo and other rappers, the Sun-Times reported. No one has been charged with Lil JoJo's murder.
Taylor was convicted of residential burglary in May 2010 and sentenced to two years of probation, court records show.
The rapper also tried to deflect widespread criticism after a video surfaced online in October that allegedly showed him beating a woman, the Sun-Times reported.
