Busta Rhymes arrested over 'protein drink assault' at gym

Busta Rhymes has been arrested and charged with assault after claims that he threw a protein shake at a gym worker's head.

NBC News reports the rapper argued with a New York City Steel Gym employee on Tuesday.

The next day there was reportedly another argument and a shake was thrown.

Rhymes, 43, was taken into custody by police on Wednesday night but released early Thursday.

Image caption Police arrested Busta Rhymes on Wednesday evening at about 8.30pm local time

Police have charged Rhymes, real name Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr, with second-degree assault.

He is due to appear in court on 6 November.

The rapper's lawyer, Scott Leemon told the New York Daily News, "It's ridiculous; it was literally a bottle of Muscle Milk.

Image caption Out on Thursday night, Busta Rhymes at theatre on Broadway in New York

"This is clearly an attempt by someone to take advantage of Busta. He did nothing wrong. This is a bunch of bull."

Busta Rhymes released his first platinum-selling album, The Coming, in 1996.

He's set to release his tenth album, E.L.E.2 (Extinction Level Event 2), in 2016, which will be a sequel to his 1998 album E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front.

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