Ant Jefe has been arrested for murder. The "No Jumper" co-host and rapper was arrested by LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, per TMZ.
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"The artist -- whose real name is Maurice Shelmon-- is being held on $1 million bail at the LAPD jail," TMZ reports.
Currently, information surrounding the case is limited. There hasn't been an official account of the incident released to the public at this time. Nevertheless, the news of Ant's arrest has come as a shock, both to his co-workers, friends, and his large fanbase.
"[Ant has] been a great podcaster for the last year or so, and as far as I knew, he wasn't really in the streets like that anymore, so this was all a huge shock," Adam 22, also of the "No Jumper" podcast, told TMZ following Ant's arrest.
Throughout his career, Ant has discussed his tough upbringing on numerous occasions. He was raised in the area formerly known as South Central Los Angeles. The podcast has released numerous hip hop albums over the years, too.
"Ant Jefe built his following through his role on the popular No Jumper podcast and YouTube channel, where he became known for his candid takes and street rooted perspective," The Source wrote.
"No Jumper" Is One of the Worlds Most Popular Podcasts
Ant's arrest has made the news in part due to the size and scope of the "No Jumper" podcast. The show has a YouTube audience of 4.95 million fans, with 9,400 published videos spanning multiple years. The podcast is so big that they also have a paid membership audience that receives exclusive content on YouTube.
However, YouTube is only one consumption avenue for "No Jumper" fans. The show is also available on every major podcast provider. As such, their total subscriber number could be closer to 10 million. That type of reach is rare for a podcast, especially one without the backing of a pre-existing media brand.
It will be interesting to see what happens with "No Jumper" as Ant navigates his legal issues. Adam 22 may look to find a new co-host or run the show solo. Either way, the whole situation leaves us with a lot of questions.
