Dancehall artist Matthew Smith, known as Rygin King, has been arrested in New York on various weapons possession charges. According to New York State court records, the charges include criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (loaded firearm), criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (ammo clips), possession of an ammunition feeding device, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree
The 29-year-old artist was apprehended by the NYPD 113th Precinct’s ‘Midnight Public Safety Team’ on Monday, July 8. While the exact circumstances of the arrest remain unclear, a source told DancehallMag that King was with other men who were also taken into custody.
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King was arraigned on the charges and pleaded not guilty. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday, July 12, at 9 AM in the Queens Supreme Criminal Court. He is being represented by court-appointed attorney Marc B. Laykind.
In New York, the top charge of criminal possession of a loaded firearm carries a statutory minimum sentence of three and a half years in prison for someone with no prior criminal record, with the maximum sentence being 15 years.
Rygin King’s recent legal troubles follow a traumatic event in 2020 when he was traveling in the Struie district of Westmoreland, Jamaica. One of the vehicles in his entourage had an accident, and while assessing the damage, another car with two men arrived and opened fire.
King’s manager’s wife, 28-year-old Sashalee Blackwood, who was sitting inside one of the vehicles with two children, was shot and killed. King himself was chased into a ditch and shot three times, leading to weeks of hospitalization, critical surgeries, and a transition to using a wheelchair. The attackers have not been identified.
In the summer of 2021, King left Jamaica to consult with orthopedic specialists in the US and began therapy for his condition. His debut album, Therapy (2022), was inspired by his rehabilitation and featured tracks such as “Therapy,” “Circumstances,” and “Broken.” He continued this theme with his sophomore album, Recovery (2024), which included songs like “Recovery,” “Firm,” and “Hurting.”
King’s most streamed songs include “Tuff,” “Glu,” “How Mi Grow,” and “3ZN.”
