‘Rhythm of the Night’ singers James and Chico DeBarge arrested during early hours traffic stop

RHYTHM of the Night singers James and Chico DeBarge have been arrested in California on suspicion of drug possession. The musical brothers were reportedly busted after cops pulled over two bizarrely connected SUVs in Burbank in the early hours of Friday morning. Singer Chico DeBarge was arrested for alleged drug possession Credit: Getty His brother, singer James DeBarge (pictured in 1984) was also arrested on Friday Credit: Getty From left: American soul group DeBarge brothers Mark, James, Randy and El Credit: Getty James, 63, and Jonathan “Chico” DeBarge, 60, were both arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance after narcotics were allegedly discovered at the scene, police said. The drama unfolded at around 1.30am when Burbank cops spotted a Chevy Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV using a tow strap. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Neither vehicle had license plates, according to authorities. James was allegedly driving the Tahoe while Chico was inside the Nissan being pulled behind it. Police carried out a traffic stop and claimed narcotics were subsequently found at the scene. Both brothers were then taken into custody, while Chico was also booked over an outstanding warrant. Details surrounding that warrant have not yet been revealed, NBC Los Angeles reports. Cops also said neither brother was wearing a seatbelt at the time. Most read in Entertainment Both SUVs were eventually towed away. James and Chico belong to the famous DeBarge musical family, whose members helped produce a string of R&B and pop hits. Several siblings formed the group DeBarge, best known for tracks including Rhythm of the Night and I Like It. Chico later forged his own solo career, releasing albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He has previously spoken openly about his battle with addiction, including through his sixth album Addiction, which explored the impact of substance abuse and his time behind bars. The singer has also faced a string of previous legal troubles. In 1988, Chico and his older brother Bobby DeBarge were arrested and later convicted over their roles in a conspiracy to smuggle more than two pounds of cocaine from Los Angeles to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chico spent several years in federal prison and was later arrested on drug possession charges in 2007, 2019 and 2021. The 2021 case reportedly also saw him accused of falsely impersonating his brother James. And just over a year before the latest arrest, Chico was stopped by Burbank cops while riding a bicycle without proper lighting. Officers reportedly discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and arrested him on an outstanding warrant. James has also previously had several brushes with the law. He was arrested in 2010 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon involving a firearm before facing separate drug possession and assault allegations the following year. He was convicted in 2012, according to reports. James was arrested again in 2013 following a hit-and-run and controlled substance case, before cops busted him on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine in South Los Angeles in April 2014. The latest arrests come decades after the DeBarge family shot to fame and became one of R&B’s best-known musical families. Comment now