US rapper Soulja Boy has been released from custody after prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to bring weapons charges.

Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested early on Sunday when the vehicle he was in was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation. During the stop, officers found a firearm in the car.

The Crank That star spent two nights in custody but the case "was declined due to insufficient evidence", the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office told Billboard and Rolling Stone.

Within a few hours of his release on Tuesday, Way posted on his social media a black backdrop that said "First day out" in bold letters.

The car carrying the star was stopped at about 02:35 local time on Sunday in the Melrose neighborhood of Los Angeles, near the location of his clothing store.

He was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm while being a felon.

Crank That (Soulja Boy) spent seven weeks at number one in the US and was Grammy-nominated for best rap song in 2008.

The 35-year-old built a following off the back of the track, which was attached to a popular dance trend at the time.

In April this year, Soulja Boy was ordered to pay $4.25m (£3.2m) to a woman who accused him of sexual battery and abuse.

Way had denied abusing her and said their relationship was consensual - but a jury in a civil trial found him liable for sexual battery, assault and gender violence.

In 2014, he was sentenced to probation for carrying a loaded firearm in public, but was later arrested for violating his probation terms. He spent almost eight months behind bars.