Famous battle rapper Serius Jones faces human trafficking, pimping charges in Contra Costa
Rapper in pretrial detention, being held without bail
MARTINEZ — A rapper who gained nationwide fame for his ability to think up rhymes on the spot has been in Contra Costa County jail for months facing human trafficking and pimping charges, this newspaper has learned.
Saleem Bligen, 39, who uses the stage name “Serius Jones,” was charged in January with human trafficking, pimping, assault, robbery, and other felonies as part of an eight-count criminal complaint. Bligen was arrested by Walnut Creek police on Feb. 6, according to public records.
The charging records list one alleged victim, a woman known in court records only by the pseudonym “Jane Doe” to protect her identity. Prosecutors allege that between July 31 and October 15 of last year, Bligen, “did willfully and unlawfully deprive and/or violate the personal liberty” of Doe by forcing her into prostitution.
It is also alleged that on Oct. 15, Bligen assaulted the woman “by means likely to produce great bodily injury,” and that he stole a 2007 Lexus from her. That same day, Bligen allegedly threatened the woman and attempted to dissuade her from cooperating with police, according to court records.
After his arrest, a GoFundMe page was started to support Bligen’s legal fees. The page said he was arrested for “a false accusation of a stolen vehicle” but makes no mention of the other charges. It raised $110.
Bligen’s rap career has spanned nearly 20 years. He gained nationwide fame in the mid-2000s when he appeared on MTV’s Fight Klub, a show that pitted freestyle rappers against one another, and challenged them to make up rhymes about each other on the spot.
Bligen won 12 consecutive battles, eventually beating Jin the MC to become the all-time Fight Klub Champion in a 2005 battle. Since then, he has appeared in numerous a-cappella rap battles that have garnered millions of views online, and he continues to release written music on a regular basis.
Just three days after he allegedly assaulted Doe and stole the Lexus, Bligen released a music video for the song “For the Love of Money,” which contains the chorus, “I fell in love with money/that was my first mistake.” The video features scenes in Contra Costa, including Bligen rapping under the Carquinez Bridge in Crockett.
In 2006, Bligen briefly signed with Ludacris’ label Disturbing Tha Peace, but never released an album through the label.
Bligen has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and remains in custody in the West Contra Costa Detention Facility, in Richmond, where he is held without bail. His next court date has been set for mid-August, according to public records.
Since his arrest, Bligen’s Instagram page, @seriusjones, has continued to post music. In late May, he released a recording of himself rapping over the county jail phone in a battle with another rapper.
In early 2020, before his arrest, Bligen did an interview with the podcast Po Politickin, in which he talked about his life and career. At one point, he discussed raising a daughter, how he wants to be a good example and, “put a real positive light on my legacy, so that when she does come of age, she can be proud of what I do.”
“We gotta be the man that they look up to, otherwise they’re gonna wind up like these b—— that we f—–‘ with,” Bligen said in the interview.
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Rapper in pretrial detention, being held without bail
MARTINEZ — A rapper who gained nationwide fame for his ability to think up rhymes on the spot has been in Contra Costa County jail for months facing human trafficking and pimping charges, this newspaper has learned.
Saleem Bligen, 39, who uses the stage name “Serius Jones,” was charged in January with human trafficking, pimping, assault, robbery, and other felonies as part of an eight-count criminal complaint. Bligen was arrested by Walnut Creek police on Feb. 6, according to public records.
The charging records list one alleged victim, a woman known in court records only by the pseudonym “Jane Doe” to protect her identity. Prosecutors allege that between July 31 and October 15 of last year, Bligen, “did willfully and unlawfully deprive and/or violate the personal liberty” of Doe by forcing her into prostitution.
It is also alleged that on Oct. 15, Bligen assaulted the woman “by means likely to produce great bodily injury,” and that he stole a 2007 Lexus from her. That same day, Bligen allegedly threatened the woman and attempted to dissuade her from cooperating with police, according to court records.
After his arrest, a GoFundMe page was started to support Bligen’s legal fees. The page said he was arrested for “a false accusation of a stolen vehicle” but makes no mention of the other charges. It raised $110.
Bligen’s rap career has spanned nearly 20 years. He gained nationwide fame in the mid-2000s when he appeared on MTV’s Fight Klub, a show that pitted freestyle rappers against one another, and challenged them to make up rhymes about each other on the spot.
Bligen won 12 consecutive battles, eventually beating Jin the MC to become the all-time Fight Klub Champion in a 2005 battle. Since then, he has appeared in numerous a-cappella rap battles that have garnered millions of views online, and he continues to release written music on a regular basis.
Just three days after he allegedly assaulted Doe and stole the Lexus, Bligen released a music video for the song “For the Love of Money,” which contains the chorus, “I fell in love with money/that was my first mistake.” The video features scenes in Contra Costa, including Bligen rapping under the Carquinez Bridge in Crockett.
In 2006, Bligen briefly signed with Ludacris’ label Disturbing Tha Peace, but never released an album through the label.
Bligen has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and remains in custody in the West Contra Costa Detention Facility, in Richmond, where he is held without bail. His next court date has been set for mid-August, according to public records.
Since his arrest, Bligen’s Instagram page, @seriusjones, has continued to post music. In late May, he released a recording of himself rapping over the county jail phone in a battle with another rapper.
In early 2020, before his arrest, Bligen did an interview with the podcast Po Politickin, in which he talked about his life and career. At one point, he discussed raising a daughter, how he wants to be a good example and, “put a real positive light on my legacy, so that when she does come of age, she can be proud of what I do.”
“We gotta be the man that they look up to, otherwise they’re gonna wind up like these b—— that we f—–‘ with,” Bligen said in the interview.
Famous battle rapper Serius Jones faces human trafficking, pimping charges in Contra Costa
Serius Jones, made famous by his sharp-witted battle raps, is in a Richmond jail facing human trafficking charges.
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Battle Rapper Serius Jones Is in Jail for Human Trafficking and Pimping Charges
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