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Wilkinsburg Rap Artist Who Signed $3 Million Contract Jailed, Faces Drug Charges

WILKINSBURG (KDKA) -- A young Wilkinsburg rap artist who just signed a huge record contract is in the Allegheny County Jail after police say he was caught with heroin, and tried to run from them.

Joseph Barnett, Jr., 21, who goes by the stage name "Hardo," was pulled over by police when they say he failed to stop at a stop sign on Penn Avenue.

Barnett reportedly just signed a three-million dollar record deal with Atlantic Records, with the help of rapper T.I.

Barnett has become a rap sensation because of his YouTube videos, some of them with people in blue bandanas, holding guns.

A police report says Barnett was not carrying an ID, and he was driving with a suspended license.

Police say they found approximately 250 individually stamp bags of heroin in the car, which Barnett said was owned by a friend who was in the hospital.

According to police, Barnett attempted to run away, but he was tackled to the ground by an officer.

He's jailed on $25,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.

He's been charged with drug possession with attempt to deliver, resisting arrest, attempt to escape, and several motor vehicle violations.

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