Rapper who featured Kanye West in biggest hit charged with murder of his friends

A rapper has been charged with two counts of first degree murder.

Rapper YNW Melly has spoken out after being charged with the murder of two of his friends.

The rising star - real name Jamell Maurice Demons - was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder in Florida on February 13.

It follows the deaths of his friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr, who were fatally shot on October 26, last year.

But the 19-year-old rapper insisted he handed himself over to the police voluntarily.

Sharing his side of the story, he said on Instagram: "To all my fans and supporters no I did not get locked up in Washington, but I am turning myself in today I want you guys to know I love you and appreciate every single one of y’all, a couple months ago I lost my two brothers by violence and now the system want to find justice.

"unfortunately a lot of rumors and lies are being said but no worries god is with me and my brother @ynw.bortlenand we want y’all to remember it’s a ynw Family I love you @ynwsakchaser1 and @ynwjuvy #freeus"

Police say the rapper staged the crime scene with accomplice Cortlen Henry to make it look like his two friends had been killed in a drive-by shooting.

A statement released by authorities said: "Jamell Demons, a.k.a. YNW Melly & Cortlen Henry have been arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder. The victims, Anthony Williams & Christopher Thomas Jr., were killed on 10/26/2018.

"The investigation, supported by forensic evidence, has concluded that Demons shot and killed Williams & Thomas Jr. and that Demons and Henry staged the crime scene to resemble a drive-by shooting."

The charge comes just one month after YNW Melly released his biggest hit to date, We All Shine, which features a sample from Kanye West.