Rapper Kanye West was taken into custody early on Friday night after getting involved in a scuffle with a paparazzo outside a Newcastle nightclub, British media reported.

The 31-year-old musician was leaving the Tup Tup nightclub when photographer Terry Blackburn tried to snap his photo, prompting West, who was accompanied by four ladies, to push the paparazzo's camera into his face while yelling at him to back off.

After pulling himself together, Blackburn, who suffered some cuts and bruises, called the police and reported him. After Blackburn showed off the cuts and bruising he claims to have suffered in the incident, West was arrested at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead shortly after 4 a.m. this morning.

"We can confirm that a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident at a Newcastle city center club in the early hours of this morning," a Northumbria Police spokeswoman was quoted by People.com as saying. "He was released without charge and no further action is being taken."

The star, who is currently traveling around the UK with his "Glow In The Dark Tour," which will be continuing in Sheffield later, had just performed in front of a sold out crowd at the Metro Radio Arena.

According to a spokesman for the Tup Tup Palace, the rapper was a guest on Thursday night, and partied with his crew from around 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

"We had two of his DJs playing and Kanye had the whole VIP area booked out. He left about 2 a.m. and went to his hotel," the spokesman said refusing to confirm any of the facts that reportedly happened outside the club.

This marks the second time in as many months when West has been arrested for getting in brawls with the paparazzi who are constantly chasing him.

In September, West and his manager, Don Crowley, were taken into custody at the Los Angeles International Airport after they were caught on film while struggling with a paparazzo as they were waiting to board a flight to Hawaii. After realizing they had been filmed, Crowley pursued the film-maker and grabbed his camera, causing exterior damage to the device.

Although the pair was charged with felony vandalism, the charges were later dropped by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

The rapper, who became known for his temper two years ago when he crashed the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards after failing to win the best video award, found time Thursday to blog about an interview in which he dissed both Justin Timberlake and Jared Leto, and apologize.

"I wanna apologize 2 Jared Leto for fronting on him. I read my quote on [PerezHilton.com] and was like damn that was wack of me. I've actually posted his vids on my blog that had incredible cinematography. He actually covered one of my songs. Like they said on Anchorman... You eat s--t Ron Burgandy! Yes, I eat s--t for that one," West wrote on his blog.

During an interview with the Associated Press, West said that Timberlake missed his chance to become a music MVP, "When Justin went on vacation, I made albums," he said, also calling Leto "my boy," but said he "shouldn't have won" any MTV Video Music Awards.