Los Angeles police learned of the possible violations - which involve his alleged association with reputed gang members - after raiding Knight's office and home last month.

The 14 November raids - on Knight's Malibu home and the Beverly Hills office of his label, Death Row Records - were connected with two unsolved killings.

The authorities stressed, however, that Knight is not a suspect in the killings.

Knight was arrested on Monday after meeting with his parole officer.

Suge's label - Death Row - became a home for gangsta rap

He was jailed in October 1996 for violating parole conditions, which dated back to a 1992 attack on two rappers at a Hollywood recording studio.

His imprisonment followed his involvement in a fight with a rival gang just hours before rapper Tupac Shakur, who was signed to Death Row, was killed in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting.

Knight was released from prison last year, promising to stay out of trouble.

As a condition of his current parole, he is banned from associating with gang members.

He turned Death Row into one of the major forces in American music in the 1990s, but often became involved in hip-hop's gangland disputes.

His lawyer said his client had done nothing wrong, adding that if he did come into contact with any gang members it would only have been in connection with his responsibilities as a record company executive.

"He hasn't done anything but try to obey the law and work hard since his release," said David Chesnoff.

"I'm hopeful that when this is all thoroughly analysed that he'll be permitted to be released."