Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul Arrested For Taser

As we previously reported, the rapper was arrested earlier this week when cops approached him about carrying an open can of beer in public (a Corona) ... when they learned he was packin' a taser.

"I honestly didn't know it was illegal," Paul tells us ... adding, "I thought it was at the same level as pepper spray."

Paul continues, "My bodyguard wasn't around last night and I was by myself in NYC and anything can happen in the late hours down there."