Rapper Waka Flocka dodged multiple bullets today during a gun battle in Charlotte, NC ... according to eyewitnesses.

We're told Waka -- real name Juaquin Malphurs -- was on his tour bus outside a car stereo shop when two cars pulled up next to the bus and opened fire. Waka was not hit.

An eyewitness tells us Waka's security team returned fire on the cars and hit at least one of them. Waka's publicist confirms his security team fired shots -- and says the bus was shot 4 times.

FOXCharlotte is reporting police have detained multiple people -- and that one person was shot in the shoulder.

WCNC in Charlotte aired footage (above) of police on the scene with a man in handcuffs.

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