Ski Mask Way: Rap Crimes & Hip Hop Culture

JT Money Denies Involvement In Shooting

Semi-famous rapper JT Money is denying involvement in a shooting that took place outside of an Atlanta nightclub last weekend.

The shooting occurred after a dispute between two men outside of the Opera Club in Midtown Atlanta. One man was shot in the abdomen, but no other incidents or injuries were reported. JT Money, real name Jeffrey Thompkins, has a lawyer that says Thompkins was in Florida at the time of the shooting.

Couple of things stick out about this incident. One, it took place at a party for R&B singer Trey Songz. Not really following why anyone would have beef at a show featuring ballads. Two, I genuinely had no idea JT Money was still relevant on the scene, so I'm wondering why some outlets have spun him with terms of "hip-hop star" and "famous rapper."

Foxy Brown to Do Bad All By Herself

Inga Marchand, known to many as hip-hop artist Foxy Brown, has been sentenced to 76 days of solitary confinement at Rikers Island prison for misbehavior and altercations with prisoners and guards.

Marchand was sentenced to serve a year in prison after violating terms of probation in July of this year. She was convicted of attacking a person with a Blackberry phone, and began serving her prison term in September.

This could bode well for the rapper whose career has been in a downward spiral for the past two years. I can't think of a better place to write introspective rhymes, nor can I think of a better album name to spark her comeback than 'Solitary Confinement.'

T.I. Facing Substantial T.I.M.E for Weekend Gun Charges

America's Gangsta Flavor of the Month, Clifford "T.I./T.I.P." Harris faces significant jail time after being arrested in Atlanta on Saturday for purchasing firearms from an undercover federal agent.

A cooperating witness in the investigation, Harris' bodyguard told authorities that he was instructed by Harris to purchase the firearms on his behalf, and deliver them to him. A raid of Harris' College Park, Ga. home after his arrest resulted in the seizure of several other firearms illegally purchased firearms.

He's due to appear in court today.

I know that T.I. frequently mentions having the chopper ready for any hater, and having his lawyer paid up ready to defend him, but I was hopeful that success in film, music and other business ventures wouldn't actually warrant him doing it in real life.

Game Gets Away

Jayceon Taylor, known throughout the hip-hop world and New York police precincts as the Game, had charges of impersonating a police officer dismissed yesterday. The charges did have a condition, barring Taylor from being arrested again for the next six months.

He faces felony charges in Los Angeles next week stemming from an altercation during a pick-up basketball game that allegedly resulted in Game punching someone in the face, and brandishing a firearm in a school zone.

Do rappers have some type of ultra pre-paid legal service? They seem to get out of the toughest spots with the greatest of ease. I believe Game won't be playing around for the next several months, but that's based on more hope than proof. What has been proven, however, is that he has quite a temper and is indecisive on facial tattoos.

And the strangest thing, he seems to be so much happier than 50 Cent these days.

Foxy Brown Surrenders to Police, Becomes Instant Music Mogul

Foxy Brown surrendered to NY police on Wednesday to face charges from a July 30, 2007 assault incident with her neighbor. Her hearing for the incident is set for September 26, 2007.

Arlene Raymond accuses Foxy (real name Inga Marchand) of assaulting her with a Blackberry cell phone in Brooklyn earlier this summer. According to an interview with the New York Post, Raymond was confronted by Brown on a street corner, after which Foxy threw the phone, and injured her eye.

This incident is in addition to charges stemming from a February incident in Florida, when Brown allegedly attacked a beauty supply store owner and resisted arrest.

In related news, the potential of jail time has presented a great opportunity for Foxy to start her own label through Koch Records, Black Roses Entertainment. One thing you can say about Foxy the criminal that you can't say about Foxy the artist, she does keep it consistent.

Remy Ma = Remy Attempted Murder?

Remy Ma, the famous female New York rapper is vehemently denying shooting her friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph at a New York night club on last Saturday night.

Different accounts are being given by both the rapper and the alleged victim, but Barnes-Joseph claims that Ma (real name Reminisce Smith) thought that she had stolen more than $2000 dollars cash from her purse, and then shot her twice in the midsection before dumping Barnes-Joseph's purse. Ma was arrested in connection with the incident early Sunday morning and released on $250,000 bond.

At the very least, we should go through a couple of rounds of witnesses not saying nothin' to nobody, before the truth is eventually pieced together. While its a little more serious than hitting somebody in the head with a microphone, it can be absolutely damaging to a career that's already tough going just for being a female in the game.

Just ask Foxy.

T.I. Vs. T.I.P - T.I.P. takes Round One

Just in the nick of time to accompany his highly anticipated LP T.I. Vs. T.I.P., Clifford "T.I." Harris allegedly smacked somebody in the head with a microphone at last Tuesday's ESPY pre-party held in Hollywood.

The alleged victim is said to have thrown a cup at T.I. during his performance, which if you follow the T.I.P./Ron Artest school of thought, is not such a good idea.

As of the date of this posting, no charges have been filed.

Look, it's time for everybody to get the clue about T.I.'s street credibility. Sure, he's becoming a sought-after actor and spokesperson, and is one of the hottest acts in hip-hop right now. If you're going to try to cool him off, don't let it be from a hurled cup during a performance. Nobody wants to see a star going to jail, even if he doesn't mind.

Besides, nobody wants to be known on the streets as the one who made the Rubberband Man snap. 

Foxy Brown Gets Robbed, Fronts Like it Never Happened

News out of New York yesterday centered around an alleged early Saturday morning robbery of Foxy Brown in Brooklyn at the hands of four assailants. But this wasn't your run-in-the-mill chain snatching, this appears to as much a matter of the heart as it is the loot.

The alleged attack was a result of Foxy dumping her boyfriend after finding out he was a pimp. The ex-boyfriend/pimp then apparently called some ladies to come straighten Foxy out, resulting in a beating/weave snatching/robbery.

Foxy, who's on probation and is facing a battery charge of her own, told reporters this morning that she was not robbed of a Louis Vuitton bag, $500 in cash and credit cards. Police refute the claim, saying that Foxy was the victim. They have made an arrest in the case but have no additional information on other suspects.

Several key things stick out about this incident:

1. Foxy is beginning to close in on Adam "Pacman" Jones for hood-styled incidents involving police.

2. The attackers stole her hearing aid. That's just plain wrong, even if she is a rapper.

3. Apparently, it's not as hard out here for a pimp as we were once led to believe.  

Memorial Day Shooting in Miami Beach

Interesting post this morning concerning a shooting that occurred outside of a Miami Beach restaurant early Monday morning, leaving two men dead.

What makes it interesting besides a broad daylight double homicide in a busy part of the city during one of its busiest weekends, was the parallels that the reporter drew between this crime and Memorial Day hip-hop activities and events that are annually held in the area.

Police confirm they have no motive, and only suspects for the crime. Towards the end of the article, however, an entire graf is dedicated to the multitude of arrests that are customarily made during the popular weekend in and around urban and hip-hop themed concerts and events.

While its possible for them to be linked, it's always best to paint a picture like this with a slim brush, particularly when the story involves families now missing loved ones.

Hip-Hop Blotter 5/18 - 5/22

J. Prince No Prince of Peace - Rap-A-Lot Records CEO James "J. Prince" Prince was in court yesterday to face assault charges over an alleged beating that took place in the executive's Houston area gym on May 7.

Ronald Bookman, a studio owner in Houston claims that he was lured to the gym for a supposed business meeting, but that the meeting soon turned violent with Prince allowed several men to attack him, resulting in severe injuries to his head and ribs, and his eye requiring surgery.

Prince calls Bookman a clown and says that the charge is just one in a long history of false charges against him and is "a part of success."

This charge is Bookman's second against Prince. His first charge was thrown out by a judge on the same day it was filed.

It must be rough being Bookman. He's gotten beat up, demeaned by his attacker in the media, and his last name is Bookman.

Foxy Brown Facing A Bid - Foxy Brown may soon face charges stemming from her February melee in a Florida beauty supply store that will send her to jail for at least a year.

Foxy did not plea out of battery charges stemming from an incident in the store where she became belligerent and violent after being told by store employees that the store in which she was shopping was closing and she had to leave.  She allegedly threw hair supplies, spat on employees and resisted arrest. She will report to court on September 24 to face the charges.

It's pretty hard to understand why Foxy keeps going off in these beauty supply stores. A good mascara and black lipstick can't be that hard to find.

M.E.T.H.O.D Man Gets A.R.R.E.S.T.E.D - Rapper Method Man was arrested on May 17 after 30 grams of marijuana was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop in New York.

An officer noticed that the license plates on Meth's vehicle were expired, and pulled him over just before entering the Battery Tunnel.  Upon rolling down his window to speak with the officer, marijuana smoke and paraphernalia were noticeable in the compartment.

What makes this disparaging is that he's becoming a recognizable Hollywood actor. He's getting to the point where weed shouldn't be the drug an A-list actor needs rehabilitation for. 

Game Arrested for Criminal Threats

Hip-hop star and poster child for bi-polar disorder Jayceon "The Game" Taylor was arrested and released on $50,000 bond last night after allegedly making criminal threats while officers searched his Los Angeles home.

Reports are unclear as to why his home was searched, or the details on his threats. Los Angeles county police department spokesperson Martha Garcia did disclose that the search was related to an incident that occurred on February 7.

North Carolina, Washington D.C., New York City and now back home, Game is slowly creeping his way into Pacman status when it comes to run ins with the law. But unlike Pacman, it's his own volition and not his associations that are placing him in these situations.

Tune in next week for another installment of "The Young and the Arrested."

Hip-Hop Blotter 4/29 - 5/6

The hip-hop culture has been rather busy this week, with a number of its high profile personalities involved in incidents ranging from robbery to racism.  Here's a recap.

Don't Blame Buck - Young Buck and members of his entourage vehemently deny involvement in an April 28 shooting that took place in a hotel parking lot in Kennewick, WA, following Buck's performance at nearby Club Paradise.

Buck stated that neither he, nor members of his entourage were involved in the shooting, which allegedly was spawned by an argument at the club and attempted robbery of a chain between two other individuals present at the show and hotel. Nine area men were arrested in connection with the incident.

Sporty-O Shot - Atlanta rapper Sporty-O was shot twice in the face and leg on the morning of May 2 in what police are calling a botched robbery attempt. The artist, well-known for his role on Jamie Kennedy's television series Blowin' Up, allegedly was involved in an altercation with another individual near his East Point, GA home before the shooting.

He underwent surgery and is listed in critical condition.

The Rebel to America Decries Racism - New York rapper Nas recently canceled the last stop on his 'Hip-Hop is Dead' tour in San Diego, after asserting that club employees at the venue treated he and his wife, R&B singer Kelis, like "terrorists" the night of May 2.

Nas said that employees at the House of Blues interacted with them in an inappropriate manner, repeatedly calling their actions racist. Nas did admit to playing the club previously, and left open the possibility that the actions of the employees could be an isolated event and not venue policy.

Banks Not Money in Britain - Police officials in Derby, UK cited the threat of gang violence to shut down a club and prevent rapper Llyoyd Banks from doing a show on May 5.

Police did not cite Banks as the issue, but did say that hip-hop music might incite violence that authorities are not prepared for. More than 600 people purchased tickets for the show.