Police Secretly Watching Hip-Hop Celebs

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/celebrity/...20040219XTRF104

 

Police Secretly Watching Hip-Hop Celebs

 

MIAMI (AP) - Police say they are secretly monitoring hip-hop stars P. Diddy, DMX and others in South Florida to protect them, but celebrities and critics see the surveillance as unnecessary and racist.

 

Officers in Miami and Miami Beach have photographed rappers and their entourages at Miami International Airport and staked out hotels, video shoots and nightclubs while consulting 6-inch-thick dossiers of rappers and associates with arrest records in New York state, The Miami Herald reported.

 

``We have to keep an eye on these rivalries,'' said Assistant Miami Beach Police Chief Charles Press. ``The last thing we need in this city is violence.''

 

Some experts believe the sweeping surveillance of a genre of musicians is unprecedented.

 

``There's been no shortage of rock stars and other musicians'' scrutinized by police, said Anthony DeCurtis, contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine. ``But there has never been anything like this.''

 

Miami Beach and Miami police did not immediately respond to calls Wednesday for additional comment.

 

Police began gathering intelligence on rap artists after the Memorial Day 2001 weekend, when 250,000 hip-hop fans flocked to South Beach for four days of parties hosted by their favorite rappers. More than 210 people were arrested, double usual number, most for disorderly conduct and intoxication.

 

Although no major rap artists were arrested, police decided to learn the nuances of hip-hop culture, Press said.

 

``Nobody on the beach had a handle on who the players were,'' Press said. ``We didn't know anything. We didn't know who were the big record labels, who were the kingpins. We didn't know why there were rivalries with Ja Rule and Eminem.''

 

Officers were sent to New York for a three-day training session in May, along with police from Los Angeles, Atlanta and other cities. That's where they received the dossiers, said Miami police Sgt. Rafael Tapanes.

 

``This kind of conduct shows insensitivity to constitutional limitations,'' said Nova Southeastern University law professor and constitutional law expert Bruce Rogow. He represented 2 Live Crew when the rap group was prosecuted for obscenity in the early '90s. ``It also implicates racial stereotyping.''

 

Only one of 97 officers in supervisory positions at the Miami Beach police department is black. Miami has 226 ranking officers and 26 are black.

 

``The cities should take taxpayer dollars and put them toward something else,'' said Luther Campbell, the former 2 Live Crew rapper.

[2GOLD 0]

I smell a plot for Bad Boys 3

 

Who was the last rapper shot and killed? Biggie? And wasn't that like three or four years ago?

 

These rappers aren't violent anymore, they probably all sit around sipping tea and quote classical plays.

[ant_7000 0]

^^ You beat me to make this thread. Notice when in the article that NO RAPPERS GOT ARRESTED while attending The Source Awards down in Miami. As fans getting arrested for being drunk is really no different from Spring Break festivities. Double Standard im smelling, I hope this doesn't lead to profiling all Black Entertainers.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Double Standard im smelling, I hope this doesn't lead to profiling all Black Entertainers.

Please.

 

It's the genre, not the race of the performers.

 

You don't see DMB being profiled...

[Guest Anglesault]

I smell a plot for Bad Boys 3

 

Who was the last rapper shot and killed? Biggie? And wasn't that like three or four years ago?

How did the guy from Run DMC die? I honestly don't remember.

[BX 0]

Shot in the recording studio.

[Guest Anglesault]

Well, there ya go.

[Guest Fook]

I guess this surveillance isn't much of a secret anymore...

[ant_7000 0]

Double Standard im smelling, I hope this doesn't lead to profiling all Black Entertainers.

Please.

 

It's the genre, not the race of the performers.

 

You don't see DMB being profiled...

Please What? This is Racial Profling, why should rappers with non-violent content should be followed? Ok groups say like Outkast, The Roots, Black Eyed Peas, and others should be followed? Police act like rappers are Mafia Dons, People take rap too seriously a vast majority of rappers just rap about the same shit that you would see in a R rated movie and at the end of the day, they go home to their families. Im not saying that some rappers don't get in trouble but the police should take it on a seperate individual basis and NOT profile a whole group.

 

Like I pointed out before in the article that stated that no rappers had gotten arrested during The Source Award weekend festivities in Miami, just because some drunken fans caused a lil ruckus thats no different from a Spring Break Festivity, police blame it on rappers. Sounds like some Scapegoat bullshit to me.

 

I doubt that the Police gives a fuck about saving a rappers life, that just some bullshit excuse. They doing same police procedure that followed Dr. King around and did they save his life? I didn't think so.

[Guest Anglesault]

Police act like rappers are Mafia Dons

 

Now, my knowledge on all this is all sort of shitty, but didn't Tupac and Biggie more or less have hits put out on them from the rival faction?

 

I'd say, if I got that right, "Mafia Don" isn't exactly an unfair way to describe whomever made the decision.

[Guest MikeSC]

Well, the crap they churn out should be criminal.

-=Mike

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Although no major rap artists were arrested, police decided to learn the nuances of hip-hop culture, Press said.

 

``Nobody on the beach had a handle on who the players were,'' Press said. ``We didn't know anything. We didn't know who were the big record labels, who were the kingpins. We didn't know why there were rivalries with Ja Rule and Eminem.''

 

Officers were sent to New York for a three-day training session in May, along with police from Los Angeles, Atlanta and other cities. That's where they received the dossiers, said Miami police Sgt. Rafael Tapanes.

There is nothing wrong with this reasoning above. Plus, I don't see how it's racial profiling since the biggest rapper right now is a white guy.

 

It's a good idea to have some vague understanding of the people you're dealing with. Knowing whom is feuding with whom can only help the police. There were 200 arrests last year stemming from when they were all in town. A better understanding of the underlying culture can possibly prevent things from flaring up. It's bizarre to see the cops get knocked for actually trying to learn about people.

 

I can also see rappers who know they're being staked out just blast "Fuck Tha Police".

[ant_7000 0]

Police act like rappers are Mafia Dons

 

Now, my knowledge on all this is all sort of shitty, but didn't Tupac and Biggie more or less have hits put out on them from the rival faction?

 

I'd say, if I got that right, "Mafia Don" isn't exactly an unfair way to describe whomever made the decision.

Um no. I'll go a little into Pac and BIG situation, Biggie didn't have nothing to do with Pac's death, please don't believe that bullshit story from the LA times, that shit they wrote sounds like fucking novel,According to the story, Biggie met up with some Crips and gave the Crips his gun so Big can have satisfaction that the bullet came from his gun. *rolls eyes* THAT'S SOME BULLSHIT!!!!!!!! Pac might've gotten killed by some dude named Orlando Anderson the guy that got beat up in the lobby at the Tyson fight.

 

From studio log in time sheet and the people who were with Biggie the night of Pac getting shot that Big was in Jersey. Suge Knight might have something do with Biggie's murder since the rumor was that Off Duty cops that were moonlighting as Suge's bodyguards shot Big.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

I guess this surveillance isn't much of a secret anymore...

My thoughts exactly. If it were a secret, we wouldn't have people posting articles about it on these lovely forums.

 

Ya'll suck at keeping a secret.

[ant_7000 0]

^ It isn't much of a secret for a couple years now, even when NY cops denying that they weren't profiling rappers when they were profiling them the whole time. Its racial profiling to me since most rappers are black, no doubt Eminem and Bubba Sparxxx will be followed as well since they associate themselves with black rappers. So its ok to stalk rappers like Outkast or Nelly going to a club or to a resturant? Its really not necessary to follow rappers around since most of them have bodyguards anyway. I hope this doesn't lead to Police profiling black athlete's and actors as well.

[justsoyouknow 0]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that these rappers carry around all sorts of jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, firearms, and illegal substances...or maybe it's racial profiling. Lord knows that white people don't get busted for carrying around chronic, and white people don't get into any trouble. And if this was the music folder, you'd be swearing up and down that Outkast aren't rappers...I guess they're only rappers when it suits your argument?

 

Redman busted for carrying weed.

 

Mystikal held on weed and weapons charges.

 

Savannah, Georgia rapper killed, suspected in other shootings.

 

Beanie Segil's court appearance.

 

You get enough of these charges piled up over a long enough period of time, it's enough to stereotype an entire genre. Don't throw the race card at every possible chance. If you perpetuate the stereotype, it'll continue on it's own. If rappers weren't constantly bragging about their weed and guns and all that, police wouldn't be worried about them. Jesus, I saw a picture of Ja Rule in Rolling Stone magazine a while back holding a bag containing at least a pound of chronic...on the tour bus.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

OK po-pos -- stop watching them.

 

And then when one of them gets killed you all can be accused as racists for not protecting them...

[Ripper 0]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that these rappers carry around all sorts of jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, firearms, and illegal substances...or maybe it's racial profiling. Lord knows that white people don't get busted for carrying around chronic, and white people don't get into any trouble. And if this was the music folder, you'd be swearing up and down that Outkast aren't rappers...I guess they're only rappers when it suits your argument?

 

Redman busted for carrying weed.

 

Mystikal held on weed and weapons charges.

 

Savannah, Georgia rapper killed, suspected in other shootings.

 

Beanie Segil's court appearance.

 

You get enough of these charges piled up over a long enough period of time, it's enough to stereotype an entire genre. Don't throw the race card at every possible chance. If you perpetuate the stereotype, it'll continue on it's own. If rappers weren't constantly bragging about their weed and guns and all that, police wouldn't be worried about them. Jesus, I saw a picture of Ja Rule in Rolling Stone magazine a while back holding a bag containing at least a pound of chronic...on the tour bus.

Do we really want to play the "music stars in trouble with the law game" because I have to work and don't really want to have to link to the ungodly number of charges that rock and country musicians have been brought up on but will if I have to.

 

You pull Ja Rule in Rolling Stone out, how about the droves of rock bands on the cover of HIgh Times? Are they all being followed.

 

WHat people should be pissed about(well, if you live in Miami) is the wasted funds following around rappers. They are basically getting free secruty on the tax payers dime, which I guess they make back by arresting everyone they see that is drunk(because they do that ALL the time at spring break...arrest all the people that have been drinking...all of them). Everyone in the story have a legitamite beef sez I.

 

Bottomline, with any charge you can show for a rapper, I can match it with a rocker(BTW, WHO IN THE FUCK IS CAMAFLODGE or whoever that guy was in the Savanah rapper shot article. I guarentee that noone outside of Savanah ever heard of that guy. Thats just reaching). Yet whom is being followed and who isn't.

[ant_7000 0]

No Doubt we can play Rockers vs Rappers arrest game here ya go:

 

 

Jack White Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge, Must Take Anger-Management Class

03.09.2004 5:09 PM EST

 

After appearing for his pretrial hearing Tuesday, White Stripes frontman Jack White pleaded guilty to assaulting Von Bondies frontman Jason Stollsteimer on December 13 at a Detroit rock club.

 

White, who had previously proclaimed he acted in self-defense (see "Jack White Pleads Not Guilty To Assault Charge"), reversed his plea in exchange for a lesser charge. Instead of facing misdemeanor aggravated assault, which carries a penalty of a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail, White pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of assault and battery.

 

Judge Paula Humphries of Detroit's 36th District Court fined White $500 and ordered him to pay court costs of about $200. In addition, White must enroll in anger-management classes. Upon completion of the program, his probation will be closed out, a spokesperson for the prosecution said.

 

White showed up at the court Tuesday morning (March 9) wearing a black pinstripe suit with his hair dyed auburn. During most of the morning White's attorney negotiated the terms of the plea with Stollsteimer's lawyer. At around noon, White and his attorney appeared before the judge and explained they were close to a settlement. The judge ordered them to reconvene at 2:30, at which point an agreement was made.

 

In the incident, Stollsteimer suffered severe facial bruising and a torn retina that required surgery (see "Jack White To Be Charged With Aggravated Assault For Magic Stick Scrap"). Stollsteimer was not charged by police.

 

"There was no special treatment given to Mr. White in this case," Wayne County prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said. "The reduced charge and terms of his probation are consistent with similar cases of this type."

 

"We're very happy with the result and we're happy that the most highly celebrated bar-scuffle in the history of the city of Detroit has finally come to an end," White's attorney Wally Piszczatowski said. "Jack is pleased he can focus on what he does best, which is making music and attending to his very busy schedule, and can do so without having to think about the criminal charges."

 

It is still unclear exactly why White beat up Stollsteimer, with whom he hadn't spoken in two years prior to the incident. Some have speculated that White, who discovered the Von Bondies, took them on the road and produced their first album, was incensed that Stollsteimer had badmouthed him and his production skills in the press. Von Bondies bassist Carrie Smith said that White's ire may have stemmed from the Von Bondies' decision to distance themselves from the White Stripes and forge a path of their own.

 

"We just didn't want to be known as the band that opened for the White Stripes anymore," Smith said. "To be completely honest, I don't think that's a terrible thing."

 

 

 

—Jon Wiederhorn

 

For more on The White Stripes, check out the MTV News Archive

 

Courtney Love Hit With Disorderly Conduct Charge

03.09.2004 1:06 PM EST

 

Courtney Love was scheduled to go to trial on Monday, but instead of the court addressing her misdemeanor drug charge, the singer found herself with a new charge — disorderly conduct.

 

Love, who did not appear in court, entered a plea of not guilty via her attorney to the additional misdemeanor charge, brought for public intoxication while putting oneself or others in harm's way, according to Frank Mateljan of the Los Angeles city attorney's office. Her first misdemeanor drug charge was for being under the influence of a controlled substance (see "Courtney Love Faces Up To A Year In Jail For Drug Charge"). As a precaution, prosecutors added the disorderly conduct charge because it carries an easier standard of proof, as they won't be required to specify the type of drug involved, should that become an issue.

 

Asking for a continuance, Love's attorney Michael Rosenstein said he needed more time to have Love's urine sample — collected by police during her arrest in October — independently analyzed. Her defense plans to contest not just the toxicology results, but also the expertise of the officers who were on the scene and their ability to determine probable cause based on Love's state at the time.

 

Police were initially called to investigate a burglary report when the singer tried to break into her former boyfriend and manager James Barber's home on October 2. Though Barber said he didn't want to press charges, Love was arrested and charged with one count of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Love was later charged separately in Beverly Hills with two felony counts of unlawful possession of prescription painkillers (see "Courtney Love Turns Herself In On Felony Drug Charges"). Love is due in court on March 16 for the felony possession case.

 

Judge Patricia Schnegg granted a continuance until April 5, when the court will then hear the defense's motion to have Love's drug-test results suppressed.

 

 

 

—Jennifer Vineyard

 

 

 

For more on Courtney Love, check out the MTV News Archive

 

But yet who's following who, Double Standard bullshit.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

If they are going to follow rappers around, can't they pick better "targets" than corporate rappers like Puffy?

[ant_7000 0]

^No because people who wear Shiny Suits are dangerous, and must be dealt with accordingly.

[Perfxion 0]

For each C-Murder case you bring up, there is a Sid from the Sex Pistols.

For each case of a rapper going to jail like Beanie Segiel, there is Jonny Cash.

For a drug bust in a rapper, there is one for a rocker. Scott Stapp being plastered at a concert and getting sued.

 

It goes both ways. The problem is that this story makes it seem like rappers bring trouble everywhere. Look how many people durring a Spring Break get arrested for too much drinking? Happens all over the country, just because a rapper throws the party doesn't change the outcome. Uconn a few year ago had 300 people arrest durring a "riot". When the biggest ammout arrested was under-age drinking, and other offenses against drinking. This is border line racial profiling. And when was the last time Puffy was in the news about a crime? Him running away saving his life from a shooting in a club?

[Ripper 0]

Well, SOMEBODY should have been arrested for that "Remember the late 90's" halftime performance.

 

Just somebody.

[Guest Sagrada3099]

Mystikal has had Weapons charges, Illegal Substance Charges, plus Rape and Sexual misconduct.

 

Dont get me wrong, I enjoy rap music. But when you make mention in a majority of your songs of illegal substances and the use of guns, not to mention threatening physical harm on any "punk bitches", you are inviting trouble.

 

But I agree; Monitoring Puffy and DMX will get you...nowhere.

[Ripper 0]

Mystikal has had Weapons charges, Illegal Substance Charges, plus Rape and Sexual misconduct.

 

Dont get me wrong, I enjoy rap music. But when you make mention in a majority of your songs of illegal substances and the use of guns, not to mention threatening physical harm on any "punk bitches", you are inviting trouble.

 

But I agree; Monitoring Puffy and DMX will get you...nowhere.

Well...it will get you on the set of some shitty movie they are filming. That outta teach the cops.