The Hip-Hop Herald: 05.02.08

Posted by Patrick Robinson on 05.02.2008

The fallout from the Sean Bell verdicts, Jam Master Jay's killer sent to jail, Jean Grae hangs up the mic and Samuel L. Jackson could have been in Iron Man?!

My apologies for no-showing yesterday, something came up that couldn't be avoided unfortunately and has made me tired and irritable. Finding out I have a 140-page booklet to complete for work hasn't helped matters either.

Anyway, onwards and upwards!

The News

Top Story

Police Acquitted Of Sean Bell Shooting

You may or may not have heard of the Sean Bell case (particularly if you live outside America) but to give you a very quick rundown this is what happened.

Sean Bell and two companions were leaving Bell's bachelor party at a club in Jamaica, Queens in November 2006 and, according to reports, were approached by undercover police officers, who were investigating the club at the time. The police suspected that Bell or one of his companions were carrying a weapon, or in the process of retrieving a weapon.

After Bell did not obey police orders to raise his hands after getting in the car and began to drive off, the officers opened fire, hailing the car with 50 bullets amongst five officers. Bell was hit four times in the neck and torso and his two companions were also hit, one of them 19 times. One officer even reloaded his weapon firing a total of 31 shots.

The investigation came about mainly on the charges of manslaughter, reckless endangerment and assault. On April 25, all officers involved with the case were declared, "Not guilty".

Now I've never been shot, or shot somebody, but how many bullets does it take to bring somebody down? You're telling me that it takes a police officer 31 bullets to bring down three men? Either the officer has the aim of a blind, deaf and dumb 4 year old, or that's overkill. This officer is being described as a veteran of the force so obviously he has a fair skill when it comes to aiming a gun. Considering the next largest amounts of shots fired by a single officer were 11, you have to call bullshit on this one.

I don't want to get too involved as there is a musical related side to this, but really, 31 bullets and that's not reckless endangerment at least? They've got evidence that some bullets went stray and hit security cameras at a nearby station, narrowly a civilian. It's absolutely ridiculous that the officers were cleared of ALL charges as it's now set a somewhat dangerous precedent in future cases. If you've still got doubts, count to 50 and you realize how big a number it is.

The response from the hip-hop community has been surprisingly subdued, with only a few artists making a public statement about it.

Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Nas talked with BET and whilst angry, called for non-violent measures, such as trying to become more actively involved in their communities so that ineffective District Attorneys and Judges aren't allowed into these positions in the first place.

?uestlove made some confusing statements, initially wanting to see people "tear New York up" but in reality meaning getting involved and becoming vocal about the case.

"I literally didn't mean I hope that they're tearing New York up, but I kinda hoped that [the response to the verdict] wasn't just gonna be the normal Sharpton here, family members there, and about 12 people [expressing their outrage]."

He also expressed disappointment that the only emcee to mention the incident shortly after it occurred was Papoose.

Papoose spoke with XXL after the police proclaimed their innocence:

"I was furious when I heard about the verdict. Because it goes all the way back to Emmitt Till who was murdered in Mississippi for whistling at a white woman; the police walked into the courtroom laughing and they walked out of the courtroom laughing. It's the same thing they did in the Sean Bell case."

When the police waived their right to a trial by jury, he foresaw the inevitable:

"It was supposed to be in the hands of the [jury]. And they took it out of the hands of the people and they put it into the hands of somebody who has the same mentality as the people who pulled the trigger."

The Game has also released a song called "911 Is A Joke" (I know there's a Public Enemy track with the same name), which addresses the situation.

Ice Cube said "This is just another example that the justice system in America views a black life as worthless" after hearing about the verdict. Likewise, Chamillionaire called the verdict unjust.

"The verdict sends a terrible message to people across the nation who already don't have faith in the law or our justice system. It will be hard for people to see this as anything other than a case of police protection. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Sean Bell".

Finally, Bun B said:

"The verdict is almost as tragic as the incident, we've already lost [a] life, and now we've got a loss of justice and loss of reciprocation for what's happened. And it cuts you on so many levels"

RIP Sean Bell.

Eat Your Words?

Both The Game and G-Unit's albums have been pushed back. Previously announced (here in fact last week) to be going head-to-head on June 24, they have since been pushed back to a July release. Terminate On Sight will now be released on July 1 whereas Game's L.A.X. will drop on July 8, a week later. It will be interesting to see how this will play out. I mentioned last week that if I was in their position, I'd try and get the week BEFORE the opposition because people who would want to buy both albums, but may be only able to buy one, will probably buy the first that comes out.

In more 50 related news, after this album he'll be going on tour (how about throwing a bottle at HIM instead of somebody that DOESN'T deserve it for a change?), then a movie called Righteous Kill starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro coming out late this year.

If you haven't seen 50's movie, Get Rich Or Die Trying I SERIOUSLY suggest you rent it if you want to have a good laugh. 50's acting skills are pretty much non-existent and given he's essentially portraying the story of his life, you'll be left wondering what could possibly make the movie worse…then you realize that he lives at the end and you get really pissed off.

Maybe being in a movie with Pacino and DeNiro will cause some of their acting ability to rub off on him. Not too much though, I like them too much.


Unintentional Comedy Of The Year 2005

Jam Master Jay's Murder Suspect Sent To Jail…But Not For His Murder?

Ronald Washington was the main suspect in the Jam Master Jay murder case and was sentenced to 17 years prison on April 23 for an unrelated robbery charge. Washington reportedly confessed about the murder to his girlfriend but no charges were brought against him.

He has since been sentenced due to a string of robbery charges that occurred sometime after the murder of JMJ. The robberies were supposedly committed with a BB gun and whilst the prosecution asked the judge to consider the JMJ charges as well as another suspected murder from 1995 where he is involved with the murder of Randy "Stretch" Walker, a friend of 2Pac.

The judge however, declined.

Ah well, let's hope that nobody in jail finds out that he was suspected in the JMJ shooting. Hell will break loose if it gets out.

Foxy Brown Avoids More Jail Time

Foxy Brown accepted a plea deal in an attempt to avoid more jail time on April 24. If you read a couple of weeks back, this is "the Florida Case" that her attorney mentioned which involved an altercation at Pembroke Pines beauty supply store.

She's been placed on 6 months probation and will have to perform 15 hours community service in addition to paying court costs and fines. This comes just after her attorney resigned and Brown was attempting to secure the plea deal on her own.

I would resign if I was Foxy Brown's lawyer…you know she's going to flip out over something stupid within the next 6 months and personally, I'd rather be taking cases where you have a chance of a favorable outcome.

"Jean Grae Saying Peace Out"

On her MySpace page, rapper Jean Grae has announced her retirement from the hip-hop game.

"It's been a wonderful and awful journey all at the same time. Mostly leaning towards the wonderful part..lol. Thank you for letting me share what I could with you and sharing yourselves back, as you have really been the reason that I kept on. I will always love what I consider to be true hip hop music... from the bottom of my soul. I hope you will continue to distinguish those who are contributors to the evolution of Hip Hop and other black music as both an auditory stimulation and a culture, taking care that they are put in a position to do so."

Jean Grae signed with Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Music label back in September 2005. She was meant to release Jeanius with 9th Wonder but the album was ultimately shelved due to rampant bootlegging. I think we'll still see some music from her though because her contractual obligations won't let her go without contributing SOMETHING to the music industry. Unless Kweli is a terrible businessman and agrees to let her go that is.

Well the only thing that can cheer me up now is…


There's a PhotoShop waiting to happen there…somebody do it!

"Probably Hasn't Got Much…But We'll Sue Anyway"

New York rapper Papoose is being sued by the head of a Brooklyn volunteer ambulance service because he says that he was tricked into being a part of a violent rap video.

Rocky Robinson (no relation), co-founder of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps, told the New York Post that members of Pap's camp approached him last year purportedly wanting to "do a video shoot about what we do in the community."

But the shots were actually used in Pap's beef video, "Ambulance," said to be taking aim at rival rapper Uncle Murda.

"I would never knowingly let someone use this ambulance corps as a stage to peddle his words about murdering somebody," said Robinson, 67, an ex-EMS captain. Robinson added that Papoose:

"probably hasn't got much, but we'll sue anyway. Our image is everything to us. Ouch.

Papoose took the time to address the situation by saying:

"In no way, shape, or form was the video directed toward any rapper. The video was intended to show that the volunteer ambulance company actually responds to save lives faster than the police or city ambulance does. Instead of focusing on videos, [Daily News writer] Veronika Belenkaya should focus on more serious topics like innocent black men being killed by the police."

For your viewing pleasure,



I have to say, the hook is pretty suspect if you take into account the Uncle Murda situation. Actually, many of the bars don't really apply to how the ambulance service saves lives. Oh, Papoose…RELEASE A DAMN ALBUM ALREADY!

Speechless

You may have caught Marvel's latest movie, Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. and despite early rumors circulating that Ghostface Killah would make a cameo appearance, he is nowhere to be found in the final cut.

The storyline that would lead to Ghost's appearance at a party in Dubai where he and Downey would exchange some brief dialogue was eventually cut. Ghostface's interest in the Iron Man comic was apparent in his adoption of "Tony Starks" as one of his alter egos and the name of his debut album.

The director, Jon Favreau however, contacted Ghost to immediately apologize and smoothed things over by offering to pay for Ghost's "Celebrate" video, as well as allow Ghost to cut an original song for the film's soundtrack.

There were also talks of a Samuel L. Jackson appearance as well as one from Hilary Swank that were both eventually dispelled upon the final release.

Ok…why would you cut a Samuel L. Jackson appearance! WHY!? Can't you just see him rocking up and saying "I've had it with these motherfucking men made of motherfucking Iron!" or something along those lines? It's just me then? Ah well, time to find Snakes On A Plane again.


Well, I was trying to find something of Samuel L. Jackson…but this will do for the time being

Quickies

Lupe Fiasco has been awarded a Gold Plaque for The Cool by the RIAA. According to Soundscan sales figures, he hasn't reached 500,000 yet, however the RIAA includes numbers from stores that Soundscan doesn't.

Soulja Boy is planning his second album called Back To School which will see him taking it back to basics. I don't know how much more basic you can get when all you do is repeat the name of the song eight damn times for the hook you know.

DJ Khaled won the "Best Mixtape Personality" at the Justo Faison mixtape awards on April 29. What the hell was he up against? A fucking LEMON? "WE THE BEST!!!!" my ass.

Perez Hilton is joining Hot97 radio station. Like I needed ANOTHER reason to hate them.

Lil Kim's Bentley was repossessed. In other news, I found the Bentley store here in Sydney as well as a Ferrari and Maserati store within a stones throw distance. Tucked away off the main road was the Ford store. Well at least they know their place in the scheme of things.

Before We Go…

Got to keep things a bit shorter this week, that problem still hasn't gone away and in actual fact won't. All I can do is dull it out and hope it doesn't cause issues later on. Man I need some new music to come out soon…