The Gubmint Watching The Rappers -- True or False
 

***I read this on another message board and am looking for confirmation that the government is really watching rappers. I remember Aaron McGruder having strips about this last week but IS IT REALLY TRUE?!!?!?!*****





Security Bill Passes, Government Watching Rappers:

By Nolan Strong
Date: 11/26/2002 5:00 PM


Monday, Pres. Bush passed a controversial Home Land Security Bill that has many people, including rappers, concerned. The law passes after the federal government admitted they have been probing various rappers for almost a year.

The bill combines 22 federal agencies, including the Secret Service, the Coast Guard, the Customs Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Immigration and Nationalization Service and will employ over 170,000 people. The bill allows for unprecedented freedom in the monitoring of American citizens.

The government has been reportedly investigating several unnamed rap entities and production companies, seeking to find out how they obtained guns and drugs. The probe also is seeking to determine whether money laundering operations are taking place.

"They are close watching [rappers]," Nore told AllHipHop.com. "It's not rap music. They automatically point the finger at a rapper," Nore said of the recent violence that has been plaguing hip-hop.

Nore is not one to shy away from his well documented encounters with the law, but says that he has changed, since he was married August 30.

"I got kids and a wife. So, I'm just cool. I'm not a sucker, don't get me wrong, but I'm living for the kids now. I can remember coming off a tour and the first thing I do is go to the hood. Now, its nothing like that."

Nore was skeptical of the governments probe into rap, saying that there were too many circumstances and causes to just blame rap.

"Anything can happen around you and you get blamed for it, you dig?" Nore continued. "Something can happen at a club and just the fact that my name is on a flyer or I'm in there [they can blame me]. I stay outta trouble period because I have things to live for."

Personally, I could EASILY see the ligitimacy in the government doing this. I say this because, I believe (and I don't know if others have also come to this conclusion) that there very well may be more than a few rappers (I'll leave names out) who have been and continue to be involved in "the game". It's sad, but true. As a matter of fact, there's a new movie coming out about a drug dealer who takes a lot of his "ill-gotten" money and tries to make more money (somewhat LEGALLY) by actually INVESTING in the stock market only to be swindled by some stockbroker. I feel in my heart that this story is more COMMON than NOT amongst a FEW rappers, especially the ones who have become real "big". Now I know that I COULD BE very wrong. But I doubt it seriously.

I feel that it's not fair...or moral, for that matter... for these rappers to "glamourize" things such as drugs, money, sex, cars, women, etc. when they KNOW what they did (or continue to do) in order to get started and/or make money.

I look back on how the originators of rap started things and how things are now...IT DON'T LOOK GOOD Y'ALL.

So, having said all of this, I don't see a real problem with JUSTIFIED government probes of SUSPECTED drug-dealing, gun-supplying rappers. If they don't have anything to hide, then there shouldn't be a problem.

I agree with you Renae but I'm wondering if the suspicion is going to be legitimate (taped conversations, signed afidavits, etc) or is the suspicion going to be based, either solely or heavily, on their lyrics.

And, just to be annoying, how far are they going to go with this? I mean if they find that MC Wack is involved in illegal activity, are they gonna come after people who purchased his music and charge them as an accessory?

Why are they watching rappers ("us")? Haven't they learn that "WE" are not the ENEMY? Didn't 9-11 teach them anything? "Blacks" are not empowered enough to threaten anyone. (Homeland security my azz)


Even if the rappers are "frontin'", they are not the BIG DOGS of the game. If you want to find them, 9 times out of 10, they are on CAPITOL HILL.

Pluhleeze! :rolleyes:

While they are watching "us", Saddam, Osama and all the others over there (and in the "homeland") will get 'em again. :rolleyes:

Soror, I'm totally with you on that point. I realize that crooks have many faces, occupations, and sources. That's the sad thing about it. It's going to be really hard if the suspicions are not legitimate. Now as far as how far they'll be willing to go, that'll depend on other factors...I GUESS. It's like this (and this is just my personal opinion). The top-of-the-line, big-wig, corporate, (9 times out of 10) WHITE crooks are getting really pissed that these young, thuggish, smart-talking N*ggas (excuse the word) are able to "hang" (live in the mansions, drive the luxury cars, dine at the finest restaurants, invest in the stock market, "retire" as millionaires, etc.) like they can. Who's right? NEITHER one. This just goes to show that "when you lie down with dogs, you'll probably get up with fleas" AND it also shows that in the wide world of crooks, "you can't sh*t, the sh*tter or fool the fooler". Get what I'm saying?

The fact that the government is considering doing this is no surprise to me at all. As a matter of fact, I'm actually surprised that they haven't been doing this ALREADY. And, like I said before, it's not fair that there may be some rappers...because we're specifically talking about them right now...are able get over like this while hard-working, honest, educated people (like you and I) are going about things the LEGITIMATE way and STILL STRUGGLING.

I hope that no one thinks that I'm hating on rappers. Really, I'm not. It's just that my SPIRIT...and COMMON SENSE...tells me that something ain't KOSHER about a few of their...let's say...BUSINESS VENTURES.

What else?
 

Has anyone REALLY looked into this Homeland Security measure?

I read an article this morning where a father's child was diagnosed as being Autistic. There was a vaccine given to the child at 18 months which contained mercury. Anyway, he goes on to say that a scetion of the act prohibits lawsuits (something which he doesn't care about filing) alleging that an ingredient or contaminant of a vaccine injured a child. The ban includes suits already filed. The author goes on to add that this measure was "slipped" in at the last minute and was "pushed through by wrapping it..." and OTHER measures "in the flag of patriotism and security." He feels that this has NOTHING to do with our SECURITY.

So, what else is included in the Homeland Security Act that may not be a threat to our "security or patriotism"?

I thought this act/department was to combat terrorism and the like at home.

:rolleyes:

Mercury issue
 

As part of the foul business of politics, stuff such as banning lawsuits against Eli Lilly & Co., the maker of the bad mercury additive, is not unheard of. I just did an article about healthcare and politics that notes that Big Pharma gave some 80% of its $28M in political contributions this year to the GOP.

When you spend that much caiche, you want your work done for you, no matter how it's done. I agree, tort issues have nothing to do w/homeland security.

This is one reason why I despise politics.
:rolleyes:

Re: Mercury issue
 

You're right. That was mentioned in the article (not verbatim) too.

The "Homeland Security Act" is a way for the government to use the guise of security to probe into innocent men and women's lives. This act reminds me of the movie "Enemy of the State" If anyone has not seen this movie, I strongly suggest that you rent it. This will give you a sense of how I feel this nation is headed now that we have the "Homeland Security Act" along with the "Patriot Bill" Benjamin Franklin said, "Those that give up freedoms for security for will soon have neither." I am sure that the government is not only watching rappers but anyone that feel may not be doing what is "best" for this country. It is not the job of the government to teach morality. That is taught at homes and churches. Not everyone has the same values and morals, so a few white men can't dictate them for a diverse country. Just my two cents.

I agree. Its funny how life has been imitating art lately.:rolleyes:

As far as the rappers, of course the government has been watching them, think Tupac back in the day, its just that now with everyone still playing the all foreigners are the enemy game, its easier to pass laws to legalize invading people's privacy. I am sorry but no amount of drugs or guns that any rapper black or other is going to be big enough for the gubmint,lol, to pay this much attention to. You have to ask yourself whats the real reason that they are watching them. Anybody can be a criminal but why segregrate a group of people and make it the law of the land to keep close tabs on them??? IMHO, something serious is going on and we are all in the dark...

I had a dream. . .
 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com.../bo021209l.gif

HUEY Freeman 4 President in 2012. :D

We have been watched for a long time.
 

This Homeland Security Act was written in order to legitimize the "Big Brother" game. I believe they have been watching the rappers for a long time and other members of Black society who make to much "noise" for the cause. I know of people on a certain black campus whom, because they wanted to change the status quo, were followed and possibly had their phones tapped. This thing is no joke. There is a new Civil Rights concern on the horizon, but it is nothing you can see or touch, but something you can feel.