On February 1st, a tragedy struck Las Vegas (of all cities it had to be mine). Metro Officer Prendes responded to a somewhat routine domestic disturbance and was met with gunfire from a semi automatic weapon by Amir Crump. Surrounding officers retaliated and killed Amir after a long shootout. Although the situation is quite tragic, the circumstances surrounding the incident morphed it into another round of the media vs hip hop culture. Apparently Amir Crump was an “aspiring” rapper who was part of a crew called Desert Mobb and rhymed under the name Trajik. Desert Mobb’s music was engulfed in rather violent images and the semi automatic weapon that killed Officer Prendes was being held by Amir on the inside cover of the insert. So now the dynamic on the issue has changed. It wasn’t a routine domestic call gone wrong, no kids, it became rap music killed a police officer. What has followed since then can basically be conceived as everything wrong with hip hop and the media.
So who is responsible for these unfortunate events? The media has blamed the music but I will paint for you the bigger picture. Let’s, for a second, take the responsibility out of the hands of the Amir and Henry and place it on society and how society could have prevented this from happening the way it did. Not to say that Amir is not responsible for his actions but the society we grow up in can move us one way or another. What we need to be reminded of is this country’s history of violence and how it plays a significant role in what happened on February 1st and countless other incidents. A history of violence you ask? Let me explain…
While the city mourned the death of Officer Prendes, I, on the other hand, mourned the death of Henry Prendes. What’s the difference you ask? Henry Prendes was a father of two, a loving husband and more importantly a human being. Officer Prendes was a cop. There’s a big difference. It is a well known fact that African American’s and the police haven’t been the best of friends over the years. From the civil rights era to Rodney King, the police have taken it upon themselves to respond with more violence than the law should allow. For example, Amadou Diallo was shot at 41 times for carrying a wallet. Need I say more? I, for one, have been a victim of harassment by police as well as many other African American’s. This is not a figment of our imagination folks, this is the reality of the world. The reality is that African Americans are far from convinced that the police are here to “protect and serve” us. Did this have anything to do with Amir shooting Henry? Was it a fear of police and the fact that African American’s have been beaten, shot, harassed, accused and unlawfully searched for doing much less that drove Amir over the edge?
What makes a cop’s life more valuable than Amadou Diallo? Because he is a cop perhaps? I cannot differentiate any man’s life based on the employment of the individual. Whether he is an actor, garbage man, postal worker, rapper, police officer, telemarketer or even the president- every person is somebody’s child, brother, sister, father, mother, cousin, friend before they are employed. The media has a knack for differentiating the two. I cannot value one individual before the other and I cannot say that because Henry was a cop he should get special treatment. Many have passed before him and many more will pass after him. I feel terrible for the family and close friends that lost him but do I feel bad for losing part of a task force that has historically terrorized African American’s? No… I emphatically do not.
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The media has been infatuated with violence over the years and since hip hop’s inception, have made violent acts and hip hop synonymous. The funny thing about this situation is how Amir “Trajik” Crump wasn’t a rapper until the media labeled him that after he shot Henry Prendes and was subsequently killed. Before February 1st, Amir wasn’t a blip on the media’s radar. Before Feb 1st, only a handful of people in Las Vegas knew who Amir was, much less knew that he was an “aspiring rapper.” But after February 1st Amir became somewhat of a martyr (a la Tupac) to the some. Before February 1st, the only people that purchased Desert Mobb (his group) CDs were friends and others that were sold guerilla style in the streets. After February 1st, you couldn’t find a single Desert Mobb CD in Las Vegas. All sold out. Does anyone see the problem here? His parents created Amir Crump while the media created the cop killing rapper known as “Trajik.”
The media has been irresponsible with their coverage of African American’s for years. If I’m freestyle rapping on a corner and just so happened to get shot am I an “aspiring rapper?” Better yet, think of 10 of your friends, now how many of them have rapped or made a CD sometime in their life? Does that make them an “aspiring rapper?” The fact is that it is quite simple to make a rap CD but that does not make you a rapper. I have bagged groceries before so if I am killed in the act am I an “aspiring grocer?” The media loves to find a scapegoat for violent acts and if Tupac happens to be in your CD player or Grand Theft Auto happens to be on pause when something bad happens, the media will blame the art form.
Now here’s the tricky part. The movie The Terminator slaughtered more cops than 50 Cent or The Game ever thought about killing but never once has that movie been blamed for anything remotely violent happening. Hell, the guy who starred in that movie became the Governor of California! Here’s another one for you. Professional Wrestling is nothing but violence. Chairs bended over skulls, blood running down Hulk Hogan’s face, a man’s head getting driven thru the canvass. One of the stars of Professional Wrestling, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, became the Governor of Minnesota! I’ll be damned if I see 50 Cent become the governor of anything. What’s that you say? It’s fake? It’s all an act? Which brings me to my next point…
Amir Crump was said to be a regular guy with a good heart. Those surrounding him couldn’t ever imagine what or why Amir went over the edge. But when Amir took on the moniker of Trajik a different demeanor set in. Dave Rosen (manager of Trajik’s group, Desert Mobb) told the Las Vegas Review Journal that Amir was a peaceful person and his persona was just a “pose.” He also stated that violent lyrics “just kind of go along with the music.” Knowing that should put these events even more in perspective. Amir was an actor like anyone else. With our society so bloodthirsty, what would be the most appropriate role Amir could play? With rappers who talk about selling drugs, disrespecting women, carrying more guns than an entire task force, getting more time on TV and radio than rappers who speak about conserving water, self empowerment and anything positive, what do you think Amir felt was the best way to get paid? His act was so good that the media thought that Amir was already a bloodthirsty and violent man just waiting to put a hole in a cop’s dome. But when did Amir shoot anyone? Sure he was caught with marijuana but our president did cocaine. That didn’t make Bush a violent gangster to the public (except for myself and quite a few others who define “gangsta” as George W Bush).
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But let’s not just hold the media accountable for Amir’s image. The act of killing a cop made him a star to some. He was “certified” by those who may have questioned his “gangsta.” It’s unnerving to think that some kid would bumrush a record store looking for a Desert Mobb CD only after what happened in February. This is further reinforcing the fact that negativity and hip hop are peas in a pod in the public eye. Amir’s death has validated him to many ignorant people who are impressed by death. The only ones that should be mourning for Amir are his close friends and family. Death by violence and cop killing should not be idolized by the public. True fans of hip hop know that and will not allow this event to define rap music.
Now the city of Las Vegas wants to ban “gangsta rap” from the colleges and casinos (which is basically all of Las Vegas). But tell me…who is the “hip hop expert” who can clearly define what is gangsta rap and what isn’t. Tell me who will be saying whether dead prez’s bucking the system and self empowering style is not considered terrorism in music. Who will be the person responsible to listen to every damn person’s catalog who is being considered to perform in these establishments. That, my friends, is sort of like the death penalty. Yes, it would be nice to stop violent people (acts) if there was a perfect judicial system in place that could clearly define the guilty from the innocent but too many inoffensive lives (rapper’s careers) will be wrongfully executed along the way. To conservatives across the country, “gangsta rap” is hip hop. In order for us to separate ourselves from these violent images, we will have to take responsibility as mothers, fathers, rappers, actors, basketball players, teachers, authors, real estate agents and the many other careers in life and show our children that negativity does not sell and should not be looked up to. We have to show them that we are more than gangstas and thugs. We are kings, queens, organizers, activists, nurturers and countless other occupations that build a community, not destroy it. That, my friends, is the only way to denounce this “History of Violence” and become a community that is prosperous and fruitful. But I’m just a critic…Who The Hell Am I?
-or
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