Image via Complex Original
Hip-hop history is littered with litigation. It's a barely-kept secret that semi-legal operations have bankrolled more than a couple of the most successful rappers in the world, and when you blend that background with the genre's relentless need for reality raps and the flaunting of outrageously expensive possessions, and you have a situation that is already pretty primed for police involvement.
Throw in America's problematic history with race, the specter of racial bias in the court system, a war on drugs that targets minority communities disproportionately, and a black-dominated artform like hip-hop—particularly one that actively chooses to speak about this illegal underground—and, at the very least, the genre is going to fund college educations for a few attorneys' children. And that's not even to speak of the flagrant drug use in hip-hop; not only is Gucci Mane a "walking lick" (as he puts it), but for a while, he was a walking parole violation, too.
But while it's easy to point to the broader trends that make hip-hop artists' brushes with the law unsurprising, one thing of note is how few rappers really do end up in brushes with the law, considering the circumstances. One of the more complicated parts of hip-hop's history is the degree to which crime and art intersect. The streets and the music industry are different worlds, and while they come into contact, the music itself gives a very skewed, fantastical view of what is really happening.
However, these two worlds are only occasionally related to how rappers end up in court. Addiction, one of the unspoken plagues on the hip-hop industry, is arguably as responsible for getting paralegals overtime as criminal enterprises, if not more. Sometimes, rappers just do stupid shit.
Written by David Drake (@somanyshrimp)
30. The People of the State of New York v. Inga Marchand (2005)
Crime: Assault, Criminal Contempt
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served one year at Rikers Island in New York.
Foxy Brown always seems get in trouble for one bizarre incident after another. However, one time it landed her in jail.
On August 29, 2004, Brown got into a fight with two manicurists in Manhattan over a $20 bill. In April 2005 she pleaded not guilty to assault charges and was given three years of probation. She eventually violated her probation and on September 7, 2007 she was sentenced to one year in jail.
29. The State of Georgia v. Demetrius Stewart (2010)
Crime: First-Degree Murder
Verdict: Not Guilty
Sentence: N/A
Early in the morning of January 1, 2010, Demetrius A. Stewart—better known to hip-hop fans as Shawty Redd—made a call to police after getting into an altercation with Damon Martin, 35.
Redd, known for Young Jeezy's "Who Dat" as well as a multitude of other southern rap classics, had shot an acquaintance after getting into an altercation. After a few hours of questioning, police arrested the rapper, who was released on bail. During the trial, Redd's defense attorney, Ashutosh Joshi, argued that it was clearly a self-defense case, as Redd had been both verbally and physically threatened by the victim.
The judge agreed (the case never went before a jury) and he was found not guilty on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.
28. The People of the State of Michigan v. Marshall Mathers (2000)
Crime: Possession of a Concealed Weapon, Assault
Verdict: Pleaded Guilty
Sentence: Two years of probation.
Eminem was running wild in June 2000. First, on June 3, he got into an altercation at a car audio store in Michigan and pulled out an unloaded gun.
The very next day, he allegedly saw his then wife Kim kiss a man named John Guerrera in the parking lot of a cafe. Em proceeded to assault Guerrera and was then arrested. Eminem was later charged with possession of a concealed weapon and assault.
He plead guilty to the charges and was given two years probation. Later, Em would recreate the incident on the skit “The Kiss” from The Eminem Show and rap about it on “Sing For The Moment” saying, “You’re full of shit too Guerrera, that was a fist that hit you!”
27. The State of Texas v. Carlos Coy (2002)
Crime: Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving 45 years at Allred Unit in Texas.
Carlos Coy, known to Houston rap fans as South Park Mexican and the founder of Dope House Records, was a celebrated local rapper who was on the rise. He had released six albums with a combined 1.5 million in sales, and Dope House had aligned with a major label for national distribution. Then he was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in 2002. He remains in prison after receiving a 45-year sentence.
His first arrest came on September 25, 2001. Coy, who was married and had children of his own, was arrested for abusing a nine-year-old girl in an incident that had occurred a year earlier, when the girl was a guest visiting his seven-year-old daughter. Another case was soon added when it was revealed that the rapper had impregnated a 13-year-old when he was 22 and never paid child support.
He was indicted in December of that year. In March 2002, more charges came. He was accused for sexual assault of two 14-year-old girls. In May 2002, the trial began. During the trial, the 9-year-old girl herself testified on the stand; the jurors found her “very credible,” according to prosecutor Lisa Andrews.
At the end of the trial, according to the Houston Chronicle, the girl’s father, who had been a friend of Coy’s, addressed the rapper directly. "You portray yourself as a victim, as a saint. Who are you trying to convince—yourself?"
South Park Mexican is eligible for parole in 2024, with a projected release date of 2047.
26. The People of the State of New York v. Chi Ali Griffith (2001)
Crime: First-Degree Manslaughter
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served 12 years at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York.
Chi Ali Griffith released a solo album entitled The Fabulous Chi Ali in 1992, which included popular Beatnuts-produced singles “Age Ain’t Nothin But A #” and “Funky Lemonade.” He had recorded with Black Sheep, De La Soul, and was considered a member of the Native Tongues clique.
He all but disappeared off of the hip-hop radar until January 14, 2000, when he shot and killed Sean Raymond in the Bronx. The rapper had been dating Raymond’s sister. Accused of second-degree murder, assault, firearm possession, and a number of other charges, the rapper fled, eluding police in an extensive manhunt that lasted well over a year.
Twice, the rapper was featured on America’s Most Wanted. He was finally apprehended on March 5, 2001 in the Bronx for marijuana possession and illegal possession of a 9 millimeter handgun. He took a plea deal, avoiding a homicide charge in favor of a first-degree manslaughter charge.
He finished 12 years of his 14-year sentence before being freed. He obtained an Associates Degree while in jail, which helped shorten his sentence. He was freed in 2012.
25. The People of the State of New York v. Russell Jones (1999)
Crime: Making Terrorist Threats, Possessing a Narcotic With Intent to Sell, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Driving by Unlicensed Operator, Disobeying Traffic Signal Light
Verdict: Varies
Sentence: Sentenced to serve two to four years at Rikers Island in New York; entered a psychiatric/drug rehab facility.
ODB spent much of his life in and out of legal trouble: second-degree assault charges and attempted robbery in 1993, failure to pay $35,000 in child support in 1997, attempted assault to his wife, shoplifting, criminal threatening, attempted murder, and weapons possession in 1998.
In January 1999, there was also his shootout with the NYPD. A month later, in February 1999, he was arrested for driving without a license and for wearing a bulletproof vest as a felon. Then crack cocaine possession. Then marijuana possession. Then more crack. There were arrests for terrorist threats. At trial, he called a prosecutor a “sperm donor.”
Clearly going through some difficult issues with drugs, ODB was sent to a treatment facility. He escaped in October 2000, went on the run, and was arrested a month later outside of a McDonalds in Philadelphia, when a crowd gathered looking for autographs. After being extradited to Manhattan, he was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
This year, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, his FBI file was released, which revealed that the entire Wu-Tang Clan had been investigated as part of an attempt to draw up a RICO case for murder, drug dealing and gun-running.
24. The People of the State of New York v. Earl Simmons (2004)
Crime: Cocaine Possession, Criminal Impersonation, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief, Menacing, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol, Claiming To Be a Federal Agent, Attempting to Carjack a Vehicle
Verdict: Varies
Sentence: Served 40 days at Rikers Island in New York.
DMX has had recurrent run-ins with the law. But it was his June 2004 run-in at Kennedy International Airport where it became apparent that DMX’s substance abuse and legal problems were spinning out of control.
The rapper claimed to be a federal agent, stole a car, and ended up being charged with those crimes as well as driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a weapon. The rapper ended up pleading out to a 40-day sentence at Rikers Island, versus the year in prison he would have faced had he taken the case all the way through trial.
23. The United States v. Dwight Grant (2004)
Crime: Attempted Murder
Verdict: Not Guilty
Sentence: N/A
Beanie Sigel’s legal run-ins have occurred on and off through the years. He had a felony conviction in 1995, which proved to be a problem when, in 2003, police tried to pull him over because of what police claimed was a covered license plate.
Sigel tried to drive off, but was again stopped. He tried to throw a gun from his vehicle, but police recovered it. It turned out the gun was stolen, and as a felon, Sigel wasn’t legally allowed to possess it. Codeine, Hydrocodone and marijuana were also found in the car.
In July of that same year, Sigel was arrested for the shooting of Terrance Speller, which happened after a shooting about a woman outside of a bar in Philadelphia. The initial trial resulted in a hung jury. A judge sentenced Sigel to a year in prison for the gun charge; after he got out, he faced the more serious murder charge.
Sigel was found innocent, after the victim’s friend, David Aimes, changed his testimony about having seen Sigel kill Speller. Shortly after the trial, Sigel’s life took another dark turn, when his stepfather was murdered. Sigel returned to prison in 2012 for two years, after failing to file federal taxes.
22. The People of the State of New York v. Reminisce Smith (2008)
Crime: Assault, Illegal Weapon Possession, Attempted Coercion
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving eight years at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York.
In July 2007, Remy Ma got into an incident outside of a Manhattan nightspot known as the Pizza Bar which left one woman shot in the torso. Remy accused Makeda Barnes-Joseph of stealing money from her purse and in turn shot the woman.
On July 13, 2007, Remy turned herself in to the NYPD and was charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal weapon possession. She later pled not guilty in court. On March 27, 2008, she was convicted of assault, illegal weapon possession, and attempted coercion in connection with the charges.
21. The People of the State of New York v. Albert Banks (2006)
Crime: Illegal Weapon Possesion
Verdict: Pleaded Guilty
Sentence: Served three years at Mid-State Correctional Facility in New York.
In October 2006, after Prodigy made an illegal U-turn, he was pulled over by the police. The cops proceeded to search his vehicle and found a small pistol in the car. Prodigy, who had already been convicted of previous gun charges, went to trial but eventually struck a deal, and plead guilty to gun possession. He was sentenced to three and a half years on October 8, 2007.
20. The United States v. Terrance Boykin (2009)
Crime: One Count of Bank Robbery, Violation of Federal Firearms Statutes
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving 10 years at Big Spring Federal Correctional Institute in Texas.
On January 4, 2007, a Chase Bank in Oak Park, Illinois, was robbed by two men at gunpoint, taking more than $100,000 in cash. Thanks in part to witness testimony and surveillance footage, police contended that Terrance Boykin, known to rap fans throughout the Midwest as Bump J, was one of the two culprits.
One of the most celebrated street rappers in Chicago hip-hop history, Bump J built steady buzz for both his music and the reputation of the Goon Squad, his heavily respected and feared crew. He had been signed to Atlantic Records, but his debut, which included production from Kanye West, was never released.
In November 2008, the rapper was arrested. To avoid a life sentence, Bump J took a plea deal that will keep him behind bars for 7 years. He should be out in 2015.
19. The People of the State of New York v. Trevell Coleman (2012)
Crime: Second-Degree Murder
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving 15 years at Rikers Island in New York.
G-Dep was just a teenager when he shot John Henkel, a 32-year-old man. Dep was unaware that the man died from his injuries. The case went completely cold; G-Dep went on to find some mainstream rap success with Puffy in the early 2000s, but was ultimately swallowed up by drug addiction.
Then, in 2010, he walked into a police station and told police what he’d done. At trial, his attorney argued that Dep had shot someone that night, but that a lifetime of PCP addiction had affected his memory of the events. There was no way to know that Henkel was the man who he had shot.
His initial confession to police, though, seemed affirmed by the facts. Initially facing 35 years in prison for his crime, he was convicted for 15-life, the minimum sentence. The jury foreman, who turned out to be GQ Editor-in-Chief Jim Nelson, wrote a letter asking for leniency in the case.
18. The United States v. Andre Hicks (1992)
Crime: Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served five years at Fresno County Jail in California.
Mac Dre came up in Country Club Crest, an area of Vallejo known for the Romper Room Gang. Covered in particular detail on an episode of BET’s American Gangster, the Romper Room Gang made much of their money—and helped fund Mac Dre’s career—through frequent pizza parlor robberies.
Frustrated by their inability to catch the responsible party, Vallejo police stepped up their surveillance of the Crest’s citizens, until Dre recorded “Punk Police,” which taunted the police and criticized their frequent harassment. Police believed that the Romper Room Gang was connected to 47 robberies. But the police managed to turn an informant, which spelled the end for Mac Dre and the other two members of the robbery crew.
Cory DeAndre Dunn hooked up the Romper Room Gang with a car that had been supplied to him by police. It was wired, and recorded conversations between the members planning a bank robbery. After they were captured, Dre was sent to the Fresno County Jail. During his incarceration, he made a call to KMEL, who broadcast a live interview in which Dre named Dunn as the FBI informant. Shortly afterwards, Mac Dre, who had refused to inform on anyone in the gang, was sentenced to five years.
After his conviction, the FBI contacted KMEL and requested “I Fought the Law,” dedicating it to Mac Dre. Dre would record songs behind bars, some of which would end up on his debut LP Young Black Brotha. He was freed in 1996, and went on to become one of the most significant recording artists in Bay Area history, before his tragic death in 2004.
17. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Barry Reese (2005)
Crime: Involuntary Manslaughter, Two Counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of an Instrument of Crime
Verdict: Pleaded Guilty
Sentence: Served eight months at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania.
On April 15, 2005, following an argument in Philadelphia, Cassidy and three other men armed themselves with a .45, a .40, 9mm caliber pistols, and an AK-47 and fired shots at three unarmed men. One man was shot and killed while two others were treated for gunshot wounds and survived. Cassidy was eventually arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, conspiracy, and weapons possession.
Things looked grim for Cassidy but then the primary witness in the case withdrew his confession. This lead to the charges against Cass to be significantly reduced to third-degree murder, attempted murder charges, and weapons offenses.
On January 25, 2006, Cassidy was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, and possession of an instrument of crime and was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in prison. He was credited with the seven months he had already served and was eventually released after serving eight months.
16. The People of the State of California v. Shawn Thomas (1996)
Crime: Parole Violation Stemming From Illegal Use of a Firearm
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served one year at Soledad State Prison in California prior to parole; most serious parole violation was dropped, still served time for lesser parole violations.
Sacramento rapper Shawn Thomas, known as C-Bo, grew up in the Garden Block as a Crip, and was heavily involved in drug dealing and gang-related crimes before he recorded any music. He was arrested numerous times throughout the 1990s, but it was a 1994 incident at a picnic that kick-started one of the more important trials in rap history.
The rapper fired a shot in the air among other gang members, a fight began, and one person was killed. In 1996, he was sent to Soledad State Prison for two years. In 1997, he was released on parole, under the condition that he was not allowed to record music that promoted the “gang lifestyle” or that was “anti-law enforcement.” Naturally, when C-Bo released 1998’s Til My Casket Drops, the record was overflowing with references to gangbanging.
In an L.A. Times interview with the rapper, he claimed that he only signed the agreement thinking it would be overturned on appeal. At various points on C-Bo’s album, he calls for the Sheriff’s Department spokesman to be shot, and attacks California’s three strikes law.
Ultimately, C-Bo would be freed, after attracting national attention to Sacramento’s clear First Amendment violation. This year, C-Bo announced on Twitter that he would be going away for a year, shortly after being arrested on charges of distributing marijuana, money laundering, conspiracy, and interstate transport in aid of racketeering.
15. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Christopher Roney (1996)
Crime: First-Degree Murder
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving sentence at Pennsylvania State Prison awaiting execution.
Philadelphia rappers Cool C and Steady B were stars in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They formed a group alongside rapper Ultimate Eaze known as C.E.B. (Countin’ Endless Bank), and Cool C became known for his “Juice Crew Diss,” and as the mind behind one of the all-time great hip-hop choruses with “Glamorous Life.”
But by 1996, C and B had fallen on hard times. The duo, joined by local rapper Mark Canty, attempted to rob a PNC bank branch in Philadelphia. C, whose real name was Christopher Roney, shot and killed the policewoman, Lauretha Vaird, who responded to the bank alarm. Vaird, who had two children, was the first female officer killed in the line of duty.
Steady B, Cool C and Canty fled in a minivan, but were ultimately apprehended. A weapon left at the crime scene was traced back to Steady B. B’s wife testified in the court that the three rappers met in B’s apartment after the robbery, where she overheard them watching media coverage of the robbery and discussing their next moves.
Roney was convicted October 30, and was sentenced to death by lethal injection. His original execution date was set for 2006, but Judge Gary Glazer granted him a stay, awaiting the results of impending litigation. He has maintained his innocence, despite ballistics evidence and witness testimony to the contrary. Steady B was convicted to life in prison for his role as the getaway driver in the murder.
14. The State of Georgia v. Radric Davis (2005)
Crime: First-Degree Murder
Verdict: Charges Dropped
Sentence: N/A
On May 10, 2005, Gucci Mane was at the house of an acquaintance when four men entered the building. Moments later, three came out; dead was Pookie Loc, real name Henry Lee Clark III, whose body was disposed of behind a nearby middle school.
Police sought Gucci Mane for murder, but charges were dropped when a witness’ story suggested that the shooting was, in fact, in self-defense. But Gucci did not avoid legal trouble in a separate incident: He was arrested and convicted for assault of a concert promoter with a pool cue in June 2005, a crime that would lead to further arrests and career struggles.
He served a 6-month prison sentence ("Did six months, incident with a pool stick,” from “I Move Chickens”) and was freed, only to return to jail at the tail end of 2008 after completing only 25 out of 600 required hours of community service as a part of his sentence.
When he returned to freedom in spring of 2009, his buzz had reached a breaking point, and the rapper soon found himself recording with the Black Eyed Peas and Mariah Carey. But he soon violated probation again—this time for failing drug tests—and returned to jail until May of 2010, hurting the promotion for his LP, The State vs. Radric Davis.
13. The State of Texas v. Chad Butler (2002)
Crime: Violation of Probation Stemming From Aggravated Gun Assault
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served three years at Terrell Unit in Texas.
The UGK producer/rapper was initially arrested for a gun assault charge after flashing a weapon in a shopping mall. But it wasn’t until 2002 that he found himself getting in major legal trouble, after failing to fulfill the requirements of his parole.
Pimp was sentenced to eight years, but was released after three. From 2002 to 2005, Bun B kept his name alive with a market-flooding guest verse run during the same period. During that time, an LP of unreleased recordings came out on Rap-A-Lot records.
12. The United States v. Kimberly Jones (2005)
Crime: Three Counts of Conspiracy, One Count of Perjury
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served one year and one day at Philadelphia Federal Detention Center in Pennyslvania.
In 2001, Lil Kim and her Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew got into a shootout outside of Hot 97. At the subsequent trial, Kim testified to a grand jury that she had no idea who Damion "D-Roc" Butler (her co-manager) and Suif "Gutta" Jackson (her bodyguard) were. Later, security footage revealed that they had exited the building together.
After getting caught lying, Kim was convicted of three counts of conspiracy and one count of perjury for lying to a Federal grand jury on March 17, 2005. She was eventually sentenced to a one year and a day in prison. She’d later recall the ordeal on her song “All Good” saying, “Now the D.A., wanna give me time in the feds I'm from Brooklyn, I could do that time on my head.”
11. The People of the State of New York v. Shawn Carter (2000)
Crime: Third-Degree Assault
Verdict: Pleaded Guilty
Sentence: Three years of probation.
In 1999, 29-year-old Jay-Z was fresh off the release of “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” a smash single that broke the rapper to an entirely new audience the previous year. Multiple hits from Hard Knock Life… Vol. 2 had charted, the album ultimately went five times platinum, won a Grammy, and Jay even snatched a guest spot alongside Mariah Carey on her massive single “Heartbreaker.”
His follow-up, Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard, but the album was heavily bootlegged prior to its release. On Wednesday, December 2, 1999, Jay-Z had a listening party for the album at Irving Plaza in NYC. He hit the stage alongside Beanie Sigel, Amil, and Memphis Bleek while Dame Dash yelled “Fuck the bootleggers!” into the microphone.
Later that night, at the now-defunct Kit Kat Club in midtown, Jay attended Q-Tip’s album release party. While Q-Tip was being interviewed in another part of the club, Lance “Un” Rivera, a record promoter, was stabbed in the abdomen and shoulder. After being sought by police, Jay turned himself in the following day.
At first, the rapper denied any involvement, but ultimately pleaded guilty for the stabbing, a third-degree assault charge, rather than face a potential 15-year jail sentence should he lose the case in court.
10. The People of the State of New York v. Dwayne Carter (2009)
Crime: Criminal Possession of a Weapon
Verdict: Pleaded Guilty
Sentence: Served one year at Rikers Island in New York.
Ever wonder why Lil Wayne hates New York? It probably has a lot to do with the fact that on July 22, 2007 he was smoking weed in NYC by his tour bus when the police ran up on him and found him rolling with a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in his bag.
Although the gun was registered to his manager, Weezy was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Wayne eventually pleaded guilty to the charge and got sentenced to a year in prison. Two years later, on "Nightmares of rhe Bottom," Wayne lamented, "If I knew I was going to jail I would have fucked my attorney." Word.
9. The State of Louisiana v. Corey Miller (2003)
Crime: Second-Degree Murder
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving a life sentence at Angola State Prison in Louisiana.
On the West Bank of the Mississippi River, in New Orleans suburb of Harvey, Louisiana, 16-year-old C-Murder fan Steve Thomas was shot and killed in January, 2002. No witnesses could claim Cory Miller had fired the gun that killed Thomas, and accounts of his proximity to the victim varied widely.
After his arrest, his initial $2 million bail was revoked, when Judge Martha Sassone decided that if he was released, it might be dangerous for witnesses to the shooting. Soon after, he and two deputies were caught trying to smuggle in a cell phone, which, according to the assistant district attorney, was going to be used to intimidate potential witnesses.
Later on, an inmate claimed that Miller had planned to threaten Assistant District Attorney Douglas Freese or his family, although the witness admitted he hoped for leniency in his unresolved cases. During his time in jail, Miller continued to release music, including tracks that were recorded from behind bars.
The case finally began in September 2003, with an all-white jury. Although one witness initially identified Miller as the shooter, she doubled back on her story. And the prosecutors soon discovered that a tape of the events of the night had been taped over by the club’s owners.
The defense called their own witnesses, all five of whom denied that Miller had shot Thomas; however, none of them could describe what the shooter did look like. The jury decided after less than four hours that Miller was guilty of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life without parole.
8. The State of Tennessee v. Tab Virgil (2004)
Crime: Second-Degree Attempted Murder
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served eight years and eight months at Forrest City Federal Prison in Arkansas.
Turk might be the least well known member of the Hot Boyz after Lil Wayne, Juvenile and B.G., but for much of the last decade there was good reason.
On January 28, 2004, the rapper, whose government name was Tab Virgil, was charged with first-degree attempted murder, after shooting two police officers in Memphis, Tennessee. A SWAT team entered an apartment in southeast Memphis on January 26, searching for drugs. The rapper was accused of shooting blindly with a 9 millimeter handgun from his hiding spot in a closet, striking officer Chris Harris four times.
Small amounts of marijuana and heroin were found in the apartment. The rapper agreed to a plea deal that brought his charges down to attempted second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 12 years. He was released after serving close to nine calenders, at the age of 30 in 2012. At the same time as Turk’s release, fellow Hot Boy B.G. was sentenced to nine years for weapons violations.
7. The State of Louisiana v. Torrence Hatch (2012)
Crime: 1st Degree Murder
Verdict: Not Guilty
Sentence: N/A
On October 21, 2009, 35-year-old East Baton Rogue resident Terry Boyd was shot six times by a 9mm handgun through the window of his home. He was the brother of Rochelle Wagner, the mother of one of Lil Boosie’s children. There was no DNA evidence at the crime scene; instead, prosecutors of the case relied heavily on the testimony of the shooter himself, Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding.
Louding, whose telephone records linked him to Boosie’s studio both before and after the killing, cracked under police pressure during a taped interrogation. But on the stand, Louding recanted his jailhouse confession, and suggested that he’d lied because police threatened him with lethal injection and his family with arrest. They also told the accused hitman that Boosie himself had put money on Louding’s head.
Louding had previously been charged with a variety of shootings, including the deaths of Michael “Ghost” Judson, who had previously hired Louding to kill rapper Nussie (who himself had been in a war of words with Lil Boosie), and Darryl “Bleek” Milton, a friend of Boosie’s. But a recently-acquired tattoo, shown to the jury in a particularly dramatic moment, suggested his allegiances had shifted; next to a tattoo of an AK-47 was the phrase, “Yo Boosie. Who’s Next?”
The trial had further dramatic moments; the victim's sister and mother of Boosie's child took the stand and claimed Boosie and Boyd had no history of conflict. One local resident was charged with public intimidation and terrorizing after he threatened the District Attorney with a sniper rifle over Twitter.
Ultimately, the jury found that the prosecution failed to provide the burden of proof to convict the rapper, who remains behind bars on unrelated drug and weapons charges.
6. The State of New Jersey v. Charly Wingate (2009)
Crime: Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Murder
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Currently serving 75 years a Bergen County Correctional Facility in New Jersey.
Max B was released from prison in 2005 after serving eight years on robbery charges. The same year, he began working with Jim Jones and the Diplomats, making his first splash on the chorus of Cam’ron’s Jay-Z diss “You Got to Love It” and Jim Jones’ lead single “Baby Girl.”
Then, in 2006, David Taylor was shot execution-style in a hotel room, while his associate Allen Plowden and another woman were tied up with duct tape. Gina Conway, who was romantically involved with Max, and Max’s stepbrother Kelvin Leerdam, were accused of robbery and murder, which, according to police, had been orchestrated by Max B.
The trial relied heavily on the testimony of Gina Conway, who claimed she had met Plowden and found out about his considerable wealth—he was involved in mortgage fraud and embezzlement scams—and told Max about the money. They planned to rob Plowden and Taylor, Conway said.
Oddly, after the robbery, it was reported that Conway took what she recovered not to Max, but to another associate of hers, strip club bouncer Turon Gholston. Based upon Conway’s claims, Max and Leerdam were arrested; Max’s bail was set at $2 million, and he was unable to pay it.
At the same time, Jim Jones was experiencing unprecedented success, as his single “We Fly High” climbed the charts. Max, who was widely being credited with co-writing the song, as well as a multitude of other Jim Jones releases, started making noise from behind bars. Eventually, Jim Jones agreed to pay Max’s bail, but only did it in exchange for the rights to Max’s publishing. This freed Max to record the many mixtapes that eventually built up his buzz (and led to a very public falling-out between the two rappers), but it didn’t help him stay out of jail.
After Gina Conway’s testimony, the rapper was convicted to 75 years. Conway’s sentence was reduced to 15. Max fired his lawyer not long after the jury reached its verdict.
5. The People of the State of New York v. Richard Walters (1990)
Crime: Second-Degree murder, Two Counts of Attempted Murder, Assault, Illegal Use of a Firearm, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served five years at Rikers Island in New York.
The trouble started when the flashy, English-born Slick Rick hired his cousin, Jamaican-born Mark Plummer, as a bodyguard. But soon, his bodyguard tried to extort him. Rick fired him, and Plummer responded by sending some of his friends to rob the rapper. Rick refused; they threatened to kill him and his family. Later on, he would find bullet holes in his front door.
Rick began to collect guns, believing that he could only protect himself through self-defense. On July 3, 1990, the rapper was alerted that Plummer was in his neighborhood. Armed and sitting in the car with his pregnant wife, Rick hunted for Plummer. When he found him, he accidentally shot an innocent person, before striking Plummer in the foot.
A police chase ensued; the rapper crashed into a tree (breaking both of his girlfriend’s legs), pleaded guilty, and went to jail for three to 10 years. Within a year, Plummer would be shot dead. Rick’s time in jail sidelined his career completely. But the rapper did release one of the more inventive music videos about incarceration. 1994’s “Behind Bars” was necessarily animated.
Rick wouldn’t leave prison until 1996, one year after recording this interview with Russell Simmons. His run-ins with the law weren’t over; Rick had never applied for citizenship in the United States, and in 2001, after performing on a Carribbean Cruise, the rapper was detained.
Due to his felony conviction, he faced deportation. In 2008, however, New York governor David Patterson granted Rick a full pardon on the attempted murder charge, taking the pressure off of his immigration problems.
4. The United States v. Clifford Harris (2007)
Crime: Possession of Three Unregistered Machine Guns and Two Silencers, Possession of Firearms By a Convicted Felon
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served one year and one day at Forrest City Correctional Facility in Arkansas.
T.I. had dealt with his fair share of legal issues in the past, but by 2006, he seemed on top of the world. His most recent record, King, went gold in under a week, its primary single “What You Know” had become a U.S. hit, and he starred in the film ATL that same year. But on May 3, less than two months after the release of King, T.I.P. and his entourage were followed after leaving a club in Cincinatti.
Hosea Thomas, in a car driven by his brother Padron Thomas—who would later testify against his brother in exchange for a lesser sentence—followed the crew and fired into their van, fatally shooting one of T.I.’s oldest friends, Philant Johnson. T.I. later testified that he believed the bullets were intended for him. The events that followed, according to T.I., were a direct result of this event.
On October 13, 2007, T.I. was scheduled to perform at the BET awards; he had been nominated for nine, including album of the year. Instead of performing, he was arrested after getting caught in a sting orchestrated by the ATF. T.I. paid $12,000 for three machine guns and two silencers through his bodyguard, who had become an informant.
When law enforcement officers searched his home and vehicles, they found nine guns, including three in his car alone. As a felon—he was arrested in 1998 on drug charges—T.I. was not legally allowed to possess any firearms. He initially pled not guilty and was placed on house arrest, but pled guilty in March 2008.
Facing 10 years if convicted, T.I. instead managed to serve only one year and a day in prison in conjunction with nearly 1500 hours of community service.
3. The People of the State of New York v. Jamal Barrow (2001)
Crime: Attempted Murder, Assault, Reckless Endangerment
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served nine years at Clinton Correctional Facility in New York.
21-year-old Shyne Barrow, his girlfriend Monay Hawkins, Sean "Puffy" Combs, and Jennifer Lopez were at a Manhattan club on December 27, 1999 when a group of clubgoers got into an argument with Puffy. Reportedly, Matthew “Scar” Allen threw money at the mogul. The conflict escalated; guns were drawn, and three people were shot.
Shyne was arrested when witnesses identified him as one of the shooters. Puffy and the rest of his entourage fled the scene, and were later apprehended. Jennifer Lopez was charged initially, but those charges were dropped. Puffy and bodyguard Anthony Jones were aquitted. Shyne would go on to be convicted to 10 years for assault and weapons possession, amongst other charges.
During the trial, his attorney Murray Richman claimed the rapper was acting in self-defense. He was found guilty for the shooting of victim Natania Reuben, who had been shot in the face. At the end of the trial, he begged for mercy, asking the court not to “waste my life.” After being incarcerated, he continued recording material; his second album, Godfather Buried Alive, was released while he was in prison and went Gold.
Shyne is widely considered to have taken the rap for Combs. In 2012, he released a song entitled “You’re Welcome,” in which he publicly takes credit for keeping Puff out of trouble in the murder trial: “My co-d called witnesses just to sacrifice me,” he claims.
Shyne would be freed only to face deportation to his native Belize. Puffy’s bodyguard Anthony Jones was killed in 2003 in Atlanta, in a shooting associated with imprisoned BMF head Big Meech. In December of 2011, almost 12 years after the initial shooting, Matthew “Scar” Allen was shot and killed outside of Brooklyn’s Footprints nightclub.
2. The People of the State of New York v. Tupac Shakur (1994)
Crime: Sexual Abuse
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Served eight months at Clinton Correctional Facility in New York.
Tupac was arrested in 1993 on charges of first-degree sexual abuse, weapons possession, and sodomy. A 19-year-old fan, who had previously engaged in a sexual relationship with Shakur at a Manhattan nightclub, reported that she had been in a room at the Parker Meridien Hotel with Shakur when a group of men joined them, and he forced her to perform oral sex on the group.
Pac and his manager were taken into custody. The trial lasted through 1995 and 1996. At one point, two jurors were removed after it was discovered they harbored a prejudice against Shakur for his music.
The victim’s rendition of events suggested that Pac had pulled her hair and removed her clothes while his associates took advantage of her. The defense, who called only one witness to the stand, contended that the victim, who had seen Tupac with another woman, was jealous and used the rape allegation as revenge.
During the trial, Tupac was shot and robbed at Quad Studios in Manhattan. The jury, which had been sequestered, was unaware of what occurred until Tupac (against the wishes of his doctors) appeared in court in a wheelchair and bandages. Later on, Tupac was found guilty of sexual assault, but acquitted of the charges involving the gun and sodomy, which the jury felt hadn’t been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
During sentencing, Tupac apologized, although clarified that he wasn’t apologizing for anything criminal. Jack Agnant, who was also present at the scene of the crime, was tried separately. Tupac went to jail for eight months; Jack Agnant, known as Hatian Jack, would be tried separately.
1. The People of the State of California v. Calvin Broadus (1995)
Crime: First-Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter
Verdict: Not Guilty
Sentence: N/A
In 1993, at 22 years of age, Snoop Dogg was hip-hop's most-hyped rap artist. Fresh off high-profile guest spots on Dr. Dre's The Chronic the previous year, he was mere months from releasing his debut LP when, in August 1993, he was involved in an altercation in Palms park in Lakewood, California that led to the death of Philip Woldemariam.
Woldemariam was driving by Snoop's house, where Snoop and a group of other people had gathered. Gang signs were flashed. According to the LA Times, Woldemariam, who was a member of By Yerself Hustlers street gang, responded: "Fuck y'all!" Snoop's crew followed the victim and two of his friends to Palms park, which is where things got messy.
Woldemarian was killed, and Snoop’s bodyguard McKinley Lee was the shooter. Soon, Snoop and Lee were both sought out by police for the crime. (Snoop had driven the vehicle after the shooting took place, and was accused of being an accomplice.) Lee claimed self-defense.
Snoop’s solo debut Doggystyle was released three months later, on November 23. By May 31, 1994, it had been certified four-times platinum. He performed “Murder Was the Case” at the 1994 VMAs in early September of that year, proclaiming his innocence at the end of his set.
Eventually, Snoop and Lee were acquitted, but not before the trial became the most high-profile one in hip-hop history, as well as a showcase for hip-hop celebrities: MC Hammer, Devante of Jodeci, and Suge Knight all made appearances.
The case wasn’t resolved until 1996. According to the testimony of Woldemariam’s friend Deshaun Joseph, Woldemarian reached for his gun before Snoop’s bodyguard McKinley Lee shot him. Both Joseph and Woldemarian’s other friend, Jason London, admitted that they had taken Woldemarian’s gun from the crime scene in order to better the odds of a conviction for Snoop and Lee, which likely helped the jury reach an acquittal.
After the not guilty verdict was read, Snoop bowed his head and clasped his hands in prayer.