Loose Cannon
...
ill o.g.
Rakim-
"NEW YORK — Rap legend Rakim was arrested by plain-clothed officers around 11 p.m. as he was about to enter Roseland Ballroom to perform Tuesday night, according to numerous eyewitnesses.
The officers flashed their badges, told Rakim they had a warrant for his arrest and took him away in an unmarked car, witnesses said. Rakim reportedly was handcuffed and went willingly. A security guard at Roseland said he saw the officers staked out across the street from the venue as early as 6 p.m.
Sources close to Rakim later confirmed the arrest to MTV News, and NYPD officers at the venue said the arresting officers were members of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department. A sheriff's department spokesperson said no comment could be made about the arrest until Wednesday morning.
Slick Rick and others addressed the arrest onstage, and the concert, headlined by Ghostface and featuring Talib Kweli and Royce Da 5'9", otherwise continued as planned.
Rakim is one of the most respected MCs in the rap game, perhaps best known for the classic "Paid in Full" from the 1987 Eric B. & Rakim album of the same name. He recently spent several years on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records but didn't release anything on the imprint." -MTV NEWS
Beanie Sigel-
"The trial of Beanie Sigel for attempted murder ended with a hung jury on Tuesday afternoon at the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. A mistrial was declared by Judge Karen Shreeves-Johns after jurors in the case deliberated for five days — one day longer than the trial itself — and still could not decide on Sigel's fate.
On Thursday, jurors told the judge that they could not reach a verdict. She sent them back into deliberations saying they had not given the matter enough time. Frequently during discussions, the five men and seven women of the jury asked to review as much of the evidence presented in the case as possible, at one time earning a rebuke from the judge for failing to pay attention closely the first time.
On April 20, Sigel's lawyer, Fortunato Perri Jr., closed his defense without calling Sigel — or a single witness — to testify. Instead, the defense questioned the credibility of the victim, Terrance Speller, and the single eyewitness, David Aimes, who both said that they had been drinking and were high on marijuana when the shooting took place outside a Philadelphia bar in July.
Several of Sigel's friends and associates came to court to support him throughout the trial, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Freeway and Roc-A-Fella owners Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs.
Beanie could face the same charges if prosecutors decide to retry the case with a new jury. Sigel also still faces sentencing on July 8 after pleading guilty last week on an unrelated gun charge." - MTV NEWS
"NEW YORK — Rap legend Rakim was arrested by plain-clothed officers around 11 p.m. as he was about to enter Roseland Ballroom to perform Tuesday night, according to numerous eyewitnesses.
The officers flashed their badges, told Rakim they had a warrant for his arrest and took him away in an unmarked car, witnesses said. Rakim reportedly was handcuffed and went willingly. A security guard at Roseland said he saw the officers staked out across the street from the venue as early as 6 p.m.
Sources close to Rakim later confirmed the arrest to MTV News, and NYPD officers at the venue said the arresting officers were members of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department. A sheriff's department spokesperson said no comment could be made about the arrest until Wednesday morning.
Slick Rick and others addressed the arrest onstage, and the concert, headlined by Ghostface and featuring Talib Kweli and Royce Da 5'9", otherwise continued as planned.
Rakim is one of the most respected MCs in the rap game, perhaps best known for the classic "Paid in Full" from the 1987 Eric B. & Rakim album of the same name. He recently spent several years on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records but didn't release anything on the imprint." -MTV NEWS
Beanie Sigel-
"The trial of Beanie Sigel for attempted murder ended with a hung jury on Tuesday afternoon at the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. A mistrial was declared by Judge Karen Shreeves-Johns after jurors in the case deliberated for five days — one day longer than the trial itself — and still could not decide on Sigel's fate.
On Thursday, jurors told the judge that they could not reach a verdict. She sent them back into deliberations saying they had not given the matter enough time. Frequently during discussions, the five men and seven women of the jury asked to review as much of the evidence presented in the case as possible, at one time earning a rebuke from the judge for failing to pay attention closely the first time.
On April 20, Sigel's lawyer, Fortunato Perri Jr., closed his defense without calling Sigel — or a single witness — to testify. Instead, the defense questioned the credibility of the victim, Terrance Speller, and the single eyewitness, David Aimes, who both said that they had been drinking and were high on marijuana when the shooting took place outside a Philadelphia bar in July.
Several of Sigel's friends and associates came to court to support him throughout the trial, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Freeway and Roc-A-Fella owners Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs.
Beanie could face the same charges if prosecutors decide to retry the case with a new jury. Sigel also still faces sentencing on July 8 after pleading guilty last week on an unrelated gun charge." - MTV NEWS
