Videos After The Jump
Federal prosecutors in New Orleans seeking convictions in murder cases that allegedly took place between 2009 and 2011, will bring into evidence several music videos featuring hometown artist and G-Unit Records rapper Curtis "Kidd Kidd" Stewart, according to The New Orleans Advocate.
ICYMI: Rap videos from ‘Kidd Kidd,’ ‘Qp’ take center stage in sprawling New Orleans gang murder case https://t.co/y5KnKE1aln
— John Simerman (@johnsimerman) April 18, 2016
In a 45-count indictment handed down last year, prosecutors claim the 39ers gang committed a dozen murders to build their heroin business.
The feds plan to use lyrics and visuals from songs in an attempt to prove the existence of the 39ers.
Screenshot from the music video "GTO QP" featuring Kidd Kidd and QP
One of the videos is for the song "GTO QP" featuring Kidd and Quincy "QP" Briggs.
“Yo, ho, you wanna ride a gang 39er/ so that’s why her old man can’t find her,” Kidd raps in the song.
In the clip, admitted murderer turned government witness Gregory "Rabbit" Stewart, is seen with a gun tucked under his arm in one scene. In another he drapes his arm around Kidd's neck.
Gregory "Rabbit" Stewart (middle), who admitted to murdering multiple people, is now a key cooperating witness
Neither Kidd or QP are being accused of any crime. Prosecutors allege the relationship between the rappers and alleged gang members was beneficial for everyone. The gang got shout outs from star artists, while the rapper's street cred was boosted.
“What’s interesting (in this case) is that the rappers are uncharged. In many cases, there have been allegations that the rappers are involved in the gang, and somebody has been charged,” said University of Georgia law professor Andrea Dennis, author of Poetic (In)Justice? Rap Music Lyrics as Art, Life and Criminal Evidence told The Advocate. “It indicates a new path that prosecutors might be going down. Even though the defendants aren’t the actual artists, they’re hanging out with gangsta rappers. It’s part and parcel of creating this story: This is how they live, how they do business. There’s certainly an inflammatory effect,” she continued, adding that prosecutors in the 39’ers case appear to be seeking “a rub-off effect” through the videos featuring Kidd Kidd and Briggs. "It’s still this notion (from the prosecutors) that rappers must be rapping about what’s accurate and truthful, and here they are assisting with gang members, and they’re all bad.”
Other videos and music being looked at feature Dust Gang, the 8-9 Boyz, Kango Slim, Ashton "BMG Pound" Price and Big Freedia.
"There’s a public relations aspect of this organization, including intimidation,” says U.S. Attorney Myles Ranier. “Keeping potential victims and witnesses in fear of the enterprise.”
U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey will ultimately decide what a jury will be allowed to hear in the racketeering conspiracy case.
During a hearing earlier this month he and Ranier went back and forth about what were the facts vs. fiction.
“[Kidd's] a national phenomenon. Good for him. He’s making a ton of money. ... How do we know what he knows about the 39’ers except what somebody told him?” Zainey argued.
“He is someone who is promoting the organization, furthering the aims of the organization,” the prosecutor responded.
“How do we know he’s intentionally doing that?”
“This is uploaded on the World Wide Web,” Ranier said.
The trial is set to begin in September.
Source: John Simerman - J.Simerman@TheAdvocate.com via The New Orleans Advocate
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