Famous rapper(T.I) gets caught buying an arsenal of weapons. good read.

I've spit on the gangsta rap music culture for a long time.
I've joined several groups that try to show youngsters value in a positive life with hopes to change the self-destructive mentality of todays "confused" youth.

this article, from Philly.com and the associated press pretty much sums it up. also this might go in current events, but i thought it would be better to post here first to catch everyones attention.

please read...

------------------------------
T.I. gun arrest draws fire here
Some rap observers cringe, again
By DAMON C. WILLIAMS

[email protected] 215-854-5924

Rapper T.I.'s meteoric rise from curbside crack dealer in his native Atlanta to the far reaches of fame took a severe detour with his arrest on gun charges over the weekend.
The multi-platinum rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was arrested Saturday in Atlanta while attempting to purchase machine guns from undercover law enforcement officials, authorities said.

According to news service reports, T.I.'s bodyguard was arrested last week after he allegedly purchased three machine guns, two silencers and a pistol for the rapper.

After his arrest, the bodyguard agreed to cooperate with investigators, which led to T.I's Saturday arrest in a downtown Atlanta shopping center, just hours before he was to appear for a live taping of the BET Awards show.

According to reports, officials also uncovered numerous guns in T.I.'s car and home. T.I., a convicted felon with previous gun and drug arrests, isn't allowed to own a gun under federal law.

Now, the 27-year-old rapper faces a lengthy, potentially career-derailing prison term.

"The cooperating witness was allegedly buying the machine guns for Harris, and on Friday, Harris made it clear that he wanted them delivered to him," said Vanessa McLemore, special agent in charge of the Atlanta division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"Harris then agreed to meet and took possession of the machine guns Saturday afternoon. He now faces serious federal charges and a potentially long prison sentence."

Curiously, many rappers at the taped BET event threw their support to T.I., including San Francisco Bay-area rapper E-40 and Houston emcee Mike Jones.

But the reaction among several rap observers was much different in Philadelphia, where gun violence has drenched the city in the blood of more than 300 victims, the overwhelming majority of them young black men.

"It's a travesty, but the irony is at the end of the day, we shouldn't be surprised," said Chad D. Lassiter, adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. "T.I. is one of the guys who have received too much, too soon, with little or no struggle."

Lassiter, president of Black Men at Penn School of Social Work Inc., a university-based organization that seeks to recruit African-American men to social work and give voice to the black male experience, added, "And then you look at the glorification [of violence in his music].

"Knowing that guns are killing innocent people, not just in Philly but around the country, and what the gun has come to symbolize, the robbing of life - for him to engage in this is really sad."

Docta Shock, a longtime local hip-hop producer who has worked with artists such as Supreem and Keen of Subliminal Orphans, agrees that T.I. is in trouble, but said people should look at record companies.

"The record companies keep looking for these artists to be

real," Shock said. "They try to sell these records to the streets, and T.I. has been one of the top-selling artists, but even the top artists fall prey to . . . keeping up with that image."

T.I. has been a force in rap and the wider entertainment world since his 2001 debut album, "I'm Serious."

He found instant fame with his sophomore release, "24's" and his third CD, "Trap Muzik," which glorified drug-selling and gun-toting, as did his platinum-plus album, "King."

His just released "T.I. vs. T.I.P." follows the same format.

His subject matter hasn't dissuaded the buying public. He has sold millions of albums and received two Grammy Awards, both in 2006: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration alongside Justin Timberlake for Timberlake's "My Love," and Best Rap Solo Performance for "What You Know," off the "King" album.

And Hollywood has embraced T.I.'s thuggish background, as he portrayed himself in the 2006 movie "ATL" and also stars in the upcoming film "American Gangster."

"It's almost as though the success these guys have, they still have a bind or dedication to the streets that they cannot get rid of," said Darrin Toliver, manager of rapper Hedonis. "This gangsterism, they can't leave it alone, and it spills over into their lives for real.

"His net worth is in the millions if not more; if he's worth that type of money, what rationale would he have to go out and purchase assault weapons with scopes?"

T.I's arrest presents complications for rap, a highly scrutinized genre that has seen its share of high-profile gun cases. Recently, Prodigy, half of the Queens-based duo Mobb Deep, was sentenced to more than three years on gun charges.

And not even a passing fan of rap can forget the shooting deaths of Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and Big L.

Local observers said T.I. should do serious time and use it to reflect on his mistake.

"Let's recommend he do time, because it's time for us in the African-American community to hold ourselves and our people accountable," Lassiter said. "A lot of these athletes and rappers are walking around in blackface, but their souls are confused and corrupt." *

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
----------------------------------------------------------

i feel sad for young black males that think this is the only life they have so they begin a life of crime as young as possible. not just black, all races.

wether you want to admit it or not, i think "gangsta rap" is one of the influences that fuel this behavior.:(

hip hop started out as protest music, yes, but i don't think anyone thought this would ever happen.

he might be arming himself against "enemies" but i still lose respect for him. he should be setting an example for his younger fans but instead, he only hires "thugs" to back him up. everyone knows how these rappers live...

but it's all useless, at the end of the day-there's really nothing you can do.

thanks for reading.

kind of inronic that i im listening to "rubberband man" while reading this article. But he is an idiot for buying them illegally, u can get a class 3 license that allows you to buy machine guns and silencers.

Hey just goes to show you the things that go on behind semi closed doors. IDK the mod can engage in that kind of behavior and that goes morally unchecked by people. Thats all I'm saying is it illegal yes but.....I'm just kidding thats F'ed up lol nice post mate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BYAH

kind of inronic that i im listening to "rubberband man" while reading this article. But he is an idiot for buying them illegally, u can get a class 3 license that allows you to buy machine guns and silencers.

---

not if your a felon :thumbsup:

Yeah a felon will have good luck getting a silencer and machine guns!

Free T.I.P

Good, hope he gets a lengthy sentence aswell, that way I don't ever have to hear his shit spew anymore. Thats what happens when morons like him get alot of money for music that promotes shittyness in the first place.

What you know bout that...

I don't blame him, i still rate him.

Thanks for posting. I was more interested in knowing the Prodigy ended up in jail for three years. Thanks kinda fucked as they just signed to G Unit and really started pushing materials out; making a shit load of cash.

Dont get me wrong, they were alot better before they changed to pop rap.

Did any of you consider these weapons to be for self protection?
Look at Obie, he got shot in the head a last year- Im sure he is rolling heavy now.
Or Proof, shot dead over who knows what. Or Bugz, over some stupid fuckin jealously beef.
I say fuck it. People in precarious positions such as these need to protect themselves. I donno, maybe Im talking out my ass- who knows if T.I needs mp4s and mac10s.

Minimum Sentence in Georgia for a Felon possessing Firearms is 10 years, plus you gota add on the illegal weapon purchases and the silencer. If he doesnt receive at least 20 years, ill sent a letter to the Georgia DA