Two morons arrested for "gangsta Rap" vid

[Will Brink]

Being from MA, the area these two rocket scientists are from, not a big surprise.


When two aspiring hip-hop artists from Massachusetts were hauled into court last month and charged with making threats against police in a rap video, everyone in the court room, from the defense attorneys to the prosecutors, agreed on one thing:

Matthew Rufino, 24, and Jason Foley, 28, do not have a bright future ahead in hip hop.

Watch 4 Me, the low-budget YouTube video that landed the pair behind bars, shows Rufino and Foley rapping inside some kind of dark tent, with blurry google images of shootouts and mangled police cruisers to illustrate their violent lyrics.

The four-minute clip, posted by 508 Productions on Nov. 1, is an unmistakeably amateur attempt at gangsta rap. But unlike the commenters on YouTube, Massachusetts State Police didn???t take the video lightly.

On Nov. 20, Rufino and Foley were arrested and charged with making threats to commit a crime, threats to use a firearm and intimidation of a witness. They were ordered held without bail at a dangerousness hearing Monday, and they???re now awaiting trial inside state prison.

The lyrics, etc here:

That Hottness | Boston Lifestyle Blog » Straight Outta New Bedford: 2 Men Arrested For Gangsta Rap Video

Although the write up above does not come across - to me at least - as being anti LRO, the statement "The Bristol County DA also seems to be blazing a trail in trying to prosecute a rapper for anti-cop lyrics" seems factually incorrect.

Anti cop lyrics are general "I hate all you cops, you all suck" etc, etc.

Naming specific people, and making threats against specific people, by name, is not simply anti-cop.

I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me the author missed the point here.

 

[suprfast]

I didnt watch the video, nor do i know if i plan to but doesnt this go against freedom of speech. Shouldnt all rappers be arrested. Ice-T's big controversial song of the early 90's cop killa ring a bell.

I have a feeling these guys will be getting filthy rich, very very soon.

Next stop, rush lim-blah. He hopes our country fails, shouldn't this be treason punishable by death?

 

[maniclion]

I didnt watch the video, nor do i know if i plan to but doesnt this go against freedom of speech. Shouldnt all rappers be arrested. Ice-T's big controversial song of the early 90's cop killa ring a bell.

I have a feeling these guys will be getting filthy rich, very very soon.

Next stop, rush lim-blah. He hopes our country fails, shouldn't this be treason punishable by death?

They say it's specific threats to actual people, but all the lyrics say is "Fuck You" and then the sound of gunshots.....I could make a case that those aren't threats just words of disdain...and sounds aren't threats but what do I care about 2 "gritty dicked" punks who wanna be gangsta's?

 

[suprfast]

Im not a fan of gangsters, but im a fan of the justice system being used properly, and this is NOT being used properly. The police and DA are trying to make a point against people that are not high on the MA prestige list and it is going to back fire. Maybe ill watch the video later.
kris

 

[suprfast]

I think we should bring bob marley back to life so we can arrest him for his song, I SHOT THE SHERIFF.

 

[jmorrison]

The case is being made becuase they specifically named certain individuals, but I am with you in that I don't think they will lose. If anything, this will only make them quasi-famous and possibly make them some money.

 

[suprfast]

hmmm, so they name someone in their song(no one has ever done that) and the DA presses charges. Why doesnt the person in question of the song press charges? Watch what happens when big time rappers start rapping about these same people just to prove a point. Id like to see the DA take on JayZ, or whoever else raps now a days
kris

 

[maxpro2]

hmmm, so they name someone in their song(no one has ever done that) and the DA presses charges. Why doesnt the person in question of the song press charges?

Yay for not understanding even a little bit about our criminal system but trying to talk like you do! Yay for ignorance!

 

[suprfast]

oh i understand the role of the DA. YAYYYYYYYYYYYY. YIPPPPPPEEE, WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO, GEEEEEE GAZZZZZZZZZZZ

 

[maxpro2]

oh i understand the role of the DA. YAYYYYYYYYYYYY. YIPPPPPPEEE, WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO, GEEEEEE GAZZZZZZZZZZZ

Clearly you don't.

I didnt watch the video, nor do i know if i plan to but doesnt this go against freedom of speech.

"I don't know all the facts but I am going to argue anyway." Shut the fuck up!

 

[suprfast]

Clearly...

Clearly you don't.


"I don't know all the facts but I am going to argue anyway." Shut the fuck up!

 

[Will Brink]

I didnt watch the video, nor do i know if i plan to but doesnt this go against freedom of speech. Shouldnt all rappers be arrested. Ice-T's big controversial song of the early 90's cop killa ring a bell.

I have a feeling these guys will be getting filthy rich, very very soon.

Next stop, rush lim-blah. He hopes our country fails, shouldn't this be treason punishable by death?

You actually read what I wrote? Lets try again:

Anti cop lyrics are general "I hate all you cops, you all suck" etc, etc.

Naming specific people, and making threats against specific people, by name, is not simply anti-cop.

There's a difference. Thus, why they were arrested and Ice-T was not.

 

[suprfast]

Maybe its just MA law, and the police are easily intimidated but this happens all the time in CA. I read it all this time(blah blah) and i still feel they are protected under Freedom of Speech. Its a good thing these cops dont work in CA, they would be on leave citing fear of retaliation from real gang members.

sorry i dont side with you, i know you have an affiliation with the LE. I dont think this is a matter of picking sides, but whether or not these two "idiots" did anything legally wrong. Yes, it was not SMART, but it doesnt make it illegal. Im sure there is enough information to get this taken to a real court case.

 

[Will Brink]

Maybe its just MA law,

It's law in all states. Boston MA is not LA CA however and each deal with specific threats to their LEOs differently no doubt.

and the police are easily intimidated but this happens all the time in CA. I read it all this time(blah blah)

Reading something before you comment on it....a novel idea on the 'net I know.

and i still feel they are protected under Freedom of Speech. Its a good thing these cops dont work in CA, they would be on leave citing fear of retaliation from real gang members.

If you or I were named by name in such a vid, would we not feel it was a direct threat of violence? I would. You are their PO and see them regularly, would you take that as a direct threat? I would. The DA agrees it appears.

sorry i dont side with you, i know you have an affiliation with the LE. I dont think this is a matter of picking sides, but whether or not these two "idiots" did anything legally wrong. Yes, it was not SMART, but it doesnt make it illegal. Im sure there is enough information to get this taken to a real court case.

I think they crossed the line between 1A rights, and the MA DA appears to agree. Will it hold up in court? I don't know. Might make for an interesting ground breaking case.

 

[suprfast]

This is assuming they have PO's. We just went right out and assumed the worst because they listen to different music, wear different clothes, and say things people dont like. Sounds like hippies in the 60's(i wasnt there so i can comment on this directly, its all hearsay based on the INTERNETS right)
kris

 

[maxpro2]

This is assuming they have PO's. We just went right out and assumed the worst because they listen to different music, wear different clothes, and say things people dont like.

The difference, prosecutors say, is that Rufino made specific threats against his supposed targets — a parole officer, a state trooper and the New Bedford Police Department — by calling them out by name.

In his 12-bar verse, Rufino identifies the female parole officer assigned to him in 2006 after a marijuana arrest, followed by an expletive and the sound of gunfire.

Please go kill yourself.

 

[suprfast]

only if you are standing behind me when i pull the trigger

 

[maniclion]

I don't know that the threats are so specific, they say a name or organization then "Fuck You" followed by gunshots....I think any good lawyer could say that's pure conjecture, the gunshots could simply be an artistic expression sticking to the genre of "gangsta rap".

Besides all this is going to do is raise the awareness of 2 shitty wanna be rappers and like lemmings to a cliff a hundred more will try the same bullshit because this is a genre of music based on unoriginality where copycatting or as they call it sampling or the remix wins over creativity; a genre where anyone with something new to say over fresh original beats and rhythms get shoved "underground" while the "monkey see monkey do's" get Top Ten spots....

 

[Will Brink]

This is assuming they have PO's. s

It appears your reading comprehension skills are even worse then your reasoning skills.

 

[suprfast]

it appears that you assume what they say in their rap videos is the truth. Soon you too will be asking for obamas birth certificate because rush said he isnt legally born here.

On a second thought, these rappers might have all the money and fame they claim to have. We want to believe what they say right. Its a video and rappers tend to inflate their fame to thugish living to sound more intense than they really are, but you know this you seem to have lived close to the life.

I see now your only goal is to nit pick everything i say, which really adds to the argument itself. Maybe things are different in scary ol MA then the safe and sound liberal CA.

 

[Will Brink]

Maybe things are different in scary ol MA then the safe and sound liberal CA.

What part of "your reading comprehension skills are even worse then your reasoning skills" didn't you catch? A simple read of the thread and or article listed will show you appear to have the reasoning and reading comp skills of a 2 year old.

Anyone else care to explain this to our dense friend here?

 

[Will Brink]

I don't know that the threats are so specific, they say a name or organization then "Fuck You" followed by gunshots...

No, they name specific people. Did you READ the article at the posted URL and or my comments in this thread???!!!

 

[suprfast]

let me read the one side to every story debate. i understand you have a personal vendetta against "these people" because of your role with LE. Siding with them would be against your morals. Dense is not seeing the the justice system being abused. You my friend, are LEAD.

 

[suprfast]

No, they name specific people. Did you READ the article at the posted URL and or my comments in this thread???!!!

No, remember i read like a two year old and live in CA which means we have schools ranked on the lowest 10 states in the country. Between being unintelligent and dense...

 

[suprfast]

What part of "your reading comprehension skills are even worse then your reasoning skills" didn't you catch? A simple read of the thread and or article listed will show you appear to have the reasoning and reading comp skills of a 2 year old.

Anyone else care to explain this to our dense friend here?

Btw, we are not friends im sure you knew this. You are the guy who works long and hard hours to disprove Creatine with evidence you dont want others to know. We are just supposed to believe you and your word. Sounds like gangsta thugs and their rapping. Going back to being dense, you go back to telling people what you think is right based on shady science that isnt for review by other people. Wait, soon you will tell me global warming isnt real because your "science" said so. Does this make you dense?

 

[jmorrison]

Besides all this is going to do is raise the awareness of 2 shitty wanna be rappers.

Thats what I worry about. There is no way they will be convicted of threatening anyone when they didn't come right out and say anything other than a name and "fuck you". I would think any half decent lawyer will get them off of this. But what IS going to happen, is two piss poor examples of society are going to get an undue amount of attention that their talent does not deserve. They couldn't have fashioned a better PR stunt if they tried.

How many idiots who hate the cops will listen to their music now? Lots.

 

[maniclion]

No, they name specific people. Did you READ the article at the posted URL and or my comments in this thread???!!!

Did you read my post? I specifically, said specific name or organization followed by "Fuck You" and the sound of gunshots....

And as my post you obviously only skimmed over suggests, if such a thing were a crime to say fuck you to a person and then haul them in on speculation of a threat, then every person who wore Buck Fush shirts should have been swooped up by the FBI for wanting to rape the president.....

 

[Will Brink]

Did you read my post? I specifically, said specific name or organization followed by "Fuck You" and the sound of gunshots....

I read it, and you're wrong, or should I say, attempting to make it seem very generalized vs very specific. The exact lyrics are:

"For my fucking probation officer, too.(her name), fuck you [gunshot]. Officer (her name), fuck you [gunshot].NBPD, fuck you [gunshot]."

The lyric is accompanied by a picture of a woman with a gun to her head.

If that were you named, and you had to interact with this person, you would not view that as a direct threat of physical violence to your person? I know I would.

if such a thing were a crime to say fuck you to a person and then haul them in on speculation of a threat, then every person who wore Buck Fush shirts should have been swooped up by the FBI for wanting to rape the president.....

Incorrect. You need to brush up on the law there. Again, you gloss over with generalizations vs the specifics. The actual lyrics:

"Similarly, he names a state trooper who gave him a ticket for driving with a suspended license and the NBPD, both followed by expletives and gunshots" such as:

"You ain’t gonna tell me nothing,Try to pull me over next time? [gunfire] A’ight, it’s overtime.Over my dead fucking body,Take me away, dog? Not stopping me.You better bring the whole U.S. Army,and the fucking Marines to try to take me in."

You are that trooper, who very likely may have to interact with this person, you wouldn't see that as a direct threat of violence to you personally? I would.

And as my post you obviously only skimmed over suggests,

Your comments suggest you skimmed the article and the thread, or, you simply don't "get it." Im as strong a defender of Const. Rights anyone, but the 1A, contrary to popular belief, is not a free for all to say what ever you want to say when ever you feel like saying it, ergo, the old yelling fire in a movie theater example, or making specific threats against specific people.

Now, I think they crossed that line from 1A freedom of speech, to specific threats of violence (which many, having a double standard, feel is Ok to do if it's only cops...) but it may not hold up in court.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[mcguin]

Btw, we are not friends im sure you knew this. You are the guy who works long and hard hours to disprove Creatine with evidence you dont want others to know. We are just supposed to believe you and your word. Sounds like gangsta thugs and their rapping. Going back to being dense, you go back to telling people what you think is right based on shady science that isnt for review by other people. Wait, soon you will tell me global warming isnt real because your "science" said so. Does this make you dense?

wow, first off, not that I'm a somebody on these boards, but you dont just starting making a fool of yourself starting crap with will. Instead of being civilly defensive with your reasoning, you're being a retard. All that will keeps saying is that you're misunderstanding the article, will hasn't once made any reference that he's against "gangsta"s, but simply that these two rappers apparently made actual threats in their song using real life names. Take a second and breath...christ you just about covered everything from racism in law enforcement to the underground conservatives taking over the supplement industry, easy on the redbull!

 

[KelJu]

Holy Christ, can I wipe out my dick in this thread for measuring? Actually on second thought, its snowing here in Wisconsin, so I probably have shrinkage. I'll wait until I'm warm.

Ok, on a serious note:
Its just a song. I hate gangsta rap with a fucking passion, but it is just a song. I realize that what they did can be interpreted as unlawful due to the fact that the retards named names, however this is nothing new.

The entire point of gangsta rap is talking about who you are going to do shit to, often times with those lyrics becoming reality. A lot of gangsta rappers have been arrested and/or killed or have been killed while acting out their lyrics.

The problem here is why go after two no name talentless wannabe thugs? It isn't fair. Why doesn't anyone go ofter the big dogs? Eminem, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, ect, these guys have been doing that shit for years. Hell, I think I remember an MTV video where Snoop Dogg was beating the shit out of Eazy-E.

It looks pretty bad to condone this behavior from celebrity musical artist, but then go after some turds on youtube.

This is the first case of its kind. Laws will need to be clarified. Will all gangsta rappers be held accountable for their lyrics, or will violent lyrics directed toward specific people be allowed on the grounds of artistic device? Just going after these guys seems like a pussy move to me by the cops.


This is not cut and dry. This gets real complicated real quick.