NYPD tracks rappers

The Virginia Gazette, a few months back, reported that the New York Police Department (NYPD) has collecting information about various rappers and their crews.  Why, you may ask?  Good question.

Now, there doesn’t appear to be any kind official policy in place to make this happen.  At least nothing that’s public knowledge.  But here’s what the article states:

“The NYPD has pulled together dossiers that contain photographs, arrest records and biographical information of hip-hop stars and their associates, as well as lyrics that make specific threats or brag about past wrongdoing, according to the retired detective who did most of the research, and documents obtained by Newsday.”

Oddly, they only really seem to concentrate on the super famous.  Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Puffy, DMX, Nas etc.  The mainstream rappers who everyone seems to know.

It’s interesting.  Most of the police want to make sure that they’re only gathering this information to learn more, to be more “hip hop savvy”, instead of actively pursuing the hip hop artists.  They don’t want it to seem like they’re profiling anyone, but it appears apparent that they are.

Read the article and check it out.

[Source: Virginia Gazette]