Fresh Loaf

VOTERS IN DIFF'RENT AREA CODES Democratic nominee Jim Martin, supported by T.I., Young Jeezy and Ludacris (not pictured), on Monday night at the Gold Dome.

Let it be stated: You will never again see Jim Martin walk out to bodyshaking bass and shake hands with three hip-hop stars. Absurd moments like these only happen on the eve of a runoff where a Democrat-controlled Senate is at stake.

On Monday night in front of the Capitol, standing at a podium underneath a statue of one of Georgia’s most perplexing racists, the U.S. Senate Democratic nominee addressed a bundled-up crowd of nearly 1,000 people that braved the cold to see Ludacris, T.I. and Young Jeezy. (Martin admitted as much.)

But Democrats hope those supporters will return to the polls on Tuesday to vote for the Party’s candidates — and tell their friends and families to do the same.

Flanked on stage by more than 30 city, state and federal Democratic notables, Martin repeated the phrase he’s used to describe his role if voters send him to Washington — to be a “bridge” to Pres.-elect Barack Obama’s initiatives, not a “firewall,” as Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss has branded himself.

“You did the right thing,” Congressman John Lewis told the crowd. “You did it. And we must do it again… I’ve served in Congress for a little while. Saxby is not our friend. I tell you, he’s not our friend. If you really want to help Barack Obama, let’s do it.”

(more…)

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Several blogs are reporting that the recent suicide of Def Jam VP Shakir Stewart is somehow related to his alleged ties to cocaine empire the Black Mafia Family.

No information has surfaced that supports the alleged connection. At best, there is a tenuous link between Stewart and BMF, in that Stewart signed Atlanta-based rapper Young Jeezy, who is affiliated with BMF.  Yet Jeezy was not among the 150 BMF associates indicted in seven states.

According to Livesteez.com:

Police are also withholding official details about the untimely death. Still, speculation amongst industry insiders is beginning to make its rounds, with some suggesting that the demise of the A&R star might be related to his involvement with the infamous Black Mafia Family.

ImagesNewsletter.com, citing “Black Press Radio” (I can’t find a link the the original source), has this to say:

Stewart was the second former Def Jam employee in less than six months to allegedly commit suicide but .. those who know them [believe] they were victims of foul play. Sadia Morrison, who once worked for the label, was murdered but her death has been ruled a suicide. Both had professional connections to members of the Black Mafia Family.

Most other references to Stewart’s alleged connection to BMF (including posts on Bossip and NewsOne, ) link back to the Livesteez story.

This very well could be a rumor gone viral, or a conpsiracy theory that’s getting way too much cred. Still, rumors of Stewart’s alleged connection to BMF came to light at least as early as July (more than three months before his death), in an XXLmag.com post.

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“Big Meech” Flenory (right) was like a big brother to Barima “Bleu DaVinci” McKnight.

NOTE: This post is a slightly longer version of a story that appeared in this week’s print edition of Creative Loafing.

The Black Mafia Family continued to unravel last week when a parade of the cocaine ring’s affiliates was sentenced in federal court in Atlanta. Among them were two defendants with strong ties to the hip-hop industry.

What’s more, all but one of the 10 defendants to plead guilty — Deron “D-Shock” “D-Shot” Hall — agreed to share information with the government, further shattering the once ironclad code of silence that blanketed the $270 million drug enterprise. Of the six additional defendants named in the Atlanta indictment [PDF], four are still scheduled for trial, one was convicted at trial and one remains a fugitive.

Darryl “Poppa” Taylor, the first cousin of New York-based music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, received a three-year sentence reduction for his substantial assistance in the government’s investigation into BMF, which was headed by brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. The Flenorys each received 30-year sentences in a separate case in Detroit.

In a court proceeding last year, Taylor said he was introduced to Terry Flenory by Combs’ chief of security, Paul Buford. Buford was indicted along with the Flenory brothers in 2005, but his case has not been resolved. Combs, who’s been described in court documents as a friend of the Flenorys, hasn’t been accused of any unlawful behavior related to BMF.

Taylor’s attorney, Steve Sadow, told the judge last week that Taylor — in addition to info he shared about Terry Flenory — might be able to offer the government insight into “activities going on in the Northeast.”

Had Taylor not cooperated in the investigation, he would have received a minimum of 10 years in federal prison, where there is no parole. Instead, he got just over seven years.

Barima “Bleu DaVinci” McKnight, the rapper who became the face of the Black Mafia Family’s now defunct record label, was sentenced to five years and four months. The sentence was eight months less than the government’s recommendation, due in part to him agreeing to share information with the feds — although he wasn’t willing to testify against other defendants.

(more…)

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Barima “Bleu DaVinci” McKnight, the rapper who became the face of the Black Mafia Family, was sentenced in Atlanta federal court today for handling cash and cocaine for the drug-ring-turned-hip-hop label.

McKnight and nine other co-defendants — most notably Sean “Diddy” Combs’ cousin Darryl “Poppa” Taylor — were scheduled for sentencing today, though at least one of them will be sentenced tomorrow because proceedings ran long.

BMF’s leaders, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, were indicted separately in Detroit, where they birthed their organization before moving to hubs in Atlanta and L.A. Last month, the Flenory brothers were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

McKnight received a five-year sentence — eight months less than the government’s recommendation, due in part to the fact that he agreed to share information with authorities. That information was not useful, however, because the government already had built most of its case against BMF.

McKnight also was not willing to testify against other defendants.

“He would have liked to have cooperated if he could have,” his attorney, David MacKusick, said. “But he didn’t have any useful information.”

McKnight released one album, The World is BMF’s, on Big Meech’s record label. Early in his career, he performed alongside such rappers as Young Jeezy, who also has been linked to BMF. Jeezy has not been charged with a crime in relation to the cocaine crew.

A tearful McKnight addressed the court at the end of the sentencing. He said he got involved in BMF the record label as a rapper — and took a detour into BMF the cocaine ring. He also said that Big Meech, who treated him like a little brother, tried to steer him away from the cocaine trade.

“Demetirus did not show me that part of his world when I first met him,” McKnight said. “I got onto the wrong side of the track.”

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Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane (a.k.a. Radric Davis) was arrested at a Henry County roadblock Wednesday and charged with DUI, as well as possession of a firearm and marijuana.

Last month, Gucci’s once-nemesis, rap superstar Young Jeezy (a.k.a Jay Jenkins), also was arrested after a traffic stop. Then there was last year’s T.I. debacle — for which he got off with something of a wrist-slap.

All of this begs the question: Is metro Atlanta becoming a hip-hop police state? Or are these incidents inevitable?

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First Congressman John Lewis, now rapper Young Jeezy.

In the August issue of Vibe magazine, Young Jeezy is quoted in the cover story as saying, “No disrespect to Barack, but I fuck with John McCain.”

Turns out, he meant to say the opposite. At least, that’s what he’s saying now in a classic what-had-happened-was moment. He’s even posted a YouTube video statement to clarify his position, saying “somewhere down the line my words got misconstrued.”

Read more in Crib Notes.

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It’s been a tough week for Atlanta rap superstar Jay “Young Jeezy” Jenkins.

First, Jeezy was implicated in Atlanta federal court on June 12 as having participated in the Black Mafia Family’s multistate cocaine ring. He has not been charged with a crime in connection to the witness’s testimony.

Then, at 2:30 this morning, Jeezy was arrested on I-85 and Buford Highway and charged with driving without a tag and insurance, speeding, reckless driving, DUI and open container.

We’ll update as we learn more …

UPDATE: Here’s a statement from Jeezy’s New York-based lawyer, Scott Leemon:

“Last night, Young Jeezy was pulled over shortly after leaving the studio to work on his new album, ‘The Recession.’  After being charged with various automobile related offenses, Jeezy was quickly processed and released. A court date has been scheduled and Jeezy looks forward to getting the matter resolved.”

(Photo credit: Atlanta Police Department)

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After a three-day trial that shed new light on the legendary excess of the Black Mafia Family, high-ranking BMF member Fleming “Ill” Daniels was convicted in Atlanta federal court today of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The jury, which deliberated for two days, could not reach a conclusion on Daniels’ second count, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The jury announced its verdict at around 4 p.m.

The government’s case against Daniels relied heavily on a half-dozen witnesses who were indicted on BMF-related drug charges in other jurisdictions. The witnesses testified with the hope of receiving reduced sentences.

One of them, a lower-level BMF member named Ralph “Ralphie” Simms, implicated Atlanta rapper Jay “Young Jeezy” Jenkins in BMF’s $270 million cocaine ring. Jeezy has not been charged in the feds’ multi-state BMF investigation, which has netted nearly 150 defendants in seven states. Both the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta and Jeezy’s attorney in New York declined to comment on the allegation.

Daniels, who faces a minimum 20-year sentence on the federal conspiracy charge, is also under indictment in Fulton County Superior Court for the 2004 murder of Rashannibal “Prince” Drummond. Drummond was shot to death in the parking lot of Midtown’s now-defunct Velvet Room.

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Testimony offered yesterday in the federal government’s cocaine-conspiracy case against alleged Black Mafia Family member Fleming “Ill” Daniels revealed a stunning allegation: According to a witness, Atlanta hip-hop superstar Jay “Young Jeezy” Jenkins received kilos of cocaine from BMF.

Jeezy has not been charged with a crime in relation to the allegation. When asked whether there is an open investigation into the rapper, Justice Department spokesman Patrick Crosby said he had no comment.

Scott Leemon, the New York-based lawyer who represented Jeezy on weapons charges out of Miami in 2006, told CL “obviously, I am not going to comment on anything. I will look into it.”

The allegation was raised in U.S. District Court in Atlanta this week by a BMF member named Ralph “Ralphie” Simms. Simms was indicted last year in a related federal drug case in L.A. He told the jury that in exchange for his truthful testimony in the case against Daniels, he hoped to receive a reduced sentence.

Simms testified that his job was to unload BMF’s cocaine from limos outfitted with secret compartments. He said he piled as many as 100 “bricks” of cocaine at a time inside the basement of one of BMF’s stash houses, an ultra-modern Buckhead mansion nicknamed “Space Mountain.” And he said that on one occasion, in the fall of 2004, he was ordered by high-ranking BMF members Chad “J-Bo” Brown and Martez “Tito” Byrth to set aside multi-kilo cocaine “shipments” for two customers. Simms said the customers picked up the coke from him at Space Mountain.

When asked by assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McBurney who the customers were, Simms gave two names: William “Doc” Marshall, a high-level BMF co-conspirator who testified earlier in the trial, and “Jeezy.”

“Young Jeezy the rapper?” McBurney asked.

“Yes,” Simms answered.

Jeezy’s name cropped up several times in the first two days of testimony, but only in relation to his well-publicized friendship with BMF’s Atlanta-based leader, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory. In November, Flenory pleaded guilty in Detroit to running a continuing criminal enterprise. He faces a minimum sentence of 20 years.

BMF is believed to have employed 500 people across the country in its $270 million cocaine ring — nearly 150 of whom have been indicted in seven states. According to testimony in Daniels’ trial this week, BMF only dealt in multiple kilos of cocaine, which were distributed to other cocaine dealers.

Daniels, who was described during testimony as BMF’s third-in-command under Flenory, was indicted along with 15 co-defendants last year in Atlanta. (Daniels also faces a murder charge in Fulton County Superior Court.) He is the only local defendant to go to trial on the federal charges. Nine of his co-defendants, including the rapper Barima “Bleu DaVinci” McKnight, pleaded guilty over the past two weeks. Another four are fugitives.

Jury deliberations in the case against Daniels began today. (UPDATE: Young Jeezy arrested on unrelated charges; Daniels convicted on one count.)

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I AM THE STREETS: Young Jeezy speaks on Auburn Avenue.

(Photo by Eamon Siggins)

Auburn Avenue was blocked off Saturday night for the grand opening of Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy’s new clothing store, Eight. His new fashion line, 8732, will be sold there, along with other urban fashions. On a telephone keypad, 8732 is code for USDA — the original name Jeezy had in mind for his line. In Jeezy’s lexicon, USDA is an acronym for United Streets and D-Boys of America. Unfortunately, major-level pushers — the United States Department of Agriculture — beat him to it.

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