Author: Eyejammie Press
Published: July 19, 2006
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"To Snitch or Not to Snitch" -- A Debate on BET's "The Chop Up" On Sunday
"Season of the Snitch" Debates Civic Duty vs Code of the Streets
A Special Report on BET's "The Chop Up" This Coming Sunday
The ingrained -- and arguably misguided -- refusal of many members of
the hiphop generation to cooperate with law enforcement officials in the
investigation of crimes committed in the black community is the subject
of a vigorous report on this week's edition of "The Chop Up." Entitled
"Season of the Snitch," the feature is part of the show airing this
coming Sunday, July 23, at 11:30 e.s.t
Produced by veteran hiphop journalist Carlito Rodriguez, "Season of the
Witch" takes off from a number of recent cases involving such
high-profile stars as Lil Kim, Busta Rhymes, and Cam'ron, all of whom refused to
cooperate with investigations into violent crimes to which they were
witnesses. This same "no snitching" policy has helped to ensure that the
murders of Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, and Jam Master Jay remain
unsolved. As the report puts is: "The Golden Rule of the criminal class
has become our generation's all-out prohibition against talking to the
police."
"Season of the Snitch" delves into the deep roots of the black
community's distrust of the police. It also notes the hiphop generation's
adoption of the Mafia's code of omerta -- and the linked belief that
snitching is a "career killer" for rappers. "Just get on the {witness} stand
and the hood will label you a snitch -- plain and simple," according to
Biggie's old associate Lil Cease.
Some hiphoppers find this attitude absurd. "Stop snitching on who?"
wonders the rapper Saigon. "If we wasn't killin' each other, we wouldn't
have anything to snitch about."
A newsmagazine for the hiphop generation, "The Chop Up" has been
described as "a unique mix of '60 Minutes' and 'The Daily Show.'" Since its
debut on April 30, the show's in-depth stories have ranged from an
expose on diamond mining in Liberia to a re-investigation of the murder of
Biggie Smalls to a report on the devastating introduction of the "white
drug" called crystal meth into the black community, both gay and
straight. Hosted by Jeff Johnson and Jina Johnson, "The Chop Up" has been
holding down its spot on Sunday mornings since its debut on BET on April
30.
