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Is Canada Profiling U.S. Rappers?
1/16/07, 5:56 pm EST

Rolling Stone

Jerome Almon, CEO of Detroit-based Murdercap Records, has filed a eyebrow-raising $900 million lawsuit in federal court against the Canadian government, the American State Department and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The suit, apparently prepared for Almon by the chief of Detroit’s American Civil Liberties Union accuses the defendants of “wholesale profiling” of rap artists and African-Americans.

Almon claims that he can document more than 80 instances between 1992 and 2003 during which he was detained and questioned by border guards while trying to enter Canada. He also says that he was periodically and falsely accused of having a criminal record and that racist comments were directed at him by Canadian officials. But according to Almon, the suit is not being filed solely on his behalf.

Almon reportedly mentioned well-documented incidents in which everyone from DMX to 50 Cent to Eminem have been either refused entry or detained while attempting to enter the country. According to Almon, Canada is engaging in profiling based on a government-held belief that rap music can be blamed for an increase in gang violence and violent homicides in Toronto and Vancouver. ” They’re treating us as if we’re criminals,'’ Almon said, adding, “If the Klan had a police force, it would be the border services.'’ The Canadian government has reportedly pointed to a shooting that took place in Toronto in 2003, after a 50 Cent show as an example of the direct connection between rap music and gun violence.

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He is also apparently alleging that Canada protects known Muslim terrorists responsible for casualties in the USofA.

[ 21 January 2007: Message edited by: siren ]

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Originally posted by siren:

He is also apparently alleging that Canada protects known Muslim terrorists responsible for casualties in the USofA.

[ 21 January 2007: Message edited by: siren ]

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I remember a few years ago the Ontario Legislature laughably tried to ban Eminem from coming to Canada, under the guise of "hate literature" towards women. (It's odd how they seem to care very little about women the rest of the time, eh?)

I went to a Snoop Dogg concert in Hamilton a few years ago, which went on despite the city itself stepping in and trying to have him banned from coming. He was performing with a number of well-known Canadian hip-hop artists. (One of the best hip-hop shows I've ever seen.)

After my friend and I left the show, we were confronted by a line-up of police in riot gear standing elbow-to-elbow along the sidewalk, preventing the concert-goers from exiting. They were clearly trying to provoke an incident with the enormous police presence to justify their attempted racist blockade of Snoop from Hamilton. It was rather shocking and I feel lucky to have gotten out of there without having my skull caved in the way they were screaming at people just for trying to cross the street.

So I didn't know what many of you do and what Stargazer's son has figured out. There are genres of rap and Jerome Almon apparently represents gangsta rap which it seems is mostly about glorifying gang violence, pimps and denigrating women -- and apparently, selling bullet proof vests as a fashion accessory. Hip hop is different, I guess.

I think Scott has a good point though re. Almon calling his company Murder Cap. I wonder if I wrote, CEO of Rape and Mayhem in my passport if any border guard anywhere in the world might stop and question me. Also, some of these rappers are gang members (past or present) and might have criminal records which would cause Homeland Fascism, er Security to put them on no fly and watch lists.

Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube just played in my small southern Alberta town and the review in the paper didn't mention anything about border problems but they did note the smell of marijuana in the air -- not critically, just as a kind of joke.