Since their invention in the 1970’s, Hip Hop culture and rap music have been blamed for everything from the deterioration of society to global warming. That Reefer Madness type of hysteria has emerged again in the wake of two shootings which took place June 7 at The Mansion nightclub and Papa’s Pizza in Downtown Hartford.
Mansion hosted an afterparty for the annual Hot Jam concert, which is sponsored by Hip Hop and R&B radio station Hot 93.7. One person was wounded when shots were fired inside the club. Less than 30 minutes later, shots rang out at Papa’s Pizza, a longtime hangout for the urban party crowd. Five people were injured. One of them, Baba-Jide Oseni, succumbed to his wounds on June 11. Byron Taylor, 21 of Hartford, faces a long list of charges in connection with the Papa’s shooting. Those are the facts.
The BS began when Jim Lewis, the President of Business for Downtown Hartford, appeared on WFSB’s Face the State program. Face the State is hosted by Dennis House, who also happens to be a member of Business for Downtown Hartford (so much for objectivity). Lewis blamed the shootings on attendees of Hot Jam and said that his organization would tell Northland Investment Corporation, owners of the XL Center where Hot Jam took place, that they should ban rap concerts.
After hitting the ceiling of my apartment, I decided to call Mr. Lewis and find out why he thought rap music caused the incidents at Mansion and Papa’s. Lewis said that rap shows “attract a certain element”. He went on to say that the XL Center told him “gangs” attended Hot Jam and were subsequently involved in the shootings but could not specifically identify these “gangs”. Lewis cited the XL Center’s proximity to luxury apartments located next door to the arena as the reason why he told Northland Investment that “It would not be in their best interests…” to allow the XL Center to continue hosting rap concerts.
I called the XL Center and left a message asking if anyone there could verify Lewis’ claim. My call was not returned. I then called the Hartford Police to ask if they had determined that the shootings were gang related.The cops declined comment citing the ongoing investigation, but a press source told me that the police have not said anything about gangs being linked to the shootings.
I asked Lewis if he thought rap was as much to blame for violence in Hartford as much as a lack of employment opportunities for young black males – a report by the Institute for Policy Studies finds that the unemployment rate for young black males in some urban areas is as high as 50%. When individuals in economically depressed areas can’t find a job they will invariably turn to the underground economy to get paid, where violence is an occupational hazard. Lewis said, “I don’t know – that’s probably a fair statement”.
Hartford City Councilman Matt Ritter’s assessment of this issue was much more insightful. The council board is currently considering two ordinances aimed at addressing public safety concerns regarding clubs and late night eateries. Ritter is adamant that the council is not targeting rap.
“I get calls about techno clubs in the South End,” says Ritter. “This is a citywide problem”. He acknowledged that there should be conversations about the root causes of urban violence, pointing out Governor Rell’s proposal to eliminate state budget funding for Stride, a highly successful re-entry program for formerly incarcerated individuals.
The reality is that if the Mansion / Papa’s shootings had occurred on Garden Street in North Hartford, it would have been a one day story. All hell has broken loose because downtown business owners are worried that white suburbanites will be scared to come to Hartford on the weekends and spend money. The goal should not be to scapegoat Hip Hop culture and rap music while quarantining gunplay to the North End. City and business leaders should be talking about the societal issues that are leading young black and Latino men to kill each other.
Please update us if you ever hear back from the XL Center on their claim that they have evidence that gangs attended Hot Jam. Jim Lewis didn’t say who exactly said that?
I’ll continue to follow this issue. Lewis didn’t identify a specific individual at the XL Center who told him that gangs attended the concert and were also responsible for the shootings. The fact that the XL Center did not return my phone call doesn’t say much for the credibility of this claim. If any evidence surfaces about gangs being mixed up in the shootings,I will present it.
I do feel the need to add that even if gangs played a role in the events of June 7, blaming Hip Hop culture and rap music for urban violence is still racist, for the reasons that I outlined in my piece.
Excellent piece David. It’s so obvious that the latest knee jerk reactions are all about the money and racism. They are worried about losing revenue; which in large part comes from white suburbia. Not only should Hartford’s business leaders be talking about the societal issues that bring about violence, our city council does as well. And you are right; if this happened on Garden Street or on Park Street it would just be a quick news blurb and that’s all. Thanks for this article.
certainly would have been a 1/2 day story if the shootings happened in the north end. excellent follow-up and exposing the racism by various individuals.
Well said.
Update: The Courant is reporting that The Mansion will reopen next week under a new name, Entourage, & is switching to a Top 40 format.
I’ll be doing a follow up to this story in a few weeks. Hot 93.7 has been conspicuously silent about the Mansion / Papa’s shootings & the attempt by Hartford business leaders to scapegoat the audience who they profit from.
It’s official. Cops can’t write. Wading through muddled cop postings feels like swimming in quick-sand. Terrible.