FAST FACTS:
(West Memphis, AR 11/10/09) A group of rappers who have been known to work with Wu Tang Clan and other hip-hop stars are finding more fame, for all the wrong reasons.
The hip-hop world is sounding off about a late-night drug bust that put a bus-full of recording artists behind bars.
"Rappers on tour bus got caught with dope? Surprise, surprise," says K97.1 radio personality "Big Sue".
Narcotics police arrested eight men on Interstate 40 in West Memphis after pulling over their tour bus for speeding around nine Monday night. Cops say they hauled off 18 bags of pot, 110 Ecstasy pills, and $8,615 in cash. Police say "The bus was filled with smoke and the odor of marijuana".
"When you've got 8 people smoking in a confined area, it's pretty strong," said West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert. "They were smoking dope, they were feeling good and they weren't too concerned about going to jail."
Talk hit the airwaves about two of the crew. Hardcore hip hop fans know Ronald Bean as "DJ Mathematics", and Patrick Charles as "Streetlife".
They're not household names, but News Channel 3 is told they hit Tunica over the weekend when Snoop Dog, Methodman and Redman were in town.
"Do you know how many times I reported on somebody getting busted with drugs or dope or something? It's sad to say it's common; it's not even a surprise anymore. Weed charge? Gun charge? Great, you're official," says Big Sue.
Police say hip-hop isn't alone when it comes to drugs on tour.
"No it's not surprising," says Chief Paudert. "I worked in Memphis at the Shelby County Narcotics Office and we worked concerts a lot and we worked these country groups and rappers and things and there's always drugs associated with some of those concerts."
Police are still investigating and also want to know why one of the men had a Federal US Customs & Border Patrol badge. The men posted bond and are due in court later in the week.
- Eight men in the hip-hop industry arrested for drug possession
- Cops: Tour bus was "filled with smoke and the odor of marijuana"
- Arrest "not a surprise"
(West Memphis, AR 11/10/09) A group of rappers who have been known to work with Wu Tang Clan and other hip-hop stars are finding more fame, for all the wrong reasons.
The hip-hop world is sounding off about a late-night drug bust that put a bus-full of recording artists behind bars.
"Rappers on tour bus got caught with dope? Surprise, surprise," says K97.1 radio personality "Big Sue".
Narcotics police arrested eight men on Interstate 40 in West Memphis after pulling over their tour bus for speeding around nine Monday night. Cops say they hauled off 18 bags of pot, 110 Ecstasy pills, and $8,615 in cash. Police say "The bus was filled with smoke and the odor of marijuana".
"When you've got 8 people smoking in a confined area, it's pretty strong," said West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert. "They were smoking dope, they were feeling good and they weren't too concerned about going to jail."
Talk hit the airwaves about two of the crew. Hardcore hip hop fans know Ronald Bean as "DJ Mathematics", and Patrick Charles as "Streetlife".
They're not household names, but News Channel 3 is told they hit Tunica over the weekend when Snoop Dog, Methodman and Redman were in town.
"Do you know how many times I reported on somebody getting busted with drugs or dope or something? It's sad to say it's common; it's not even a surprise anymore. Weed charge? Gun charge? Great, you're official," says Big Sue.
Police say hip-hop isn't alone when it comes to drugs on tour.
"No it's not surprising," says Chief Paudert. "I worked in Memphis at the Shelby County Narcotics Office and we worked concerts a lot and we worked these country groups and rappers and things and there's always drugs associated with some of those concerts."
Police are still investigating and also want to know why one of the men had a Federal US Customs & Border Patrol badge. The men posted bond and are due in court later in the week.
