“Federal agents mad ‘cuz I’m flagrant/tapped my cell and the phone in the basement.”
That storied line was more than a well-manicured rhyme from Biggie Smalls. It was a precursor for the unwanted attention Hip-Hop musicians and their affiliates would receive from the FBI as the stock of their artistry grew.
Below is a gallery of other rappers who have had run-ins with the premier division of the law.
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Photos: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN
Photo: WENN
Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Long before his death in 2004, the FBI had extensive documentation on Russell Jones as well as other members of the Wu-Tang Clan. And none of it was pretty.
Photo: WENN
Willie D
The Feds were onto the Geto Boy’s iPhone/wire fraud schemes and promptly had him arrested on May 13, 2009. He served seven months in a federal detention center.
Photo: WENN
Lil Kim
The world renown rapper stood twenty feet tall when federal agents arrested her on perjury and conspiracy charges. She did a year in the bing in 2005.
Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki
You may have never heard of this Alabama-born, Islamic extremist, but the Feds definitely did. He was placed onto their Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2012 thanks to his YouTube raps and close involvement with militant group al-Shabaab. He made it easy on agents by getting himself killed in September of 2013.
The infamous 1989 would-be anthem “F**k tha Police” is the inaugural clash between the Hip-Hop world and the alphabet boys. When an assistant director of the FBI sent a letter to Ruthless and Priority Records, their popularity spiraled out of control.
Photo: WENN
Trina
Unlike most of the struggle in this list, the Diamond Princess’ interaction with the Feds was proactive, as she went on the prowl for the pervert who leaked her nude photos. Nothing ever manifested from the manuever, however. Maybe Gabrielle Union will have more luck?
Photo: A. Miller/WENN
Jay Z
In 2010 (before his hustle was fully respected by all business benefactors), the rap mogul’s affiliation with the Aqueduct Entertainment Group and New York Governor David Paterson spurned a federal probe. Hov emerged “Teflon Don,” however.
Photo: R Lawrence/WENN
Ice-T
Who would have known that anti-police records would have caused such a fuss? In 1992, Ice-T and his band Body Count not only ruffled the feathers of the FBI, but they got a direct response from President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle.
Rashee Beasley & Jamal Knox
(Struggle rap names not available)
Two years ago, a pair of Pittsburgh teens knuckleheads dropped a cop-hating rap song that attracted the Feds instead of the blogs. Earlier this year, Knox was sentenced to two to six years and Beasley was sentenced to one to three years for making terroristic threats.
Photo: Dimitri Halkidis/WENN
DJ Quik
The LAPD tried to clumsily impress the FBI working The Notorious B.I.G.’s murder and nab the West Coast legend off the strength of “word in the street” in the late 90s.
Photo: Flashpoint/WENN
Irv Gotti
50 Cent wasn’t the only one instrumental in dismantling Murder Inc. At the beginning of 2003, the FBI raided Irv Gotti’s offices over a money laundering investigation with a drug lord, forcing his surrender two years later. He was exonerated the following November.
Photo: WENN
Tupac Shakur
The Jewish Defense League allegedly sent death threats at Pac, but the FBI didn’t act until he was already deceased. Coincidentally, Suge Knight is also being fingered as a FBI informant these days.
Photo: Miramax
The Notorious B.I.G.
Like he so articulately rapped on “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” Biggie would eventually have the feds on his ass. Sadly, it was to investigate his murder.
Photo: MTV
James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond
The former manager of The Game, Brandy, Akon and others is by far the biggest fish the Feds nabbed as far as Hip-Hop is concerned. In October 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for drug trafficking of massive quantities of cocaine.
