DJ Drama arrested, freed on bail

[rbis4rbb]

http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=6603

The downtown Atlanta, GA offices of the Aphilliates Music Group were raided this afternoon (January 16), resulting in the arrests of 28-year-old Tyree "DJ Drama" Simmons and 27-year-old Donald Cannon, also known as DJ Don Cannon.

The Fulton County Swat Team, with assistance from Clayton County Police, entered the label's offices and studios at 147 Walker Street in the early evening hours.

Officials allegedly seized close to 50,000 CDs and took the 17 employees into custody for questioning.

According to Sgt. Nikita Hightower with the Fulton County Sheriff's office, the warrant was executed by Clayton County officers, which is just south of Atlanta.

DJ Drama and DJ Don Cannon were charged with racketeering and are being held at the Fulton County jail without bond.

According to authorities, the search executed sought only DJ Drama and Don Cannon, who were allegedly charged with racketeering.

"These guys are actively advertising online. They've got a website that they're advertising from, that's where you place your orders and that's how the orders are shipped out," Matthew Kilgo of the RIAA told local reporters. "Statistics also show that you can make up to a 90% profit just off the resale of counterfeit CDs. So there's huge money to be made in it, and there's no stigma attached to purchasing it."

In addition to the CDs, which were taken as evidence and will later be destroyed, police also seized computers, recording equipment and cars on the premises.

Representatives for the Aphilliates Music Group could not be reached for comment.

All links to mixtapes on The Aphilliates Music Group website has been removed and the GangstaGrillz.com website simply advertises a new Gangsta Grillz album by DJ Drama.

DJ Drama and DJ Don Cannon will appear in court tomorrow at 11:00 am.

He was freed today on 100,000 bail. What do you guys think of this? In my opinion, mixtapes are a vital part of hip-hop. They can help break artists, such as 50 Cent, Young Jeezy, and T.I., and help build buzz for established artists, such as Lil Wayne and Jim Jones. He is an in-house producer for T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint, and has several major label deals. He does his mixtapes with the full cooperation of the artists and oftentimes the record companies look the other way. The problem is, often the artist will freestyle over someone else's beat. For instance, Lil Wayne might rap over the "We Fly High" beat. Most websites say you are buying the cover art and a promotional CD is included with the cover art. While this is transparent, it doesn't seem illegal to me. Every mixtape I've bought has included "For promotional use only" on bot the CD and the cover art. I think the RIAA is going even further to alienate consumers with this move.

 

[Trajan12]

What a waste of resources.

 

[pboily]

I'm not sure I fully understand what a mixtape is. Is it material taken from a studio session but not the tracks that end up on the album? Is it a series of tracks by various artists?

 

[skadistic]

I only know who 50cent is because hes popular amongst the kiddies and has a "colourful" past.

The RIAA sues 12 year old girls it doesn't suprize me they would do something like this

On the other hand........

If you are using beats that are the intelectual property of someone else and don't have consent expect to shafted.


Why can't people come up with ther own beats?

 

[rbis4rbb]

I'm not sure I fully understand what a mixtape is. Is it material taken from a studio session but not the tracks that end up on the album? Is it a series of tracks by various artists?

A lot of times it will be an artist rapping over someone else's beat. For instance, Rapper B has a popular song. Rapper A releases a mixtape where he's rapping over the beat from Rapper B's song. They also have original beats and songs, sometimes interviews, freestyles, and unreleased or rare recordings.