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Rapper AR-Ab sentenced to 45 years in prison

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Too many times, the Dave Chappelle phrase, “When keeping it real goes wrong,” occurs in real life. This past Thursday, rapper AR-Ab was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

The rapper was found responsible for turning his “Original Block Hustlaz” (OBH)  record company into a large-scale drug operation.

In October 2018, West, and eight others were indicted on counts of distributing drugs in North Philadelphia. His charges included several counts of conspiracy to distribute, and the distribution of cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, and heroin.

In the indictment, AR-Ab was seen as the leader of his “OBH” gang, utilizing expensive Central Philadelphia properties to stash money and drugs. In November 2019, the rapper was found guilty of these charges.

In response to his sentencing, West looked forward to an appeal. “I’m not saying I’m innocent, I’m saying I’m not guilty of all them charges,” he commented. 

Interesting questions can be asked in the aftermath of the sentencing. First, did West’s boastful, braggadocious, and story-like street music influence the jurors to find him guilty? Second, what exactly motivated West to consistently utilize social media and platforms such as VladTV to essentially implicate himself in crimes?

West gained particular notoriety in the rap world for his overt honesty in interviews, often times revealing details of past situations that most would keep secret. 

One has to ask, was the notoriety worth it? Was the reputation as a “boss” fulfilling enough for four-and-a-half decades behind bars? Street rappers have always done things to convince their audience of their authenticity, but few have gone to the extremes that AR-Ab has.

One particular instance illustrates this. Currently, AR-Ab has only been convicted of drug charges, but he’s been allegedly linked to the 2017 murder of drug rival Robert Johnson. Dontez “Taz” Stewart, a former associate of West, pleaded guilty to the murder and has since testified against the rapper. In this music video from 2017, West raps: 

“I’ll have da whole city scared. Stand near home / I call Taz and tell him / Bring dat n — ’s head to me.”

Investigators found the lyrics for this song just four days after Johnson’s murder, in his Iphone notes app. 

AR-Ab had been a renowned artist in Philadelphia for quite some time, coming onto the scene as a member of Cassidy’s “Larsiny Family” collective back in 2007. Throughout the years, West has been shot numerous times, involved in a murder trial, as well as other drug cases.

If it’s any consolation, the self-proclaimed “Top Goon” may very well go down as the most believable rapper of all time. 

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