Does Hip-Hop Have A Security Problem?
On September 12, rapper PNB Rock was robbed and shot dead during a day out with girlfriend Steph Sibounheuang, at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant in Los Angeles. No doubt a devastating loss for the hip-hop community, PNB Rock is, unfortunately, one of many rap artists to succumb to violent crimes in recent years. Others include Pop Smoke, who was killed in a robbery in 2020, and Nipsey Hussle, who was killed outside of his store, Marathon Clothing, in 2019. These types of losses are anything but foreign to the hip-hop community. The deaths of these beloved artists have sparked conversations regarding the safety of famous rappers. Many have begun to question if rappers have a problem with the concept of employing security.
The standard for most musical artists is to have a security team while in public, but there has long been a stigma surrounding rappers employing security by other hip-hop figures in the industry. On the “Big Facts” podcast, rapper OMB Peezy admitted that he first saw employing security as a sign of weakness: “You know, young n**ga coming into the game, at first, coming from where I come from, you know, I don’t want no security. I was looking at that shit like it’s pussy, feel me?”. However, it seems that this mindset is quickly changing in the wake of these recent tragic losses that have hit the hip-hop community.
A few months ago, 6ix9ine talked about rappers needing security on Instagram live: “If you a rapper, and you got security with you, that shit do not make you pussy.” In a heartfelt message about the death of PNB Rock, Trippie Redd suggested that record labels pay for security for their artists: “I keep losing my friends to gun violence. I want all my friends to start having a guard or 2; it honestly should be on the label to get u protection. That’s one thing I used to tell xxx is let’s stop riding around in the i8 just me and u. While ur paid security sleep at the house, we in the club just us.”
As is the case with other public figures, rappers attract heaps of hatred and jealousy. Having security to protect them from the dangers that come with a public persona should be a no-brainer, free of stigma. Rappers continuing to speak out about the issue of employing security is hopeful for the industry.
Written By Hana Al-Hashimy
