Rap Video Spurs Camera Surveillance in Public Park
By Lora Neng
WWW.STREETGANGS.COM STAFF WRITER
July 25, 2012
As hip-hop videos go, someone rapping about “washing dishes,” slang for turning cocaine powder into crack rock, is not so extraordinary. But Gee Slick’s backdrop riled the urgent concerns of authorities, when they recognized the roof of a Jackie Tatum Harvard Park gymnasium in the video. The park is publicly owned by the city and a known territory claimed by the Bloods street gang.
While for three years officials had announced their plans to put cameras into the park, this recent incident finally prompted action, with the first camera slated to go in this month, according to the LA Times. Not the least disconcerting about this discovery is that Gee Slick, real name Andrew Vickers, was a summer employee for the Summer Night Lights gang intervention program hired to mediate conflict between gangs. Even investing to renovate the park required careful maneuvers, as gang members refused construction workers entry unless those hired to build skate ramps included members from their own ranks.
Vickers has since removed the music video, although a behind-the-scenes feature may still be found online. Surveillance cameras will be placed where they will be difficult to reach with a bulletproof precaution.
Tags: bloods, cooking crack cocaine, gang intervention, Gee Slick, Jackie Tatum Harvard Park, south los angeles, summer night lights, urban slang
Posted by Lora
on Jul 25 2012. Filed under Entertainment.
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